Five Nights at Freddy’s Vs Poppy Playtime

Blood-thirsty, metal-crunching, morally bankrupt animatronics? It could only be Five Nights at Freddy's. Or, so it would've been, if not for the cult-classic Poppy Playtime causing a ruckus these past two or so years. And while the latter is very much considered to be in its infancy—a mere speck in comparison to the kingdom Freddy Fazbear has fashioned, the bubblegum blue-sporting doll known only as Huggy Wuggy has, in all honesty, managed to level the playing field.

It goes without saying that Poppy Playtime, as much as it strives to stand on its own two feet, really wouldn't be here if not for Scott Cawthon bringing Five Nights at Freddy's to PC back in 2014. Its influences are evident, and it begs the question: which of the two, if so close in resemblance, is the better franchise, visually, mechanically, and aurally?

What Is Five Nights at Freddy's?

Five Nights at Freddy's is a single-player survival horror series that, prior to the release of Security Breach—an open world game that released back in 2021—cast players as a night security guard at Freddy Fazbear's pizzeria. As such, avid night crawlers would need to manage the cameras, doors, and a plethora of other technical gadgetry, all the while the restaurant's rogue animatronics searched with the intent to scare the living daylights out of you.

For the most part, Five Nights at Freddy's is a point-and-click sort of gig, and while it does occasionally tap into some exploration elements, the bulk of the gameplay revolves around hitting switches, checking cameras, and conserving power or energy as you whittle down the nights. Easier said than done, though, as each night is as spontaneous as the next, and can very well require more trial and error than most survival horror games of its kind.

Five Nights at Freddy's isn't a long series by any means, though the difficulty curve that it adheres to does make for a rather exhausting series of challenges. And while any avid Five Nights fan could very well brush through any of the weeks in less than an hour, newcomers will most definitely need a pair of training wheels, if only for the first few hours while learning the patterns and behaviours.

What Is Poppy Playtime?

Poppy Playtime, like Five Nights at Freddy's, is a single-player survival horror game that centers its universe around rogue animatronics—failed experiments that have been abandoned in a toy factory known as Playtime Co.. Your role, as an ex-member of staff, is to venture into the seemingly vacant warehouse, and ultimately discover what happened to your peers over a decade prior to your arrival.

True to its horror roots, Poppy Playtime divides its time between having the players solve puzzles, and avoid the enemies that roam the factory halls. All of this comes bundled in an open world experience that can take you anywhere from sixty minutes to two hours, depending on how many times you're caught by Huggy Wuggy and pals.

In spite of Poppy Playtime only being an hour-long game, it does boast two additional chapters, both of which flesh out the lore and pull players deeper into the history of Playtime Co.. Does this stack up as high as Five Nights at Freddy's' four main entries plus countless spin-offs, though? Meh.

Lore & Characters

We'll go ahead and give Poppy Playtime the benefit of the doubt here. It's a much newer series, so it's bound to have far less lore stowed away under its belt. FNaF, on the other hand, has had just shy of a decade to construct an entire network of characters and fictional events—many of which have received their own spin-offs or cinematics. But for some, that's an off-putting thing, as it can take a few additional hours just to make heads or tails of what's what and who's who. Poppy Playtime, however, is very much pick-up and play, and it doesn't require a level head to come to grips with its backstory.

Of course, each IP boasts an abundance of iconic characters—to the point of having plush toys and children's cartoons on display in almost every local store. But when all's said and done, no other animatronic or plushie in the world can nudge Freddy Fazbear from the podium. Take into account that Freddy also joins arms with the likes of Chica, Monty, and Roxy, and you've got yourself a roster of undisputed gaming all-stars.

Gameplay

We'll be the first to say that FNaF isn't all that complex. Mechanically, it's merely the case of pushing buttons and peeking around corners. And as limited as that does sound on paper, such elements are surprisingly difficult to grasp—even more so when the nights grow longer and the animatronics become slightly less predictable. And that just isn't a thing with Poppy Playtime. On the contrary, it's actually rather straightforward and slightly more forgiving than most horror games.

Point is, if you've the patience to spare, then Five Nights at Freddy's can wind up transitioning into some of the best hours you'll ever experience. If you're more to-the-point and in need of something a little less, I don't know, chaotic, then Poppy Playtime is a solid alternative, for sure.

Let it be said that the real games you'll want to compare here are Security Breach and Poppy Playtime. Both open world games, and equally as filled with jump scares and puzzles as the other, it's surprisingly easy to see why the two are often compared. But which of the two is better?

Verdict

If you're an avid horror fan who thrives on delving into relatively short episodes that don't take jump scares for granted, then take your pick — FNaF and Poppy Playtime both have the formula dialed. But if, however, you're after something that requires a bit of additional legwork—mostly in the form of brushing up on backstories and lore, then shoot for Fazbear. For a genuinely horrifying one-and-done romp through a creepy toy factory, seek out Huggy Wuggy.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our verdict? Which of the two do you prefer — Five Nights at Freddy's, or Poppy Playtime? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.