Summary
- FNAF: Into the Pit, a game adaptation of a previous short story, adds deeper lore by referencing William Afton.
- It also points towards other FNAF short stories and side elements, like one reference inspiring hope for a Fazbear Frights game.
- Minigames and environmental clues reference other media like the FNAF movie.
Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit is the newest entry in the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, and the first to adapt a story from its expansive book canon. The title sees players experience the very first short story from the Fazbear Frights series, Into the Pit, as a 2D survival horror game. In order to better fit the gaming medium, Into the Pit’s game adaptation includes a host of elements exclusive to its version of the narrative. Some of these changes are used to tailor the title for an interactive experience, such as its breakdown of the narrative into the classic five nights. However, other additions see the title take a deeper approach to exploring the narrative, allowing Into the Pit to expand the lore featured in the original short story.
Developed by Mega Cat Studios, Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit tells the story of Oswald, a boy who spends summer days at a local eatery, Jeff's Pizza. On the last day of summer, he decides to scare his dad by hiding in the restaurant's abandoned ball pit. He discovers that the pit can transport him back in time to 1985, when the restaurant was a thriving Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Unfortunately, Oswald arrives on the fateful day when Spring Bonnie murdered six children, causing him to flee back to the ball pit. Oswald tries to explain what happened to his dad, but Spring Bonnie launches from the pit, dragging his father to the past and replacing him in the present. With Spring Bonnie hunting him, Oswald must devise a way to escape his home each night, return to the past, and end the chain of events he started.
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Into the Pits’ Game Adaptation is More Deeply Rooted in the Series Canon
The Into the Pit short story, the first entry in the first volume of Fazbear Frights, functioned as a fresh introduction to the world of Five Nights at Freddy’s. No prior knowledge was required, with its opening events covering the original murders of Spring Bonnie, before telling a fresh present-day story. However, the Into the Pit game is tailored towards an audience that has spent the past decade experiencing the lore of Five Nights at Freddy’ s, paving the way for a host of additions that more deeply ingrain the story in the overall lore. Most significantly, it includes more overt references to William Afton, FNAF's big bad who murdered children in a Spring Bonnie costume over multiple years, before coming back as Springtrap after death.
While the original novel features Spring Bonnie, it lacks overt references to Afton and his role in the lore. Into the Pit’s game depicts Afton through a range of hidden references and narrative options. An arcade game features a hidden Purple Guy room. Night 4 sees Oswald enter the Security Office, where a very familiar camera station and some previously absent animatronics are waiting for him, along with a reference to The Man in Room 1280. On Night 5, a Strange Photo can be found, depicting Afton with FNAF co-founder Henry Emily, which plays a role in the game’s good endings. What’s more, photos in various rooms depict Afton and other key characters, some of which randomly appear upon re-entry.
Into the Pit Features References to a Variety of FNAF Properties
References to William Afton aren’t the only element added to the world of Into the Pit, as the title features a host of references to other properties from FNAF’s past decade of media. Highly debated figures such as GGY are referenced through certain interactions with the environment. Nods to FNAF novel The Twisted Ones, Fredbear’s Singing Show, and the FNAF movie can be found while exploring Oswald’s House and Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The title’s secret minigames also have players enact other key stories from the Fazbear Frights series. One of these stories, Fetch, is even referenced again, should players unlock Into the Pit’s 3-star ending.
Into the Pit is a faithful retelling of the original short story, albeit with a different audience in mind. The weight of introducing the franchise to a new audience no longer restricts its references, allowing the title to inject a host of narrative and environmental elements that connect it to FNAF’s wider universe. In doing so, it expands the role of the original story, more deeply ingraining the series’ lore, characters, and secrets into Oswald’s quest.
Into the Pit is the latest instance of the game series adapting elements from its short stories, with Tales from the Pizzaplex’s Mimic debuting in FNAF Security Breach: RUIN last year. While Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit’ s canonicity is not yet confirmed, its closing reference bodes well for those hoping to see Fazbear Frights adapted to games in the future.
- Released
- August 7, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Violence
- Developer(s)
- Mega Cat Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Mega Cat Studios
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Five Nights at Freddy's
WHERE TO PLAY
Jump into the pit and immerse yourself in a new chapter in the Five Nights at Freddy’s universe. Oswald wishes his town, and his life, weren’t so boring. That all changes when he explores the ball pit in a rundown pizzeria and finds himself in the past. However, Oswald’s deepest desire will have an unexpected cost…
Survive five nights of terror in this chilling adventure game. Travel between time periods, gather clues, and outrun the threat relentlessly pursuing you. Move swiftly and stay hidden, and you may just survive. But be careful—it’s not just your own life that’s on the line. Oswald’s father and children from the past could all meet their end if you don’t save them.
Experience the heart-pounding adventure of a beloved entry in the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, Into the Pit. Solve satisfying puzzles intertwined with an adrenaline-fueled story. Immerse yourself in a narrative experience.
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
