Five Nights at Freddy's 4 (FNaF 4) was released in July 2015 and marks a departure from the previous games in the series. Unlike earlier entries that took place in pizzerias, this game is set in a child’s bedroom, offering a new, terrifying twist to the FNaF formula. The game is widely considered one of the scariest in the series, with its unsettling environment, aggressive animatronics, and intense jump scares.
In FNaF 4, the player assumes the role of a young child who must survive from 12 AM to 6 AM while terrifying versions of animatronics haunt their bedroom. The mechanics are different from the previous games, with more emphasis on audio cues and manual movement.
No Cameras: Unlike previous FNaF games, there are no security cameras. Instead, you must physically check different areas of the room for animatronics.
Closet, Doors, and Bed: There are three key areas you must monitor:
Left Door & Right Door: The player must listen closely for sounds coming from both doors in the hallway. If you hear breathing, you need to close the door quickly to keep the animatronics out.
Closet: The animatronic Foxy can hide in the closet. You must shine your flashlight to check if he's there and close the door if needed.
Bed: The bed behind you can get infested with small animatronic creatures called "Freddles." If they gather, Freddy Fazbear will attack. You need to shine your flashlight to get rid of them.
Flashlight: The flashlight is your primary tool for spotting the animatronics, but it must be used carefully. If you hear breathing at the doors, you shouldn't shine the light, as it will trigger a jump scare.
Audio Cues: In FNaF 4, listening is crucial. You must rely on sound—such as footsteps, breathing, and other subtle noises—to determine where the animatronics are lurking. If you hear breathing, it's a sign an animatronic is close to attacking, and you must act quickly to survive.
The game introduces Nightmare Animatronics, horrifying, twisted versions of the familiar characters:
Nightmare Freddy: Attacks from behind if you let the Freddles gather on the bed.
Nightmare Bonnie: Approaches from the left hallway and can attack if not stopped.
Nightmare Chica: Approaches from the right hallway, often accompanied by her cupcake.
Nightmare Foxy: Appears in the closet and must be kept in check with the flashlight.
Nightmare Fredbear: The main antagonist from Night 5 onward. He can attack from any location, replacing all other animatronics.
Nightmare: A more powerful version of Fredbear that appears in the later nights, acting as the final challenge.
Five Nights: You must survive five nights, with each night increasing in difficulty as the animatronics become more aggressive and audio cues become more subtle.
Nightmare Mode: After completing the five main nights, you unlock "Nightmare Mode," which offers a more difficult experience, including a new enemy, Nightmare, and a custom night where you can adjust difficulty levels.
Halloween Update: The game received a Halloween update that added new skins and characters like Nightmare Balloon Boy and Nightmare Mangle, along with extra mini-games and challenges.
FNaF 4 takes a much deeper dive into the lore of the series, revealing new information about the events that led to the hauntings in Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. The game is set inside the mind of a young boy who is haunted by terrifying nightmares, and fans theorize that he may be a victim of the infamous "Bite of '83." Here are some important elements:
The Bite of '83: Through hidden mini-games, FNaF 4 is believed to depict the tragic event known as the Bite of '83, where a child is attacked by an animatronic during a birthday party at Fredbear's Family Diner. The child is severely injured, and it is implied that this event plays a key role in the story of the haunted animatronics.
Mini-Games: Between nights, players are shown 8-bit mini-games that reveal more about the child’s tragic past and his fear of the animatronics. The games show him being bullied by his older brother and friends, who wear masks of the animatronic characters.
Fredbear Plush: A plush toy of Fredbear, which seems to be "watching" the child, appears throughout the mini-games. It seems to talk to the child, hinting at deeper connections between the boy's trauma and the animatronics.
Theories: Many fan theories suggest that the child in FNaF 4 is related to other characters in the series, potentially the younger sibling of a key figure in the franchise's overarching story. The exact connections are intentionally vague, leaving room for speculation.
No Cameras: This game abandons the traditional camera system for a more direct experience where you move around and listen for threats.
Emphasis on Audio: Listening for breathing and footsteps becomes a key element of survival, increasing the tension and difficulty.
Nightmare Animatronics: The twisted designs of the animatronics add to the game's eerie, nightmarish atmosphere.