Our Verdict
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit is a must-play for all FNAF fans, offering stunning pixelated graphics and a story inspired by the novel of the same name. FNAF has never been so terrifying, Spring Bonnie proves to be a brilliant antagonist, posing a true test of survival while you cautiously creep around each corner.
In December 2019, Scott Cawthon and Elley Cooper released the first book in the Fazbear Frights anthology series. Well, when I got my hands on the first volume all those years ago, I couldn’t help but think, ‘boy, this would make a for a spooky game.’ Nearly five years later, I got my wish with the announcement of a Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit game.
While we’re still waiting for the game’s console release, it launched on PC during the ten-year celebration for the FNAF franchise, and I simply couldn’t say no when Mega Cat Studios offered me the opportunity to review it. So here I am; I’ve braved Jeff’s Pizza and Fazbear’s, and here’s what I think… it’s the best FNAF game I’ve played.
But why do I think that? Putting aside the fact that I love FNAF games and I’m sure to enjoy any that you put in front of me, Into the Pit breaks the mold and offers something different, akin to Security Breach. Mega Cat Studios doesn’t confine you to a single room. Instead, you get to explore and piece together a clever narrative-driven story, all while trying to avoid your demise at the hands of Spring Bonnie (yes, Spring Bonnie, not quite FNAF’s Springtrap).
In a similar manner to that of the novel, you follow the story of Oswald, and while the early events of the game are akin to the novel, the videogame adaptation does go in its own direction, which I like. Mega Cat Studios explores the possibilities well, while also returning to the age-old FNAF tradition with the game taking place over the course of several nights. Plus, as it’s a game, there are multiple endings for you to explore, but more on that in a bit.
The story begins with Oswald hanging out at Jeff’s Pizza on the last day before school starts. He gets wind of a hidden ball pit, and being the inquisitive kid that he is, he successfully finds it. This is where things may get a bit confusing, as time travel is an important part of Into the Pit, both in the novel and the game. Oswald emerges from the pit to see Jeff’s Pizza bustling with customers, adults and kids alike, while three animatronics perform on stage.
It turns out he’s gone back in time to the year 1985, back to when Jeff’s Pizza was Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, and while he seems to make a couple of friends and have fun, a game of hide and seek soon turns sinister. Now, I have to give the team at Mega Cat Studio credit. The way in which Spring Bonnie arrives is quite haunting, as you first see the monster through the eyes of an animatronic, thanks to the first-person cutscenes and Oswald’s inventive hiding spot. When you emerge, you see adults and children running for their lives, but instead of making a beeline for the pit, Oswald looks to see what’s going on. Well, Spring Bonnie has murdered six children and is ready to make Oswald victim number seven.
The kid runs and emerges from the pit back in his own time, only for Spring Bonnie to pull his dad into the pit, before reemerging as a lookalike of Oswald’s father. That, my friends, is how the game begins. Any more story tidbits feel like we’re getting too far into spoiler territory. I love the story of Into the Pit and thoroughly enjoyed exploring the narrative from Mega Cat Studios’ angle.
Over the course of several days and nights, you need to explore various locations, search for items and clues, and solve an array of puzzles. Of course, this is a Five Nights at Freddy’s game, so you can expect certain animatronics like FNAF’s Chica and FNAF’s Bonnie to be on the hunt. As Oswald is a kid, he can’t fight back; his only hope is to be quiet and hide, much like FNAF’s Gregory in Security Breach. Spring Bonnie hunts you at home, with not even Oswald’s mother seeing anything different about her husband – I’d like to think I’d know the difference between my partner and a murderous yellow bunny, but hey, who am I to judge?
As for game mechanics, you have a meter in the bottom right-hand of the screen that shows how loud you’re being. If you hit yellow, or god forbid red, it’s time to hide, which doesn’t actually solve all of your problems, unfortunately. Spring Bonnie will find you if you fail the quick time events, which adds a bit more pressure. QTEs are something that’s never phased me in games, but I have to admit, swatting spiders in a vent is an interesting choice. I would think I’d make more noise by hitting spiders instead of just staying perfectly still. I do have to admit, hearing the opening and closing of a door that doesn’t come from me is creepy, it certainly makes me go ‘no, absolutely not’ as I crawl back through the vent or into whatever hidey hole is nearby.
Other than Oswald’s home, you get to explore multiple locations including Jeff’s Pizza and Fazbear’s, and while the building is the same, it’s interesting to see the difference between the two. Jeff’s is rundown, but it doesn’t hide the same sinister secrets as Fazbear’s. Well, except for the ball pit. Other places you go include Oswald’s school and the mill. There are various characters for you to interact with, and you never know when one might offer a tidbit of precious information. I couldn’t help but chuckle at someone reminiscing about how good Jeff’s used to be back in the day – before Spring Bonnie went on a murderous rampage, I assume.
The various locations are meticulously designed, and even during the day, I have a sense of dread, though that could just be because I’m walking back down the halls of a school, and I don’t care what you say, schools are a horror trope that works because they’re less than-endearing in real-life, too. Through the surroundings and good sound design, Mega Cat Studio builds an eerie atmosphere that has you on the edge of your seat as you try to reach the conclusion of this terrifying tale.
In true survival horror fashion, it’s not just you in danger, as numerous characters face a dismal fate, and it’s up to you to save them. To do so, you need to make the most of the exploration, especially during the day; who knows what useful tools or items may end up in your inventory? Mind you, sometimes you need to mix up which time you’re in to achieve your goals, and while you may have noble intentions, it’s not easy to do the right thing when scary killing machines are out to get you.
As I mentioned before, Into the Pit features multiple endings, and yes, that does mean there’s an awful end for Oswald as well as a good ending for him. While his initial curiosity started this horrid chain of events, you need to maintain that sense of macabre wonder, searching every nook and cranny throughout Fazbear’s and beyond if you want to get the best possible conclusion for Oswald and his family. The multiple endings give a great amount of replayability, though I’d be lying that Into the Pit doesn’t deserve more than one play-through anyway.
I greatly enjoyed my time with this game. The change of pace and direction from a traditional FNAF game is always refreshing, and to see one of my favorite Five Nights at Freddy’s stories make the leap from novel to videogame is nothing short of a treat, with all the differences between the two showing just how special Oswald’s story is, even if it’s not necessarily canon.
While I can’t wait to play Into the Pit on Nintendo Switch, for this review, I had to play on Steam, and unsurprisingly, the new FNAF game runs like a dream on PC. I have no complaints whatsoever, but I’ll be sure to update this review when I get my hands on the Switch version to let you know what you can expect on Nintendo’s console. You know what else I have no complaints about? The controls have no input delay, and Oswald moves seamlessly, which is great because, half the time, I’m running from raging animatronics.
To top off my thoughts on what is easily my favorite FNAF game to date, the 2D pixelated art style is stunning, giving the game what I can only describe as a ghastly beauty and showing just how great retro-style horror can be.
I highly recommend Into the Pit to not just Five Nights at Freddy’s fans but also those who are after a solid survival horror experience with a good story. With its unique first-person cutscenes, FNAF: Into the Pit has plenty of jumpscares for you, and they’re among the best in the franchise. Do yourself a favor, grab a slice, and dive into the pit. You won’t regret it.