Five Nights at Freddy’s

Ever think animatronics were a bit creepy and might come to life? This point-and-click horror game brings that fear to reality. Five Nights at Freddy’s is an extensive video game series and media franchise — one of the most well-known horror games around, this little indie game achieved record numbers that rocketed Freddy and the gang all the way to the Hollywood screen.

Scott Cawthon’s Unlikely Path

Before FNAF became a cultural phenomenon, creator Scott Cawthon had already developed approximately 80 games and animated over 30 shows. Many of his earlier titles were Christian-themed, including work with Hope Animation, an organization dedicated to showcasing Christian animators’ work globally.

As a devout Christian, Cawthon’s journey to creating a horror franchise was unexpected. After receiving harsh criticism that his characters in earlier games looked like “creepy animatronics,” he leaned into the feedback — and Five Nights at Freddy’s was born. The game released in August 2014 and became an overnight sensation.

From Indie Game to Hollywood

The premise is deceptively simple: you’re a night guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. Survive until morning. But the animatronics come alive at night, and monitoring their movements becomes increasingly terrifying as each shift progresses.

Since its debut, the franchise has grown into 28 games, spawned deep and intricate lore, and made the leap to film — the first Five Nights at Freddy’s movie, partnering with Blumhouse Productions, grossed nearly $300 million worldwide. A sequel followed in 2025, opening at $63 million.

Despite retiring from active development in 2019, Cawthon’s creation continues to thrive, inspiring a generation of indie developers to dream big.

Check it out on Steam if you dare…