Fight Night's at Freddy's lore and the main story
The main series of FNAF has a lot of lore and narrative, here's the breakdown.
The Five Nights At Freddy's games are successful at generating fear combined with stress and anxiety. Not many horror games revolve around a management mechanic, which is one of the reasons this series stands out. However, if you look beyond the scary animatronics, there's a full universe full of lore behind all the different places and robots. While it's not on the surface, clues and investigation are able to expose elements of the series’ story and just why the animatronics are running amok. Even though you typically play as someone who has arguably the worst job in the world, there's even a backstory to these faceless protagonists.
Created by just one person, the main series of Five Nights At Freddy's now contains eight impressive titles, considering that the original only came out eight years ago. Since then, the mechanics have more or less stayed the same, but each title tries to add something new. This can range from new characters to locations, to mechanics, and of course, new mysteries. Each game takes place in the universe created in the original, with the lore and supernatural elements continuing to expand. As it does, the line between the real and the unreal gets even blurrier.
Complete FNAF lore
The games are listed chronologically with a recurring character and overarching villain being a man named William Afton. Appearing in various forms, Afton is responsible for creating the Freddy Fazbear chain of restaurants and some of the more violent animatronics. However, this family-friendly venture was simply a way for Afton to lure children in so he could murder them. Please note that although most of these games have multiple endings, the following are considered canonical. Let's dive into the complete FNAF lore!
1
Five Nights at Freddy's 4 (2015)
Set sometime in the 1980s, though specifically before 1983, the story follows a nameless child experiencing horrible nightmares in his room. At this point, William Afton has opened Fredbear's Family Diner with his closest friend, Henry Emily. It was here the child likely came into contact with the earliest versions of the animatronics, and subsequently envisioned them as horrifying monsters.
As he tries to overcome his fears, it is revealed he is related to William Afton himself. Meanwhile, Afton encounters Emily's daughter Charlotte behind the restaurant and kills her, but her spirit goes on to possess the Puppet animatronic. The nameless child eventually returns to the restaurant where their head is crushed in an animatronic. This caused Fredbear's Family Diner to close in 1983.
2
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2014)
Just before Fredbear's Family Diner closed down, Afton and Emily had also opened Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. It was here that Afton would put on his trademark Spring Bonnie suit which he used to capture and kill five different children before stuffing their bodies into the animatronics. The spirits of these children would go on to possess said animatronics of Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and Golden Freddy, thanks to the power of Charlotte who was still possessing the Puppet. However, unlike Charlotte, the children struggle to maintain awareness and so revert to primal chaotic instincts.
Due to the smell of the decaying bodies in the animatronics, Freddy Fazbear's Pizza is closed and replaced with a new one and the child-possessed animatronics are replaced by newer models. By posing as a night security guard, Afton discovers the supernatural nature of the possessed animatronics but decides to murder even more children as Spring Bonnie, despite Charlotte's attempts to stop him. The game follows the new night security guard, Jeremy Fitzgerald, as he tries to survive the animatronics' roaming. He lasts one week before one of the animatronics bites part of his head off, which is referred to as the bite of '87.
3
Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2014)
Just before Fredbear's Family Diner closed down, Afton and Emily had also opened Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. It was here that Afton would put on his trademark Spring Bonnie suit which he used to capture and kill five different children before stuffing their bodies into the animatronics. The spirits of these children would go on to possess said animatronics of Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and Golden Freddy, thanks to the power of Charlotte who was still possessing the Puppet. However, unlike Charlotte, the children struggle to maintain awareness and so revert to primal chaotic instincts.
Due to the smell of the decaying bodies in the animatronics, Freddy Fazbear's Pizza is closed and replaced with a new one and the child-possessed animatronics are replaced by newer models. By posing as a night security guard, Afton discovers the supernatural nature of the possessed animatronics but decides to murder even more children as Spring Bonnie, despite Charlotte's attempts to stop him. The game follows the new night security guard, Jeremy Fitzgerald, as he tries to survive the animatronics' roaming. He lasts one week before one of the animatronics bites part of his head off, which is referred to as the bite of '87.
4
Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location (2016)
Around the same time, the Fazbear franchise expanded to include another venue, Circus Baby's Pizza World. By this time, William Afton had created his own robotics company, specializing in animatronics designed to hunt and kill children. Circus Baby's Pizza World introduced a range of circus-themed animatronics, but after Afton's daughter Elizabeth was killed by the one called Circus Baby, it was falsely shut down due to "gas leaks".
A new location called Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental was opened and the animatronics were sent there with the offer to be rented out for children's parties. The game follows a new employee of the business, Michael, William Afton's son. Working as a technician, he soon learns that Circus Baby is sentient and begins assigning him tasks. Eventually, it's revealed that Circus Baby is part of an amalgamation of animatronics that includes the souls of Elizabeth and other murdered children. The entity calling itself Ennard removes Michael's insides and then uses his body as a suit to escape.
5
Five Nights at Freddy's (2014)
Following the bite of '87, the remaining Freddy Fazbear's Pizza place was set to close by the end of 1993. The game follows Mike Schmidt, the new night security guard who is advised of his new duties via phone by a former employee. He keeps guard as he tries to avoid death at the hands of the possessed animatronics who have no control over their actions. Occasionally, he experiences hallucinations, which take the form of mini-games. They appear to be attempts made by the children to try and tell Mike what happened to them. After about a week, Mike is paid for his work and the restaurant subsequently closes.
6
Five Nights at Freddy's (2014)
Following the bite of '87, the remaining Freddy Fazbear's Pizza place was set to close by the end of 1993. The game follows Mike Schmidt, the new night security guard who is advised of his new duties via phone by a former employee. He keeps guard as he tries to avoid death at the hands of the possessed animatronics who have no control over their actions. Occasionally, he experiences hallucinations, which take the form of mini-games. They appear to be attempts made by the children to try and tell Mike what happened to them. After about a week, Mike is paid for his work and the restaurant subsequently closes.
7
Five Nights at Freddy's 3 (2015)
After Freddy Fazbear's Pizza closed, it quickly fell apart, and Afton used this opportunity to break in to get back the Spring Bonnie suit. While there, he is hunted by the spirits of all his murder victims and so puts on the suit for protection. Once he does, the spring locks activate and puncture all over his body, leaving him in a heavily wounded state. The spirits take advantage of this and trap him inside the saferoom for years. In 2023, the horror attraction Fazbear's Fright opens and people raid the saferoom for props, discovering the withered and decaying Spring Bonnie animatronic suit.
Free once more, Afton assumes the new identity of Springtrap and begins roaming Fazbear's Fright. The game follows a new unnamed employee who is tasked with overseeing and maintaining all the systems. On top of having to ward off Springtrap, they will also be plagued by hallucinations by older animatronics that will disrupt various systems. After making it through the week, an accident occurs which burns Fazbear's Fright to the ground, but Springtrap survives.
8
Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator (2017)
Despite Springtrap's survival, Afton's old partner Henry Emily, having realized the truth behind the possessed animatronics, sets a trap for him by creating a fake pizzeria. When he arrives, Emily, along with several possessed animatronics and Michael, burns the place to the ground. Although the fire is put out, Springtrap is damaged beyond mobility. As a result, Afton's soul is tortured in an afterlife realm called Flipside for his numerous crimes. Unfortunately, his soul is saved from the punishment when the circuit board of Springtrap is removed, completely intact.
9
Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted (2019)
Springtrap's circuit board is connected to a brand new VR experience that is based on Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. As a result, Afton's soul takes on a digital form. He creates a digital avatar in the form of Spring Bonnie called Glitchtrap and attempts to take over the minds of the playtesters. The first is named Jeremy, who is driven insane by the experience, and the second playtester is an unnamed woman who manages to record Glitchtrap's essence across several tapes, severely weakening him.
The final playtester, a woman named Vanessa, unknowingly gathers all the tapes, reforming Glitchtrap. He takes over her mind and commands her to kill, which results in her creating a white rabbit suit and adopting the alter ego "Vanny". One of her first tasks involves removing Afton's soul from the game and putting it back onto a circuit board.
10
Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach (2021)
Despite all the controversy and news surrounding Freddy Fazbear, the franchise has expanded to include a brand new business, Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex. This mall-like building includes a variety of stores, restaurants, play areas, and the star attraction, an animatronic rock group based on the original animatronics.
The Freddy animatronic malfunctions during a performance and awakens in his room only to find a young boy named Gregory (the player) hiding in his stomach. The only night security guard on duty, Vanessa, gives an order to all animatronics to search for Gregory. Due to his malfunction, Freddy is able to disobey Vanessa and decides to help Gregory escape. They manage to get past a lot of obstacles together, but Gregory is eventually caught by Vanessa. At this point, she reveals her Vanny alter ego and it's discovered Vanny reprogrammed all the robots to be more violent.
Gregory and Freddy soon reunite and decide to fight the other animatronics in order to upgrade Freddy's parts. This leads them to explore the basement which hides the remains of the original Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Here, they encounter a blob-like entity made up of old animatronics and the mangled remains of the rock animatronics.
However, the main threat is the reactivated Springtrap (now called "Burntrap") thanks to Vanny restoring its circuit board with Afton's soul. Burntrap attempts to take over Freddy, forcing Gregory to fend for himself. He manages to use an old machine to defeat Burntrap but this causes a fire to start consuming the mall. As Freddy and Gregory escape, the other animatronics drag away Burntrap to an unknown fate. The game ends with the boy and his animatronic sitting on a hill as the sun comes up.
11
Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach (2021)
Despite all the controversy and news surrounding Freddy Fazbear, the franchise has expanded to include a brand new business, Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex. This mall-like building includes a variety of stores, restaurants, play areas, and the star attraction, an animatronic rock group based on the original animatronics.
The Freddy animatronic malfunctions during a performance and awakens in his room only to find a young boy named Gregory (the player) hiding in his stomach. The only night security guard on duty, Vanessa, gives an order to all animatronics to search for Gregory. Due to his malfunction, Freddy is able to disobey Vanessa and decides to help Gregory escape. They manage to get past a lot of obstacles together, but Gregory is eventually caught by Vanessa. At this point, she reveals her Vanny alter ego and it's discovered Vanny reprogrammed all the robots to be more violent.
Gregory and Freddy soon reunite and decide to fight the other animatronics in order to upgrade Freddy's parts. This leads them to explore the basement which hides the remains of the original Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Here, they encounter a blob-like entity made up of old animatronics and the mangled remains of the rock animatronics.
However, the main threat is the reactivated Springtrap (now called "Burntrap") thanks to Vanny restoring its circuit board with Afton's soul. Burntrap attempts to take over Freddy, forcing Gregory to fend for himself. He manages to use an old machine to defeat Burntrap but this causes a fire to start consuming the mall. As Freddy and Gregory escape, the other animatronics drag away Burntrap to an unknown fate. The game ends with the boy and his animatronic sitting on a hill as the sun comes up.
That's the whole FNAF lore and the canonical story! We hope that you got enthralled by it as much as we did.
