FNAF's Story is Incomprehensible

We need to save Five Nights at Freddy's before it's too late. My last open letter turned out super well, so let's go.

First off, to be clear, obviously I know Scott Cawthon and Steel Wool aren't going to watch my silly video. There's a reason I only address them directly at the start and end. However, I do think MatPat was correct in his FNAF Game Theory episode from six years ago, and I think we're STILL experiencing a lot of the problems he took issue with all the way back then.

Obviously (as should be clear to anyone who watches the video), this is not a criticism of MatPat or anyone else's timeline video. It's a criticism of the very idea of a comprehensive FNAF timeline; I think MatPat said it best in the Game Theory episode from six years ago: "any timeline will be overcomplicated at best and INHERENTLY FLAWED at worst."

So... let's just let it go. Like that movie with the ice girl (I didn't see it; I only played the Kingdom Hearts 3 level).

EDITED BY THEFT KING AND @Queen_Coda

THUMBNAIL RENDER:

FOOTAGE CREDITS:

The Game Theorists: @GameTheory
Markiplier @markiplier

MUSIC:

The Sword Descends and the Stars Scatter - Super Mario RPG

#FNAF #FiveNightsAtFreddys #FNAFSecurityBreach #SecurityBreach #FNAFTheory #GameTheory

[theftking]

My last open letter turned out _super well_ so let's go.

*What does it mean to "SOLVE FNAF"? What would a theory need to reveal in order for you to feel as if it had "SOLVED FNAF?" Can you even **_conceive_** of some kind of singular theory or timeline that could **_possibly_** "solve FNAF"?*

It doesn't feel like FNAF timeline videos are telling any sort of story anymore - they feel more like _math problems_ that we're trying to solve for the sake of solving them. I think MatPat said it best in the clip I included in this video: "any [FNAF] timeline will be overcomplicated at best and INHERENTLY FLAWED at worst." All of his complaints from back then are just as valid today, if not _more so._

How do you feel about the modern FNAF timelines? Do you want the series to move forward with something new, or continue trying to pull together the unresolved mysteries from the original games (of which there are admittedly many)?

Subtitles in a bit!

[someguyiguess.]

I feel this open letter was the thing we needed to help people realise the lore is forever expanding and will never be complete maybe we can start focusing on the fnaf movie as it could help us with the lore we may never know.

[dvd.s]

There’s a lesson that Scott should’ve learned: Fan service isn’t a bad thing, but too much of it can ruin everything and turn the franchise into a pathetic joke.

[innik]

I think Wendigoon’s timeline explains everything in the most satisfying way possible. Sure there may be holes, but I think his interpretation is the most plausible and tells the best story. You should check it out if you haven’t.

[Arachnoid]

This is why I want the FNAF movies to be about the games. So it could give us a better in depth look of the timeline to clear things up.

[Blujay]

At this point, FNAF needs a reboot, it’s story is metaphorical spaghetti, and people want it it be nice and neat

[randomkidstv]

Dude, you summed up how I’ve been feeling about the FNAF timeline lately. The old story needs to die, and allow for new stories to be told

[flumptyfan]

We discovered our lore but not the lore of fnaf 💀

[Railman]

4:05 Another way to word this analogy(that also fits with the first bit) is that "People are so desperate to line the puzzle pieces up-" that they no longer look at the whole puzzle itself. They focus so much on the tiniest details that they ignore the bigger picture, and that's kinda sad.

[diegoecheverria]

I liked UCN being the ending with William having his own hell. Golden Freddy got a pretty cool pay-off from the setup in FNAF 1. The games had 5 maim nights, a 6th bonus night, and a custom night; the games has 5 main games, a 6th bonus game, and a custom night game. We also got to play against all the characters one last time and it didn't make things confusing, just felt like an epilogue to prove Henry right. Aside from that, everything and everyone had really ended in FNAF 6.

[varuhash]

Ill be honest, even though the current timeline is very messy, it can be understood quite coherently for the most part. Not quite solved, but its coherent. FNaF 1 had minimal lore, FNaF 2 had expanded on FNaF 1, FNaF 3 explained how the souls were released and that the killer was condemned to a curse in a golden suit, and FNaF 4 brought up the Bite of 83 and a possible motive for Afton to begin killing. Sister Location continued Michaels story, Pizzeria Simulator ended the events of Freddys for good and released most of the trapped spirits, and UCN was Williams Hell that ended both his and Golden Freddys stories. If you think of the games like that, with a bit of info from the books, its a very simple story that has essentially been solved in and of itself. The problems rise when Help Wanted came out and later Security Breach, which both screwed with the lore hard and makes me think that this is when we need to split the timelines. Not say that FNaF 1-UCN didnt happen, but separate the new timeline from it as its obviously very disconnected. Dont try to connect SC to FNaF 1 or 4 because its so far off from those games that theres little to no influence on them. Using bits of information from HW and SC to continue the stories of Afton and Cassidy are fine, and using the new books to explain a bit more like the Blob being a creature of pure agony that the FNaF 6 fire couldnt destroy, and how Burntrap even exists being explained by Aftons agony staying behind while his soul is eternally tormented, is even better. But relating the new stuff to the older games is not a good idea anymore. Theres too much that makes no sense in the old timeline and what little bit does only answers small questions. What are the Shadows? Heck if we know, we havent seen them since FNaF World and Shadow Bonnie had no lore relevance in AR. 83 or 87? Id say theyre separate Bites and very different locations but its still conflicted. Were not likely to get answers anymore, so the original story, a full week of FNaF from Nights 1-5, a special 6th Night, and a Custom Night, is essentially done as of now. We should just face towards HW and SC and see how these utter messes fit with each other and keep the original story out of it for the most part, with minimal evidence used from both sides to solve eithers stories

[llamalama_ded]

The thing is, i always knew that fnaf never had a grand story. I just knew that purple guy killed kids, kids haunted him and caused his death and then continued on from then. Its just really fun to listen to people piece stuff together, especially MatPat. Security Breach is just what was bound to happen to the franchise when you put too much unresolved elements and 'underground' bits and pieces in a story. As a writer, its hard to write stories with lots of elements and trying to hide stuff from the audience yet also revealing stuff without revealing everything. Im actually struggling with it right now. All I'm saying is, this franchise is a mess, but its a part of my life at this point.

[commiewhacker]

I thibk everything before SB was able to be tied up nicely, and it would have been best to not even think about the books. Even HW opened up for a nice new story arc. I feel that we have most of it figured out, the tiny details aren't important anymore.

[kawailook]

Oh my god that outro felt so good it was so simple no remnant, robot super powers just a simple ghost story as it used to be

[sheevthesenatepalpatine]

FNAF really needs a reboot, right now the series is just the first 3 games to me

[TypingWeirdo]

All I wanted to know in FNAF was who was the Phone Guy? It's a shame his story was never expanded upon. We all know Scott wanted him to be innocent of the murders, but that's about it. He was the most likable character in my opinion, and it would have been nice to know why he stayed so long at the restaurant (possibly guilt after the end of fnaf 2? or he ended up knowing too much, and the murderer threatened him?) Anyways, other than him, I couldn't care less about the fnaf lore. The fun part of fnaf was always the horror and watching youtuber reactions to it, IMO.

[ghostfacegirl]

I have a theory that would make almost everything make perfect sense, but I don't think the fandom is ready for it.




What if the Easter eggs... Are just Easter eggs with no significance to the story?

[plorabare]

I feel the Blob is the symbol of the FNAF games mixed all together in a jumbled mess of lore and, more lore.

[yeahok]

I don’t think anyone really HAS to solve fnaf… I’m honestly a fan because I appreciate the journey the series has taken me through over the years, the scare, the mystery, the deep, confusing web of events… I loved, and still love, ALL OF IT. It doesn’t have to be perfect or flawless to be good or entertaining.

That being said, there also isn’t anything wrong with theory videos at all. What’s the harm? They add a fun level of community discussion and teamwork to the fanbase that has brought a lot of us together.

But if you’re really caught up over every aspect of the entire series not matching up, think of it this way; for example, the Fazbear Frights books versus the rest of the prior game/book-verses. That sub-series essentially takes some of the same characters, concepts, locations, and events— and spins them into a new timeline/series of events, adding new characters and elements along the way. That’s pretty freakin’ cool to me, even if there are some who don’t like the FF series for whatever reason. Their opinions are valid, but I just love FNAF so much that I always genuinely enjoy any form of new content.

I think some of us in the fandom have really lost that ability to experience new awe with the series, and that’s not necessarily the fault of the fans, OR the series/its creators. Some of us are close to growing out of what used to draw us into the old familiarity of let’s plays and older theory videos. Sure, the timelines have gotten more complex, but again, as Scott stated, he didn’t always have it planned out.

Personally? I actually LIKE that. I like that it doesn’t all fit. I truly enjoy the core concepts of FNAF (Haunted animatronics, Afton/horrible deeds/tragedies, corrupt companies, Remnant, Agony, family trauma+drama).

[Bingus.]

I like the fact that fnaf has become more like pieces of a story rather than a completely coherent story because it allows a kind of ever changing one of different interpretations to take place. I like how the different understandings can create a whole new story from newer pieces that require different interpretations of the older ones in order to fit. Idk if that makes sense :/