Gab Hernandez 
Calling Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit a “retro nightmare” is accurate in terms of its scariness, but a bit of an exaggeration since it doesn’t actually last as long as a full night of sleep.
The Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise is a shining example of how indie games with simple ideas, executed to perfection, can become cultural phenomenons. Divisive as the franchise may be at this point, nobody can deny its success. With 19 games, over 20 novels, and a Hollywood film franchise, the animatronic horror game has reached heights no other indie game has.
Still, some hardcore fans can’t help but feel the scares have dwindled in the past few games. Recent entries such as Security Breach and Help Wanted 2 took the franchise in very different directions, alienating longtime fans. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit captures the spirit of the original while very much being its own thing.
Note: Free review copy of Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit provided by Mega Cat Studios
The Good:
- Engaging and varied gameplay with a twist on the traditional FNAF formula
- The art style and sound design are a perfect fit for the game
- The story offers a fascinating twist on the FNAF lore that may surprise even longtime fans
The Bad:
- Short at just six hours, with too much of this dragging due to slow walk cycle
- Hand-holdy to the point where the game feels overly linear
Review Details:
- What Platform Did the Reviewer Play On?: PlayStation 4
- Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
- Official Release Date: September 27, 2024
Welcome to the new Pizzeria
Into the Pit looks different from every FNAF game before it. While retro-style games have popped up in the franchise before, they were inspired by Atari games more than anything else. Into the Pit has a far more detailed art style, bringing the game to life with poppy visuals and smooth animations.
The sound design is also a stand-out, and it’s highly recommended to play the game with headphones. The monotone hum of old vents, footsteps on cracked marble floors, the buzzing of flickering lights, and other small touches make Into the Pit terrifyingly immersive. The atmosphere makes the story that much more captivating.
Into the Pit is based on the Fazbear Frights series of novels, which focus more on the children rather than hapless security guards. Oswald is one of the series’ best protagonists, with plenty of character development and personality. His evolution from a hopelessly scared kid to a determined hero was a satisfying character arc.
The gameplay also mixes up each night, giving the player plenty of activities to do. While fun the first time around, some of the game’s cracks do start to form towards the end. Most players will likely get one of the “worse” endings, prompting another playthrough.
And it won’t take very long for that to happen.
A Shockingly Short Experience
Into the Pit’s exciting story concludes all too quickly. While it does end on a satisfying note, it felt like the game could have done more. The mysteries typical of the average FNAF game highlight just how much the game felt “cut off.” The replayability of the game comes from secret minigames and collectibles. This can prove frustrating given that endings are locked behind those challenges, especially with how arbitrary some of the requirements are.
Still, games are better off slightly too short than overly long. Into The Pit never overstays its welcome. If anything, players should want to experience more of this pixelated iteration of the FNAF world. The game’s success makes that sequel much more likely.
The Bottom Line: Despite being a bit too short and tedious at times, Five Nights at Freddy’s: Into the Pit is a solid horror game through and through.
Score: 8/10
