Return to the origin of animatronic horror in the newest Five Nights at Freddy’s installment, Into The Pit.  This deeply immersive 2D-pixel game will have you on the edge of your seat. Play as Oswald, a 10-year-old boy who yearns for a life that isn’t so boring and stuck to a routine. He soon gets his wish when he visits the old Pizzeria. Oswald is forced to brave through his terror of being hunted and chased while traversing through time periods to save those he cares about. 

Help Oswald endure five nights amidst endless terror. Collect hints and evade The Yellow Rabbit in this chilling adventure game. Be quick and stealthy to stand a chance of survival. The game promises fun replayability with five endings, especially for achievement hunters.

Welcome Back to the True Horror  

Into the Pit is a fresh scare from the moment the game boots up. The menu screen immerses you in an atmosphere ranging from unsettling to terrifying. In my session, I opted for the narrative to lean towards the “creepy” difficulty setting for a more narrative-focused playthrough. Right from the get-go, the ambiance is enthralling. The sound design tightens the tension—a salute to the genius behind the ominous drumming and the pulsating rhythm of a heartbeat. The visuals are engaging, with jump scares that are both startling and masterfully achieved. I was hooked immediately. The gameplay involves guiding Oswald through various actions such as running, interacting with elements in the environment, solving puzzles and, yes, hiding. It’s a horror game at its core, and the developers, Mega Cat Studios, excel in creating a genuinely spine-chilling experience while you flee from animatronics in a bloodthirsty frenzy.

“Into The Pit is a much-needed return to form for the FNaF series, which has admittedly started to lose its scare factor significantly” ItsJustKetchup (Steam)

As a Five Nights at Freddy’s enthusiast, discovering that the video game drew inspiration from Elley Cooper and Scott Cawthon’s 2019 novel, “Into the Pit,” from the Fazbear Frights series, was exciting. The game adaptation of “Into The Pit” further elaborates on the original short story in many ways, complementing the story and the franchise without fail. I highly recommend the book to any series fans looking for an exhilarating adventure—it’s a must-read.

Verdict

I genuinely enjoyed the jump scares in the game. They were unexpected, avoiding the typical cliches and keeping the tension up throughout my playtime. Discovering easter eggs in the story and hidden within the game’s settings added an extra layer of enjoyment.

For the first time in an FNaF (Five Nights at Freddy’s) game, I had the opportunity to venture beyond the Pizzaria and delve into various locations. Each place had secrets waiting to be uncovered, enriching the exploration aspect and deepening its roots in the beloved FNaF universe.

The game offers a thrilling horror experience, though I noticed some inconsistencies in the storyline. For instance, there were multiple opportunities for The Yellow Rabbit or the Creature to eliminate Oswald. Yet, it never happened until a ‘Defeated’ screen flashed The Yellow Rabbit devouring Oswald, which raises questions about the events leading to that moment. My only assumption is that this baiting and prolonged torment may hint at a deeper strategy of instilling fear by allowing the illusion of escape. It’s unclear if this character is Afton, Spring Bonnie, or a different entity with similar traits. This minor inconsistency is a small dent in an otherwise faithful extension of the FNaF universe.

Regardless, I’m captivated by this game and look forward to uncovering its other endings and delving deeper into its mysteries.

Reviewed on Steam with an Xbox controller. Review code provided by the publisher.