The Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) franchise has grown from a single indie horror game into a sprawling multimedia universe over the past decade. With multiple games released out of chronological order, piecing together the full FNAF timeline can be challenging. This guide breaks down the chronological order of the main FNAF games and their place in the overarching narrative.
Chronological Timeline of FNAF Games
Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 (1983)
Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 serves as the earliest point in the FNAF timeline, taking place in 1983. Players control a young child defending against nightmarish versions of the animatronic characters in their bedroom. The game reveals the tragic backstory of the Afton family, particularly the incident known as the “Bite of '83” where the protagonist is severely injured by an animatronic.
Key story elements:
- Introduces William Afton and his family
- Shows the origin of Fredbear’s Family Diner
- Establishes the “Bite of '83” incident
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (1987)
Set in 1987, FNAF 2 occurs at a newly reopened Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza location. Players take on the role of night guard Jeremy Fitzgerald, tasked with surviving against both old and new animatronic characters. This game introduces several key elements to the FNAF lore:
- The “Bite of '87” incident
- William Afton’s first murders at Freddy’s
- Introduction of the Puppet/Marionette character
The game ends with the pizzeria’s closure due to the tragic events that unfold.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location (Late 1980s)
While its exact placement is debated, Sister Location likely takes place shortly after FNAF 2. The game shifts focus to Circus Baby’s Pizza World, another restaurant owned by Afton Robotics. Players control Michael Afton, William’s son, as he works as a technician in the underground facility.
Sister Location expands the lore by:
- Introducing the Circus Baby animatronic and other new characters
- Revealing more of the Afton family’s dark history
- Showing Michael Afton’s transformation and motivations
Five Nights at Freddy’s (Early 1990s)
The original Five Nights at Freddy’s game is set in the early 1990s at a rundown Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza location. Players, as night guard Mike Schmidt (implied to be Michael Afton in disguise), must survive five nights while managing limited power to fend off the haunted animatronics.
This game establishes the core FNAF gameplay and introduces:
- The main cast of Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy
- The concept of haunted animatronics
- References to past tragedies at Freddy’s locations
Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 (2023)
Set 30 years after the events of the first game, FNAF 3 takes place in Fazbear’s Fright: The Horror Attraction. This horror-themed attraction is built using salvaged parts from the old Freddy’s restaurants. Players must survive against Springtrap, the decayed suit containing William Afton’s corpse.
Key elements:
- Introduction of Springtrap
- Minigames revealing more of the past murders
- The attraction burning down, seemingly ending the Fazbear legacy
Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator (Late 2020s)
This game, also known as FNAF 6, has players managing a new Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza restaurant while salvaging and defending against hostile animatronics at night. It serves as a conclusion to the main storyline started in the first game.
Important plot points:
- Return of key characters like Springtrap and Baby
- Revealing Henry Emily’s (Afton’s former business partner) plan
- A final confrontation and apparent end to the Afton storyline
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted (2029)
Help Wanted is a VR game that acts as both a meta-commentary on the FNAF franchise and a continuation of the story. It introduces the idea of the games themselves existing within the FNAF universe as cover-ups for real events.
Significant developments:
- Introduction of the Glitchtrap virus
- Fazbear Entertainment’s attempts to rehabilitate their image
- Sets up future storylines and characters
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (2030s)
The most recent mainline entry in the series, Security Breach, is set in a massive entertainment complex called the Mega Pizzaplex. Players control Gregory, a young boy trapped overnight, as he tries to survive and uncover the location’s dark secrets.
This game:
- Introduces new glamrock animatronic characters
- Continues plotlines from Help Wanted
- Expands the scope of the FNAF universe significantly
FNAF Games in Release Order
For those interested in experiencing the games as they were originally released:
- Five Nights at Freddy’s (2014)
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2014)
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 (2015)
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 (2015)
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Sister Location (2016)
- Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator (2017)
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted (2019)
- Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (2021)
Spin-offs and Additional Content
The FNAF franchise has expanded beyond the main games to include:
- FNAF World - An RPG spin-off (generally considered non-canon)
- Ultimate Custom Night - A customizable challenge mode featuring characters from across the series
- Various mobile games and AR experiences
- A growing series of novels and graphic novels
- Numerous DLC and expansion content for the main games
Whether you’re a longtime fan piecing together the lore or a newcomer looking to dive into the series, understanding the FNAF timeline adds depth to the experience. The intricate storyline and hidden details have helped fuel the franchise’s enduring popularity and passionate fan community.