FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S: HELP WANTED

About

Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted is a single-player horror action game with an intriguing story, awesome game mechanics, and splendid graphics. It offers a collection of new and classic FNAF experiences, including encounters with beloved killer animatronics and the chance to earn super fun prizes. Despite some bugs and grinding, its atmospheric and highly emotional moments make it very replayable. A VR headset is not required to play.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 14,270 reviews

gameplay118 positive mentions

stability94 negative mentions

gameplay
439 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
5%
The gameplay of the latest Five Nights at Freddy's installment has been praised for its immersive VR experience, effectively translating the mechanics of the original games while introducing new elements that enhance tension and engagement. Players appreciate the variety of gameplay modes and the polished graphics, although some have noted issues with repetitive mechanics and certain levels being frustratingly difficult. Overall, the game is considered a strong entry in the franchise, particularly for fans of horror and VR gaming.
- “Arguably the best way to play the first three original games with the mechanics being more finely tuned than the originals.”
- “Even though it's essentially a VR remake of previous games, it keeps that same thrill when playing and even increases tension through the immersive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay suits VR perfectly: it's room-scale casual physical tasks similar to job simulator but under a constant threat of getting jumpscared.”
- “The gameplay itself is rubbish.”
- “This game is too expensive for what you get, the jumpscares are predictable after 5 minutes, and the gameplay is repetitive. I loved the original FNAF games, but this is just a scam; I understand the appeal of VR, but the VR is annoying to play.”
- “The graphics are poor, and the gameplay made me want to turn it off after 20 minutes of boredom.”
story
420 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
70%
2%
The story in "Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging narrative and the way it expands on the franchise's lore. While some find the story minimal or complicated, especially for newcomers, others enjoy the hidden elements and collectibles that enhance the experience. Overall, the game successfully combines familiar elements from previous titles with new twists, making it a compelling addition to the series.
- “Possibly one of the most intense VR games you can play, Help Wanted is a thrilling experience that transitions FNAF into a new era of storytelling with the introduction of the anomaly.”
- “The story is engaging (per usual) and the humor is really charming.”
- “This game is a terrifying recreation of the original Five Nights at Freddy's games along with some new creative ideas that Steel Wool Studios have made fit in perfectly in the game's story and feel like something Fazbear Entertainment would actually create while still being entertaining.”
- “The only real complaint I have is that they tried to put a story into this, and it never should have had one like this.”
- “I was hoping the game had a story and you'd have to explore, find items, complete tasks, etc. Instead, it's simple and repetitive with no clear strategy and a bunch of jump scares.”
- “There isn't even much story and doesn't add much to the main canon.”
graphics
337 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
2%
The graphics in "FNAF: Help Wanted" are widely praised for their high quality and immersive detail, particularly in VR mode, where they enhance the horror experience significantly. Many users highlight the stunning visuals and animations, although some mention occasional glitches and a lack of graphical options that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is considered a visual standout in the franchise, effectively combining atmosphere and gameplay.
- “Wonderful game with great graphics, fun story and detailed scenes.”
- “The graphics, animations, mini games, interaction and so on are the best I've ever seen from multiple FNAF games I've played.”
- “FNAF: Help Wanted is a great horror experience for all FNAF fans and casual horror fans to enjoy. It has amazing, almost realistic graphics and it mostly sticks to the source material.”
- “There is also a lack of graphics options in the VR version, which makes things even worse.”
- “The menu barely works, you need to sit through the intro every time you revert to the title screen, the texture quality looks horrid even on the max settings, and the graphics quality always reverts to 'ultra' for no reason.”
- “The one thing I have to fault this game for is the lack of graphical options; even though the game runs at 90fps most of the time, in the levels that are ports of the original games, stuttering can occur when switching cameras, and viewing cameras farther away from the player displays animatronics with lower LOD levels than when they are near you.”
atmosphere
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and terrifying qualities, particularly in VR mode, which enhances the player's sense of dread and engagement. Reviewers highlight the exceptional sound design and graphics that contribute to a consistently unnerving environment, making it a standout experience for horror fans. While some players note that the jumpscares may lose their impact over time, the overall ambiance effectively maintains tension and fear throughout gameplay.
- “The graphics and sound design are exceptional, effectively creating a dark and foreboding atmosphere that heightens the suspense.”
- “The atmosphere is very immersive, everything is very convincing and very scary.”
- “The tension and atmosphere the game brings is genuinely fantastic and really works to set you on edge.”
- “The gameplay is not fun; you just need to keep enough electricity alive by saving energy. There is no atmosphere or buildup.”
- “The atmosphere is just a generic dark office room or generic dark bedroom, with little background noise other than a fan or wind to add to the atmosphere.”
- “There is no lighthearted pizzeria management game or story segments to let you wind down in between the challenges, and I find myself ripping off my headset several times when something unexpected happens because the atmosphere was just too much for me.”
humor
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
2%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding it to be a delightful mix of fun and scares, often leading to laughter during jump scares and intense moments. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to turn potentially frightening scenarios into comedic experiences, making it enjoyable both solo and with friends. Overall, the humor is seen as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay, contributing to its appeal as a unique VR horror experience.
- “This game is so fun, so intense, somewhat hilarious, and it is like a whole different genre of terror; it is so scary and amazing for the spooky holiday!”
- “I couldn't recommend this game enough for its horror, humor, and all of the above.”
- “Even if the product as a whole feels like a loosely joined together collection of smaller games, the humor, gameplay, and overall presentation are spot on.”
- “I was expecting some laughs, but the humor fell flat and left me disappointed.”
- “The jokes were stale and unoriginal, making it hard to find anything funny.”
- “I thought the humor would be clever, but it ended up being cringeworthy instead.”
stability
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in non-VR modes. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, others describe it as a "buggy mess" that can be frustrating and detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, stability remains a significant concern, with many hoping for future updates to address these problems.
- “Thanks to Steel Wool Studio, Scott, and SWS, they managed to create a VR game that is 99% bug-free and offers an excellent experience in VR.”
- “This is a very bad game for VR; it's so buggy and doesn't track my movement.”
- “The game is just buggy and the developers won't fix it.”
- “Absolutely awful and a buggy mess.”
music
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
77%
11%
The music in the game series is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience. Many players appreciate the iconic songs, particularly the music box from FNAF 2, despite some noting its repetitive nature and challenges in gameplay mechanics. Overall, the sound design is considered a key element that contributes to the game's eerie ambiance and emotional depth.
- “The ambient music is great and the sound design is just as good. I love the music so much because it manages to be both haunting and relaxing, which really matches the feeling of the game because you're being hunted down by haunted robots meant to entertain young children.”
- “The music and atmosphere is perfect.”
- “It is so good as a game both in visuals and in music.”
- “The same songs we've known since that day.”
- “Sure, the music box can get a bit annoying at first, but since I played it a lot, I got used to the song repeating every 5 seconds.”
- “The music box is really hard to wind sometimes.”
grinding
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
73%
22%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious, with many players feeling it requires an unrealistic time commitment, often humorously suggesting that one would need "a second life" to manage it. While some find the grind rewarding and fulfilling, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration due to repetitive tasks and game mechanics that exacerbate the grind.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I have to admit the actual ending was a little tedious.”
- “To some, this may be an exciting and fun concept, but I just find it tedious.”
- “Edit: after tinkering, you have to launch the game into the level selection screen, then go back to the main menu and it seems to fix whatever mouse issues there are whilst changing settings, still leaving my review at negative as it's extremely tedious but other than that the game itself is great.”
replayability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
6%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly replayable due to the inclusion of multiple nights, mini-games, collectibles, and additional modes, others feel that once the mechanics are mastered, the excitement diminishes. The second installment of the series is particularly noted for its enhanced replay value compared to the original games, which were criticized for lacking depth in this area. Despite some criticisms, many players still enjoy the variety and fun offered, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “It has 5 nights for most of the FNAF games in the series and some extra levels as well as a nightmare mode that gives a little spin to the levels that you've already completed, which increases the game's replayability, with a little story to connect everything together into a somewhat believable premise.”
- “There are coins and prizes to collect for achievements and plenty of jump scares and spooky music making this a must-play VR horror game with a lot of replayability to be had.”
- “It definitely has the most replayability out of any FNAF game (you need to find coins and tapes hidden within the levels) and it is by far the most terrifying game in the entire series.”
- “The single only gripe there is from me is: it holds stature through name, not replayability.”
- “I was so excited for this game only to be extremely let down by the lack of excitement and replayability.”
- “Replayability is a little on the weak side, once you know how to beat 'em they don't bring much fun, but it is a good party game (which is what I use it for) for your friends to do rapid jumpscares while the others laugh.”
emotional
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a profound emotional response to the game, often feeling overwhelmed by fear and anxiety, leading to tears and intense immersion. Many describe moments that are both heart-wrenching and terrifying, with some experiencing lasting effects like PTSD. Despite the fear, the game also includes wholesome elements that resonate with fans, creating a complex emotional experience that keeps players engaged.
- “I cried myself to sleep.”
- “This game is both heart-wrenching and incredible at the same time.”
- “This game makes me want to cry inside but I can't stop playing it.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
6%
44%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players praise its overall performance and high-quality visuals, others report significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly when using certain features like camera switching. Some users experience smooth gameplay on lower-end systems, but there are notable complaints about poor optimization for specific hardware, such as the Valve Index, and a lack of graphical options. Overall, the game is well-made but suffers from inconsistent performance that can detract from the experience.
- “Splendid game, very well made and optimized!”
- “High quality modeling, texturing is high quality, and an overall high quality game that runs smoothly.”
- “This game is one of the best made and optimized games out for VR right now.”
- “But right after starting the first night of the first game and turning on one of the cameras, the game starts stuttering at <1 fps.”
- “Poorly optimized gameplay isn't how anyone wants to play.”
- “The one thing I have to fault this game for though is the lack of graphical options. Even though the game runs at 90 fps most of the time, in the levels that are ports of the original games (especially the second game), stuttering can occur when switching cameras, and viewing cameras farther away from the player displays animatronics with lower LOD levels than when they are near you.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for Fredbear's Family Diner has been criticized as a cash grab, with several mini-games being recycled from a mobile version and lacking depth. While the VR adaptation offers some engaging mechanics and animated characters, it ultimately feels like a rehash of existing content rather than a fully realized new experience.
- “There isn't much to it other than being a somewhat cash grab at playing a popular cult mini-series in VR with VR mechanics and animated characters that show life, unlike the flash-looking versions.”
- “It's a bit of a cash grab too, as 3 or 4 of the 8 mini-games were released for mobile and are terribly basic with VR added as an afterthought.”
- “The game feels like a cash grab, capitalizing on the popularity of the franchise without offering much new or engaging content.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is highlighted by impressive and immersive character designs that enhance the player's experience, making them feel personally invested in the narrative. The unsettling design of Glitchtrap stands out, and the clarity and depth of the story and lore are noted as significant improvements over previous titles in the franchise.
- “Very immense character designs and you feel like you are going through every game through your own eyes with bonuses!”
- “Glitchtrap is the most unsettling character design I've ever seen, and the story/lore in this game is so much more clear and interesting than other FNAF games.”