Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location
- July 10, 2020
- Yu Ro
- 8h median play time
Genuinely terrifying, great storytelling, creepy designs - if it could find the right balance between varying mechanics, then it would have it all.
In Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location, you take on the role of a technician at Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental, maintaining mechanical animals. The game features distinct nights with varying objectives, such as surviving enemy attacks or completing tasks. As the story unfolds, you'll explore hidden minigames and uncover surprising twists in this immersive horror experience.
Reviews
- story689 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story in "Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location" is widely praised for its depth and complexity, marking a significant shift from previous entries in the franchise. Reviewers highlight the game's focus on narrative, character development, and voice acting, which contribute to a more immersive experience. However, some players find the story convoluted and feel that the gameplay can detract from the overall narrative, suggesting that while the storytelling is engaging, it may not appeal to those seeking traditional gameplay mechanics.
“The story is gripping and the atmosphere is really industrial.”
“Sister Location has lovely gameplay, amazing visuals, incredible music composed by Leon Riskin, and a fantastic story that makes the twisted world of Five Nights at Freddy's even better than it was before.”
“The story takes a massive shift from here, going from a story about murders around a franchise, into a story of a family full of tragedy.”
“Honestly, I'd recommend doing that because you'll probably have more fun just watching someone play through the main game than actually playing it, and you'll still get all the story.”
“The story is pretty convoluted, but I suppose it could be worse.”
“This game is barely a game, more like a collection of poorly made minigames with a story that doesn't do much either.”
- gameplay608 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location" represents a significant departure from previous entries in the series, introducing varied mechanics and a more narrative-driven experience. While some players appreciate the fresh approach and unique tasks each night, others criticize the gameplay for being overly simplistic, repetitive, or frustrating, particularly during certain challenging segments like Night 4. Overall, the game is seen as a mixed bag, with engaging elements for those interested in the lore, but potentially disappointing for fans seeking traditional FNAF gameplay.
“Going through the cameras, closing doors, trying to preserve battery life, it was peak FNAF gameplay, and I felt accomplished when I finally beat it.”
“The gameplay is very well put together and actually balanced.”
“The introduction of different animatronic personalities and their distinct mechanics adds a layer of complexity and unpredictability to the gameplay, ensuring that no two nights are the same.”
“The gameplay of nights 1-5 is pretty much non-existent.”
“Night 4 is just the most atrocious and totally unnecessary gameplay in any horror game ever.”
“The gameplay is boring and tedious, and the story feels like a cop-out of the lore that was already established.”
- graphics159 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the improved visuals and aesthetic design compared to previous entries in the franchise. While some noted issues with performance on certain systems and the game's age leading to blurriness, the overall consensus highlights the game's stunning animations, immersive atmosphere, and effective use of 3D graphics. However, a few players expressed disappointment with graphical limitations and bugs, suggesting that while the visuals are impressive, they may not meet the expectations set by modern gaming standards.
“Sister Location has lovely gameplay, amazing visuals, incredible music composed by Leon Riskin, and a fantastic story that makes the twisted world of Five Nights at Freddy's even better than it was before.”
“The graphics are amazing and the sound effects literally send shivers down your spine.”
“The graphics are top notch.”
“Great game, but it can't be played on the newest graphic drivers for AMD. I have to install a very old one in order for it to work, which is a big hassle...”
“However, it is showing its age - the graphics are very blurry, and that makes several sections significantly harder than they should be.”
“This game is poorly made, and the graphics aren't as good as the pictures make them out to be.”
- humor134 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and ability to break tension, blending dark comedy with horror elements effectively. Many players appreciate the comedic timing of characters like the Hand Unit and the humorous cutscenes, which provide a refreshing contrast to the game's scary atmosphere. While some jokes may not resonate with everyone, the overall consensus is that the humor enhances the experience, making it both entertaining and engaging.
“A very different experience that manages to stay funny and scary at the same time.”
“The humor is fantastic and simple.”
“This game has a nice sense of humor; one of my favorite parts would be the immortal and the restless.”
- atmosphere105 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively combining sound design, visuals, and narrative to create a tense and unsettling experience. Many players appreciate the unique environments and the way the game builds suspense, although some feel that the humor and gameplay mechanics can detract from the horror elements. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal as a horror title.
“It's a creepy environment and atmosphere coupled with terrifying jumpscares, making this game a really good horror game.”
“The atmosphere, visuals, sound design, and writing are all top-notch here.”
“The eerie ambience, accompanied by the haunting music and spine-tingling animatronic voices, creates an atmosphere of dread that permeates every corner of the game.”
“Unfortunately, the entire game, to me, just doesn't ooze the spooky atmosphere I would have expected.”
“Jump scares don't really do much for me, and the atmosphere was not potent.”
“The horror element is completely different from the previous four games; while the jump scares aren't as loud, they are still scary and in your face, but the real horror is the general atmosphere of the game, having to go through pitch-black rooms with the possibility of death with every move.”
- music81 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location" has received widespread acclaim for its haunting and immersive quality, expertly composed by Leon Riskin. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's eerie atmosphere, with standout tracks like "Join Us for a Bite" and effective audio cues that contribute to the overall tension. Despite some technical issues reported by players, the music remains a significant highlight, praised for its creativity and emotional impact.
“The soundtrack is also dope; Leon Riskin did a good job composing the music.”
“The eerie ambience, accompanied by the haunting music and spine-tingling animatronic voices, creates an atmosphere of dread that permeates every corner of the game.”
“The music is awesome, the voice acting is amazing, and just the look and feel of the game is so good!”
“Night four, I swear I'm so close; it's gotten to the point I muted the audio and I have to blast music in my earbuds instead to cope.”
“Audio not working, I can't hear Baby at all, I can't hear Funtime Freddy or Bonnie, and the Handy Unit doesn't work on night 2. I haven't been able to go any further due to lack of audio, and I can't hear Ballora's music.”
“The music in Ballora's gallery is so quiet, and when she is close and you're using surround sound speakers, it sounds really quiet, so I got jumpscared.”
- grinding49 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing frustration over the need to repeatedly complete mundane tasks and mini-games. Several reviews highlight that the gameplay often feels broken or overly complicated, detracting from the overall enjoyment and immersion. While some elements are appreciated, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding mechanics significantly hinder the experience, making it feel more like a chore than a fun challenge.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The voice actors did great though, they're definitely a highlight of the game, but no amount of great voice acting and story can make up for a tedious, boring game.”
“Performing the same, menial tasks over and over again ended up taking the 'scare' away from it, and the game just ended up being tedious and, worst of all, boring.”
“The gameplay is boring and tedious, and the story feels like a cop-out of the lore that was already established.”
- replayability39 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag. While many players find the main game lacks replay value due to its linearity and narrative focus, the addition of a custom night has been praised for enhancing replayability, offering varied gameplay experiences. However, opinions vary, with some players feeling that the custom night is not enough to compensate for the limited replayability of the main game.
“It's excellent on a first playthrough, and while it doesn't hold up on repeat playthroughs, it does have a lot of replayability with the custom night that was added in a later update.”
“The custom night is like the classic FNAF formula, but each character has their own (completely different) behavior, which does add to the replayability.”
“There is much more replay value in the game now, and the custom night is like a whole new game within the original game.”
“The game has little to no replayability.”
“There is really not a lot of replay value when it comes to the main game, however.”
“Due to it being a story-driven, on-rails pseudo walking sim, there is zero replay value whatsoever outside of the only actually well-made gameplay-wise but often overlooked custom night.”
- emotional17 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, often describing experiences of heartbreak and deep investment in the characters, particularly the animatronics. The narrative explores themes of identity and the consequences of technology, evoking strong feelings through its storytelling and music. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to elicit genuine emotional responses, making it a memorable and impactful experience.
“Sister location prompts us to confront the implications of technology as an extension of our own identity and the consequences of creating entities that bear our emotional and psychological marks.”
“There's also a part of this game that shocked even me, and without going into spoiler territory, made me emotionally invested in the animatronics.”
“It's dark, emotional, disturbing and brilliant in every way...and it easily rivals the amazing storytelling perspective of FNAF 4.”
- stability16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 81 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising it for being glitch-free and well-optimized, while others report issues such as freezing and various bugs that hinder gameplay. Despite these problems, many users appreciate the developer's responsiveness in addressing glitches through updates. Overall, while some players enjoy a smooth experience, others recommend waiting for further patches to ensure a more stable gameplay experience.
“No glitches, no bugs. I recommend it to anyone who asks for a top-of-the-line horror game.”
“It's a really good game; no glitches, everything is good. This game is awesome.”
“While I do recommend Sister Location, there are bugs that come with being newly released, and you may want to wait if you want a bug-free experience.”
“It merely freezes up the game, and locks the mouse into the center of my computer screen.”
“This game is a great addition, but it's really buggy; I can't get past night two after I close the grate a second time.”
“Though I wasn't sure where to put that I found a bug, whenever I get the death mini-game it always glitches and won't let me jump before the screen pushes me off of the platform.”
- character development11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is highlighted by its impressive character designs and voice acting, which contribute to a dark and intriguing story that expands the franchise's lore. While some players find the narrative strange and filled with new theories, the overall execution of character design and atmosphere is praised as a significant improvement over previous entries. Despite mixed opinions on the gameplay, the game is recognized for its revolutionary elements and strong visual presentation.
“Now basically I have to say one thing, I absolutely loved this game; the story was dark, the character development was good, and gameplay-wise, the game completely switched it up.”
“The story, character design, sound design, music, and visuals here are some of the best in the original Scott Cawthon series of FNAF games. It was revolutionary for its time, being the first to bring staples of the franchise such as hand unit and his many counterparts, Kellen Goff, actual control over the character (in a limited, clickteamy janky way but nonetheless), as well as being the first to have proper voice acting.”
“This game is significantly different compared to the ones before it; the story is kind of strange and creates a bunch of new weird theories. However, the diverse mechanics, voice acting, music, character designs, atmosphere, easter eggs, etc., are all amazing and a fantastic continuation of this franchise, a step in the right direction.”
“The only positives this game has are its additions to the lore of the universe, its character designs, and saving the franchise after the lull created by FNAF World; which has a better core gameplay loop than this abomination.”
“The story, character design, sound design, music, and visuals here are some of the best in the original Scott Cawthon series of FNAF games, but the character development feels lacking and doesn't meet the expectations set by previous titles.”
“While the character designs are visually appealing, the depth of character development is disappointingly shallow, leaving players wanting more from the narrative experience.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, despite players acknowledging its unique gameplay and considering it a strong entry in the FNAF series. Some fans still prefer FNAF World over this installment.
“Mfw cash grab”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and effective optimization, earning a rating of 4.25/5 stars. Players appreciate the fresh gameplay experience and the seamless integration of new elements, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a polished custom night.
“I would rate this game 4.25/5 stars, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a breath of fresh air from the previous games and wants a custom night that runs smoothly and introduces new elements.”
“Great gameplay, runs smoothly.”
Critic Reviews
Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location Review - Not What You Expected
Genuinely terrifying, great storytelling, creepy designs - if it could find the right balance between varying mechanics, then it would have it all.
90%Review: Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
60%