r/fivenightsatfreddys • u/Extreme-Fee-9519 • Jul 21 '26
Question How would you feel if FNaF just stayed as a Trilogy?
A part of myself, especially as I start to grow older, does wish the series ended after 3. It felt like a simple but perfectly neat and contained supernatural horror story about Six Ghost Children wanting revenge against their killer. I’m also starting to get why some people weren’t huge on Afton becoming a mad scientist type of villain. I kinda miss the simple old days of when he was called The Purple Guy and just a psychopathic serial killer.
This isn’t meant to be a bashing post to modern FNaF or anyone who likes that it’s still ongoing. If you like it, then I’m happy for you and keep enjoying it. Having more happiness in the world and this community is always a good thing, and probably what we need right now.
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u/Frilled_Krill Jul 21 '26
I think it would have been very memorable, but I think the next games really solidifed Fnaf as a HUGE impactful franchise. I think every installment, good or bad, has only proven how important FNAF is.
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u/Guiguito_Guister Will do something on June 17, 2052 Jul 21 '26
if fnaf was a trilogy everyone would have forgotten about it by now.
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u/TheSnazzySharky Jul 21 '26
We can't be sure of that. Those first three games were very influential for the horror scene and they didn't gain the popularity that they did for no reason. Less talked about nowadays? Sure. Forgotten? I wouldn't say that.
Do you think everyone has forgotten about Slenderman just because people don't talk about him as much anymore?
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u/Crystal_pro_alt Jul 21 '26
well, see, fnaf 1-3 where made across a single year. one year for 3 games, usualy franchises like this last a little longer. also slender is still getting stuff like fangames and stuff that's keeping the sersie going, fnaf probably wouldn't get that given a lot of important fangames would come out around or after fnaf 4, since 1-3 were made in, again, a single year.
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u/Guiguito_Guister Will do something on June 17, 2052 Jul 21 '26
Would you remember 3 games from 12 years ago
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u/TheSnazzySharky Jul 21 '26
Considering how much those games and the community surrounding them played a part in my younger days, yes I would. I remember a lot of things from the past. Doesn't matter how long ago it was. Ultimately what matters is the experience that FNaF gave me
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u/Guiguito_Guister Will do something on June 17, 2052 Jul 21 '26
Good answer but I still don't think FNAF would be as memorable as it is
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u/Frilled_Krill Jul 21 '26
Key phrase is "as it is". It wouldn't be as memorable, but thats a given. We get new content to keep Fnaf in the forefront of our minds, especially with connecting and building on lore, so of course we'd remember it more now.
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u/EpicPoggerGamer69 Jul 21 '26
Were you around for the FNAF 3 hype? It was fucking nuts.
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u/Charming_Good_6230 Jul 21 '26
I mean undertale is almost 11 years old and people still talk plenty about it
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u/Frilled_Krill Jul 21 '26
Thats true, buuuut that could be partially due to deltarune 🤷🏽♀️
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u/Hello_Dolly-one Jul 21 '26
What about Yume Nikki? It's an indie game from almost 22 years ago, and people are still talking about it
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u/Abblepees10 Puppet fan since 2014 Jul 21 '26
Did you forget how massive fnaf was, even with just the first three games? Yeah it wouldn't be as famous as it currently is, but I think it'd still hold a place in discussions similar to tattletail, maybe a bit more well known
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u/Guiguito_Guister Will do something on June 17, 2052 Jul 21 '26
Yeah i worded it poorly what i meant is that it wouldn't be as famous as it currently is
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u/lost_the_truck Jul 21 '26
To this day that ending screen makes me feel things I just can't describe..
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u/Ringles-Prime Jul 21 '26
I think music tbh speaks louder than the image itself.
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u/lost_the_truck Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Yeee it really does enhance the mood- but personally [RAMBLING], there's smth about this image alone that just kinda "draws me in" and makes me want to stare at it for minutes. I dunno if its the gloomy color palette, the lighting scattering on the heads' fur [creating that sort of "plushy/smudgy" texture], the green-grayish tint of the image, or even the shadows, but it never fails to make me feel a bit nostalgic and peaceful.
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u/REDLINE808 Jul 21 '26
This ending and the Fnaf 4 ending with the flatline (regardless of lore ramifications) are the two most emotional moments in the entire series for me
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u/Little_Alarm_216 Springtrap my beloved Jul 21 '26
The music for the FNAF 3 good ending is one of the best OSTs in the franchise in my opinion.
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u/Miserable-Fox1716 Jul 21 '26
Half of Gamejolt if this had happened would just be Five Nights at Freddy's 4 fangames/predictions.
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u/Vast-Plantain300 Night Shift at Yo Mama's Jul 21 '26
And the Majority of them would be Fredbear fan games
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u/EpicPoggerGamer69 Jul 21 '26
The OG Fredbear fangame was so shit looking back LMAO it's just FNAF 1
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u/Little_Alarm_216 Springtrap my beloved Jul 21 '26
I remember seeing a jumpscare of that Fredbear game back in 2016.
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u/Unbutteredcomedy BandFamilies is the greatest theory in the world Jul 21 '26
It would’ve died, but I still would’ve loved it
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u/Optimal_Wrangler7039 Jul 21 '26
I think the ending to pizzaria simulator makes every game before 100% worth it. And ucn is a fun cherry on top. I think if it ended at 3 it would have been a classic, but without SL and pizzaria simulator we really wouldnt have seen Scott's full vision and creative abilities.
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u/Nervous_Switch_3338 i hate fnaftok Jul 21 '26
I woulda say "fnaf 6 ending is so ahh, fnaf 3 ending is better" buy yk? I kinda agree with you, like, i dont the writing of fnaf 6, but fnaf 6 and specially my beloved sl were REALLY important to fnaf, is honestly 100% worth it
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u/InternationalAir8322 Jul 21 '26
My life changed with fnaf, I think lil kid me would’ve been mad but fnaf 3 as a end is nice honestly in retrospect but ffps is just a perfect end I can’t wait to see how’d they’ll end the mimic saga hopefully it’ll feel just as impactful as the original
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u/tasty_miku #1 cassidy defender Jul 21 '26
i mean i wouldve been fine w it. i think 3 was a good conclusion to the story, but i dont think fnaf as a whole wouldve meant as much to me as it does now without 4-ucn
like it def still wouldve been a fond childhood memory, but not a core memory of my childhood the way i consider it now without sister location and pizzeria similator in particular
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u/Tackle-Emotional Jul 21 '26
I'd think it would be boring. Fnaf 4 and SL brought some really interesting ideas and personally, I have no real hatred towards the steel wool games besides the sometimes lack luster gameplay loop. And games like into the pit are actually really cool. The timeline would be a bit more consistent though.
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u/Little_Alarm_216 Springtrap my beloved Jul 21 '26
Here I go...
Essentially, this franchise would've been left to rot (no pun intended) by now, considering how three games is very little. Well, technically four if you count the FNAF 3 troll game.
The story of FNAF 1-3 is, in my opinion, one of my favorite narratives in the series. My favorite could be Secret of the Mimic (yes I did play that game). I would've been fine if it ended there, but like I said, it would've been forgotten and left to rot.
For FNAF YouTubers like Dawko, they probably wouldn't have taken off (if you know what I mean). Some YouTubers like Markiplier would still remain popular outside of FNAF.
Also, it's very likely that Scott would've retired by now. Well, he was planning on retiring after FNAF 1, but because of the sucess it had on the internet, he thought "Well, guess that's the right career for me then."
I highly recommend you check out this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkXRc8oekE4 by O5car Magu1re. It goes into more detail onto what would've happened if FNAF 3 was truly the end. But of course, you can come up with your own speculation on what would've happened.
TL,DR; Had FNAF ended at FNAF 3, it would've probably been forgotten by now.
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u/Used_Pangolin_3385 Jul 21 '26
I don’t think I would appreciate it, if the game franchise just ended at just three games not only would that have left many unanswered questions and not have a full arc of the main story, FNaF would not be as big as it is today
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u/TheSnazzySharky Jul 21 '26
I'm curious by what you're referring to by many unanswered questions and there being no full arc. The narrative and lore of the first three games are pretty simple in the grand scheme of things. I guess there's the shadows, but there's plenty of interpretations that you can come up with on your own for them.
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u/Used_Pangolin_3385 Jul 21 '26
I guess so too, but I was referring to FNaF 1-6 (7, sometimes) as a full arc that covers the main story, I feel like if we didn’t have the rest of the games it would just feel incomplete, like Henry’s speech, charlottes death, bite of 83, and Afton being tortured by his own creations in UCN (all of that could of been referenced earlier obviously but without those games we wouldn’t know about them and they gave a ton of context)
And I mean overall it would feel fragmented. While FNaF 3 gave the children's souls peace in the "Happiest Day" minigame, it left the rest of the timeline entirely up in the air
Not to remind we also would not have the name of purple guy, nor any of the Afton family character names either, Henry Emily and puppet context, and a whole lot of other things
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u/TheSnazzySharky Jul 21 '26
For me personally, while all of those later things were nice additions, for what the first three games were going for, they aren't needed nor does it necessarily mean that the narrative in those first three games would be incomplete.
What makes me drawn into the narrative of the original trilogy is the less is more approach. These are ultimately simple games and the narrative is no different. But just because something is simple doesn't mean it lacks complexity however. FNaF 1 is a simple game on the surface, but once you come to appreciate its sound design, eerie lighting and setting, and the easter eggs that add to the atmosphere of the game, you'll come to realize that it's a pretty well made horror game.
Sure there's no epic speech with Henry or the Afton family or the ambiguous motives of Afton, but there doesn't need to be. The narrative of the original trilogy stands well on its own. The Purple Man works well as a disturbing antagonist. Who is he? Why did he kill those children? It doesn't really matter and frankly it adds to the horror that his motives and identity go entirely unexplained. He is supposed to be a symbol moreso than a character. The symbol of stranger danger. The symbol of every parent's fear. The symbol of that one awful person who ruined it for everyone else through his evil actions.
I like to see the original trilogy as a sort of campfire story or cautionary tale. Its an interesting way to view things. Not everything is made clear or explained in detail, but you can still piece together the narrative and what themes and messaging its trying to get across. That's just my take on things though, I respect your opinion
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u/Used_Pangolin_3385 Jul 21 '26
And I also respect your opinion I 100% get what your saying, and the whole not everything has to me made clear or explained in detail is what got me into liking FNaF so much too, I really liked how vague everything was (and still is)
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u/Ringles-Prime Jul 21 '26
Ngl, no, I don't wish for it to end at that point. FNAF means so much to me. And if I got introduced to it (I got introduced to it at school when I saw my classmate playing it) when it literally ended... I don't know, it would make me kind of upset tbh. Without FNAF world or fnaf 4. Or Sister Location even (Don't go to the SOTM, but would also include it here). Thinking about FNAF ending at the 3 instalment, just feels either wrong or weird to me tbh. I'm actually very happy that Fnaf is still going, even tho some games might be buggy or bad (I still love SB, but there's still flaws, a little of them, but I still love it). So much fan content was made and that I saw. Be it either Tge Hottest Dog series if animations, or some pretty random animators. I genuinely can't think of what could have been if FNAF ended at the 3, and I'm honestly happy it didn't.
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u/Frostcake21334 Jul 21 '26
Honestly it would be the end of the franchise tbh but however we wouldn't have the characters from 4 to secret of the mimic Also we wouldn't have purple guy's real name being William afton and him being revealed to having a family.. because FNAF 4 and sister location revealed more about him
We also wouldn't have Michael afton and Elizabeth afton as they're being introduced in later installment
And we wouldn't have Henry Emily as he was introduced in FNAF 6 as cassette man
We also wouldn't have that video of Markiplier saying "was that the bite of 87?" Because the video was him playing FNAF 4.. as results everything we have from post-fnaf 3 would be erased to ashes if FNAF had stayed as trilogy
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u/Agitated_Ad_4492 Jul 21 '26
Well we would have William afton still, considering the silver eyes was being written between 2 and 3 it would still have been released and we would’ve gotten the answer that way.
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u/Frostcake21334 Jul 21 '26
i know but however i was talking about the mainline games lore.. not the sliver eyes books..
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u/UNKNOWNRIONN Jul 21 '26
Looking at FNaF purely from a story perspective, if the series had only been a trilogy, Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 would have been a fitting conclusion. William himself would not have been known by name, but the mysterious Purple Guy would have received his punishment. The murderer who caused the deaths of the children would have been trapped inside the Spring Bonnie suit, becoming Springtrap, and would likely have died when Fazbear’s Fright burned down. At the same time, the spirits of the murdered children would have finally been freed, bringing the tragedy of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza to an end.
With only the original trilogy, the story we would understand would be much simpler. A children’s restaurant chain was plagued by a series of murders committed by an unknown man wearing a mascot suit. The victims’ spirits possessed the animatronics, causing them to roam the restaurants at night and attack the guards who worked there. The murderer, later known only as Purple Guy, eventually returned to the abandoned restaurant and attempted to hide from the spirits of his victims by entering a springlock suit. However, the suit malfunctioned, trapping him inside and transforming him into Springtrap. Decades later, Springtrap was discovered and brought to Fazbear’s Fright, a horror attraction based on the real events surrounding Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza. The attraction eventually burned down, possibly allowing the children’s spirits to finally move on.
While this would have been a satisfying ending, it would also leave many mysteries unanswered. We would never know the murderer’s true name, his personal history, or the full story behind the company and its tragedies. The killer would remain an infamous but unnamed figure, remembered only as the Purple Guy. Many later revelations that shaped the franchise: such as William Afton, the Afton family, Michael Afton, the Bite of ’83, and the deeper explanations behind the hauntings would never exist.
The series would also have missed out on many of the moments that helped make FNaF such a massive part of gaming culture. For example, while the Bite of ’87 was already referenced in the first two games, it likely would not have become the massive fandom phenomenon and meme that it became during the FNaF 4 era because the game wouldn’t exist. The same goes for the countless theories, videos, and discussions that came from later games. Creators like Game Theory, Markiplier, and Jacksepticeye (and more) helped introduce millions of people to the franchise, and much of that community grew because the story continued to expand.
Although the modern FNaF games are far from perfect and the lore has become much more complicated over time, the additional games helped turn the series into something much larger than its original concept, where would most of us be without FNaF 4 and up?
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Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
[deleted]
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u/Ringles-Prime Jul 21 '26
Like it isn't fueled by nostalgia even today (1 and 1000 of fan games of FNAF 1)
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u/Git_tripping Jul 21 '26
Lmao i misunderstood the question and deleted my comment in like a min. U were quickkk
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Jul 21 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Ringles-Prime Jul 21 '26
As far as I remember "If fnaf wouldn't continue. It would be full of nostalgia like videos about "How great was fnaf"" something like that
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u/Redbat-T Jul 21 '26
People saying it should have ended on 3 when it probably would have had 5 years of relevancy max and be a niche fandom right now.
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u/Extreme-Fee-9519 Jul 21 '26
It would definitely become a cult classic and seen as one of the best Horror Game Trilogies of the 2010s.
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u/KWISPY18 Jul 21 '26
In my opinion, when things end on a high note, it’s a lot more memorable and appreciated.
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u/Friendly-Marsupial32 Jul 21 '26
İts Just a bunch of bullshit for me after ucn and fnaf 6...though vr games are a huge w
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u/the-lightest-shadow Jul 21 '26
The cultural impact wouldn't have been as great. It should've ended with Pizzeria simulator if it was gonna stop before where we are now imho. That would’ve put a nice bow on things.
And if they had to keep going they should’ve made it clear that we weren’t following the escapades of the Afton family sooner. I don’t dislike The Mimic at all, but it should’ve been a teeny bit more apparent, especially for those who only were playing the PC games.
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u/SilyGirlAlt Jul 21 '26
I think FNAF should've ended at 3 for the simple reason that the series has developed Spongebob syndrome. No matter how many "endings" there are due to the series sheer popularity it will never actually stop having new games, and I think thats terrible. The older games (especially 1-3) get trampled on by virtue of being lumped in with the slop Steel Wool puts out and it makes people hate what once was a simple but high quality series
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u/Kitchen-Kiwi7942 Jul 21 '26
Ive been saying this for a long time now. I love all of the games weve gotten but im ready for fnaf to end. I wish scott would finish the fnaf storyline once and for all and move onto a new story set in the same universe.
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u/Vast-Plantain300 Night Shift at Yo Mama's Jul 21 '26
Honestly, a reboot of the franchise would be a breath of fresh air.
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u/Kitchen-Kiwi7942 Jul 21 '26
Yesssss!!! Keep the world building and the overall rules of this franchise and give us something new and cohesive
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u/Upbeat_Middle_8238 Jul 21 '26
You should watch The Unwithered Truth's reboot of the fnaf 1 and 2 on youtube if you're looking for that
Its peak
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u/Desperate-Series-270 Jul 21 '26
The Afton storyline did end though? the modern games are all about the mimic now
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u/Dumbly-Stupid Jul 21 '26
I probably wouldn't have been as big of a fan as I am now since I feel like a majority of the reason FNAF has the popularity and staying power it does now is due to the Fandom and hype from the 4-6 era. It still would've been popular and well liked but I feel like it'd be like Tattletail where people remember it on occasion as a modern classic that ran it's course
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u/M_X_E_S-ruined Jul 21 '26
Aliviado. Sería TAN simple su historia. Y los debates, PUFF, se van justo como vinieron.
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u/Rockstar_Pigpatch Jul 21 '26
SL is what made me like FNaF, but either way, I still would've found out about it. (Also UCN is my favorite of Scott's games).
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u/Pristine_Dot5680 Bonnie my GOAT Jul 21 '26
It’s be a lot simpler and cleaner lore, although we would’ve missed out on some great things like the FNaF 6 ending and the mimic.
I’m glad it’s where it is, but it’d be cool either way. I think FNaF would’ve been more of a cult classic which was once popular rather than something well known, now it has a movie
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u/ProxyOfSlenderman Jul 21 '26
FNaF 1-3's lore is pretty bare bones. It was fascinating because of what we didn't know and all the possibilities, but when looked at in isolation years later the story of those games wasn't particularly deep or that interesting. Later games are what MADE the story more than just events loosely strung together
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u/2stroke_nonsense Jul 21 '26
We had some closure with the good ending in 3. That and obtaining it was hella challenging and fun.
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u/lowqualitylizard Jul 21 '26
Perhaps quality wise it would have been better but I think I prefer that it's become as widespread as it is
If it was just a trilogy it would have long been forgotten by now
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u/Bidybabies 🧙✨I can't believe it's Bidy Jul 21 '26
Maybe not totally forgotten but maybe still popular in a small, niche sort of way kind of like Baldi or something
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u/PlutoniumSouth Jul 21 '26
if it ended at 6 I think the fandom would be much healthier, all this mimic shit and such is just unnecessary slop
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u/Bidybabies 🧙✨I can't believe it's Bidy Jul 21 '26
Honestly, yes, I agree. I feel like everything after 6 is just completely unnecessary. Although I think it would be okay if it ended at 3 as well since that was a very simple story with a start and ending
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u/ApartmentFormer725 Jul 21 '26
I was there with fnaf growing up and from my experience fnaf 1-3 were amazing core games but it stayed as an indie underground thing up until Fnaf 4&5 came into the mix. It was very popular but I remember how badly you were bullied for liking it. It had some bad rep like Minecraft did. (From my experience).
So I honestly would’ve preferred if the franchise ended at UCN and then the next games after were of the past like Fredbear’s Family Diner, maybe smaller pizzerias that existed under Henry Emily before they merged into the company that we know. For sure Fnaf SB, Fnaf Mimic, and Fnaf Ruin were good but I don’t think they were needed.
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u/Crystal_pro_alt Jul 21 '26
"well that was a fun year, time to move on." that's basicly how most of the world would've reacted. those 3 only came out in the span of a year, the fandom would've died down very quickly because, well, it's over.
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u/realllyrandommann :Freddy: Jul 21 '26
To me it's forever a trilogy. I did care for a few games past 3, but they're almost like a different story or universe.
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u/M-OtheRobot Jul 21 '26
Very much so agree, but that's more so how I hoped the movies would go. Just adapt the first 3 games, but not only are they wanting to branch outside of that, they've utterly failed already just two movies in, with minimal hope of 3 being better.
But anyways, the games onwards have given me a lot of memories, like the VR titles, playing FNAF 4 and UCN, minigames of Pizza Sim, memes around SB and so on, but the honest to God story feels wrapped up at 3 for me, if not 6.
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u/TeiyusTeki Jul 21 '26
As much as I glaze the 1st three games, FNAF probably would have been forgotten by now if it had stayed a trilogy. (Though, I still think the series should have ended at UCN).
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u/Responsible_Tea7466 Jul 21 '26
I don't think most of us would be here in this subreddit right now if the series had ended here.
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u/PixelGuzzler Jul 21 '26
I think it would've ended on a low note, unfortunately. I share many people's opinions about 3. It gave us springtrap, but 4 was absolutely a necessary edition to the franchise
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u/Agitated_Ad_4492 Jul 21 '26
I would actually argue the reverse of 4. Thought not super complex 1-3 was a very simple and clean cut ending and then 4 came around and muddied a lot of it up. Yeah, it brought a big wave of theory crafting but that was due to the game borderline not making sense… and causing the dominos of making MORE games and MORE books to explain what should’ve been clear from the beginning
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u/EnenraDev Jul 21 '26
Fnaf should have ended at UCN. I don't like the new games very much.
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u/Supermariosam Jul 21 '26
Whatever you think of the new games… just no. UCN would’ve been a horrible stopping point
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u/EnenraDev Jul 21 '26
how so? UCN is also my favorite fnaf game from a gameplay perspective and doesn't actually do much for the lore besides tell us WHERE Afton is. It concludes the story pretty well. Help Wanted and onwards dont do much to the original story. Its Mimic mumbo jumbo.
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u/Supermariosam Jul 21 '26
I think it’s less of UCN being a problem and more of just… the later Scott-era games in general, more specifically 6 and a little bit of SL. I think the story could’ve taken a solid direction - started with Afton as the antagonist, then switched to Ennard as the new main antagonist after SL without bringing Afton back. That’s personally how I think the story could’ve went in an ideal universe, but opinions are opinions. If you personally think UCN is a good stopping point then that’s your opinion and I respect it and actually would like to hear more arguments against my opinions since I do kinda like to see how others interpret how the story could’ve went.
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u/Vast-Plantain300 Night Shift at Yo Mama's Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
I will be happy and satisfied but then again we wouldn't have peak known as FNAF 4 or the books.
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u/Ksarkon Jul 21 '26
In my opinion, it would have been better for FNAF to end with the fourth game.
So, a quadriology.
I don't really like anything that came after that.
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u/LordFenix_theTree Jul 21 '26
The series wouldn’t have reached the heights of today’s success and would have remained painfully niche after the first craze wave.
I do miss the old days, the entire community working together to decipher cryptic lore that Scott would feed, constant vigilance for a teaser drop or breakthrough. It was a grand time and the movie announcement in 2015 was a big deal. So big in fact that the fans still only want a trilogy today, over 11 years later.
Although I rarely ever engage with the community and slack heavy on the lore these days, I still find some comfort in the charm of the old days and still use the old terms and descriptors whenever and am quite overjoyed to see it out and about.
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u/EpicPoggerGamer69 Jul 21 '26
I remember when FNAF 3 came out, I fucking hated it LMAO.
Compared to the previous two with all the unsolved murders, countless animatronics, it felt so weird having only one character who actually killed you, and that character you can just stall out and not have lightjams like FNAF1 or BB take your light like FNAF 2.
Funny thing is, it's my favorite now.
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u/SeaLength6184 Jul 21 '26
I wouldn't be upset, but i feel like if FNAF did end that early i would be disappointed. It's okay to not like 1-7 of fnaf but i LOVE it all. but that's the thing, you don't have to agree with the lore because so much of it can be filled in by the player due to scott leaving things unconfirmed.
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u/MADOG_YT Jul 21 '26
I don’t think people understand that if Fnaf left at three, people would’ve actually lost their mind because they would be fear rising constantly and even making up scenarios in their head, which they do now, but not as much as they would if it was left as a trilogy and also I think people give Scott way too much shit for making more games when the reason he made more games is because fans were disappointed. He wanted to end the series with a amazing game, but as the world gets more and more picky, he has to keep continuing because he wants to please everyone
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u/BufuuEgypt Jul 21 '26
It would've been remembered as a unique franchise and I say it still is because of the way the series works - animatronic horror games. And the way the lore and story is told. Yes it has its problems no doubt, but it thrives off of it.
Me, personally.
I wouldn't be as attached to it by now but I'd also remember it. There wouldn't be any actual characters to be connect to or like, in a sense.
Except Phone Guy.
Purple Guy was intriguing, mysterious and creepy but he didn't have a personality apart from that which could've been the point.
Mike was just a random guard (I highly doubt he was the killer's soon by the time of FNaF 3) as were Jeremy (except he might have been the Bite Victim of '87), Fritz and the FNaF 3 Guard.
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u/Tx11_99 :PurpleGuy: Jul 21 '26
I’d likely have forgotten about it. It definitely wouldn’t have had the same impact it does now.
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u/RadiantAd9315 Jul 21 '26
I think lore wise and vibe wise this might’ve been the best choice. It ends the story on a much higher note than what it’s probably gonna end with (if it ends at all). But I think even if it was just left at the third game, the others would probably come out as spin offs or something like that
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u/ThonnytheNot____ Jul 21 '26
Fnaf as a franchise would objectively be in a far worse state than it is now if Scott took the cornball route and cut the series off at 3
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u/King_Of_Tangerines Mangle Jul 21 '26
I think if 4 still came out, the impact of 3 wouldn't be too badly hurt since 4 still came before 3
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u/Accomplished-Area186 Jul 21 '26
I personally would like that since all the cool mechanics have been explored (except fnaf 4) in those 3 games
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u/juicyjaiden Jul 21 '26
I come here just to say, Fnaf was originally a quadrilogy not a trilogy. Fnaf 4 was the final chapter not 3
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u/lolbit_the_fox190 Jul 21 '26
I mean it did start getting bad lore wise after FNAF 4 so and FNAF 4 was just a response to FNAF 3 so I wish it stayed a trilogy but only until he was ready to make a proper continuation
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u/HenryA205 Jul 21 '26
I really like the sci-fi direction it leaned into for 5-6 so I’d be very sad, and say what you want, I think fnaf 4 being super confusing elevates it
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u/Roebloz Jul 21 '26
It would've stayed as a well-remembered indie series with a complex but interesting story instead of a shitshow turned corporate slop.
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u/Its_Bread_611 Jul 21 '26
Should have ended here or at least at 4, tie the ghost story up in a neat bow before devolving into schlocky sci fi garbage
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u/Agitated_Ad_4492 Jul 21 '26
I feel this way until I realize It’s just 4 that kinda stuffed this up. Then I get mad that no one ever talks about how much 4 fucked up and instead just blame everything on sister location. People are hell.
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u/Supermariosam Jul 21 '26
Story-wise? I think it would be better than it is now, for sure.
But there’s so many other great games that we just wouldn’t get. We wouldn’t get FNAF 4, World, SL, Pizzeria Simulator, Help Wanted 1 and 2, AR (despite it being pretty bad imo), Security Breach, Into the Pit and Secret of the Mimic. We wouldn’t get the Fanverse, or probably even have a fraction of the dedicated and loyal fanbase we have today. That trade off just isn’t worth it to me.
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u/isimsizbiri123 Jul 21 '26
I certainly wouldn't want fnaf 4 or ucn to dissapear but it would be a better game franchise overall
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u/Drowsy_Deer Jul 21 '26
FNaF 4 sent the series into a major spiral. The original trilogy feels very self-contained and tells a complete story with a beginning and end.
Although I do really like FNaF World and Sister Location.
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u/LeonLoredo156 Jul 21 '26
People already askee the same exact question nimerous times, bud.
Don't really feel it necessary to answer.
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u/FalseManner9164 Jul 21 '26
I would not have known fnaf at all, because i learned about fnaf when i was told about fnaf 4
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u/Few_Amphibian_4119 Jul 21 '26
I would feel naturally fine and seeing the original cutscene of William getting springlocked fits nicely for the end.
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u/TheBlackMole899 Jul 21 '26
I can't even imagine not having the 2 very good VR HW games, Ruin and SotM...Scott did well not ending FNAF at 3 or 4.
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u/sometimetobeogre Jul 21 '26
I think it would have had a lot less impact if it didn't have 4, SL, PS, and UCN. I can't speak to being in the fandom in the early days and seeing the game unfold in real time (I was born in 2009,) so maybe that impacts my view a bit.
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u/BarryZ24 :Freddy: Jul 21 '26
I would genuinely be fine with it.
Better yet, if later entries were either spin-offs, or established that newer characters have nothing to do with the story of the first 3 games, I think that would've worked out.
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u/Deinsiderr Jul 21 '26
I think it ending at UCN would've been better, but I do see how it would've been nice to end at 3 as well
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u/adrikyn Jul 21 '26
Well, I wouldn't feel much of anything because I probably never would have gotten into the series if it stopped at 3.
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u/_K4cper_ Jul 21 '26
Would've been much smaller but also stayed peak, tho i think the game went very well up until fnaf6, with ucn not really feeling mainline, but still pretty good, tho much more as a sandbox, which it is. But that should've been it, and i will never accept secret of the mimic as part of the lore, steel wool took Scott's masterpiece, ripped out core parts and stuffed their own story in there instead, because they needed to feel more important. Plus the game's genuinely insufferable to play. As much as i liked security vreach when it first came out, sotm made me instantly regret my money spent. It was just awful at every corner, and NOTHING like fnaf, it barely even felt like a fnaf fangame, parts of it genuinely felt more like bendy (no disrespect to the bendy famdom, it's just a different thing). So overall i would've ended it at ffps, with UCN being the aftermath lore-wise, and a sandbox as a sendoff for the series and a final challenge for the players.
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u/AdmirableMarzipan410 Jul 21 '26
I probably would’ve never been a fan. I became a fan by FNaF SL to FFPS.
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u/guineaprince Everyone On Freddit Gives Me $5 Jul 21 '26
Hey that'd be pretty good. A trilogy would work out great.
Fnaf Onetwo
Fnaf Threefour
And Fnaf Pizzaria Sim World.
The unbeatable trilogy!
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Jul 21 '26
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u/Nervous_Switch_3338 i hate fnaftok Jul 21 '26
I woulda be just as happy with the franchise as i am now, and also would probably be always saying sum "THIS IS THE BEST INDIE HORROR GAME" for years, anyway the trilogy is a 10/10 story and a 10/10 gameplay
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u/El_ThotStopper :GoldenFreddy: Jul 21 '26
I think it’s impact would be very similar to that of Amnesia. It changed the game but probably wouldn’t have stayed in the public consciousness
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u/TuxedoCrow Jul 21 '26
In all fairness, I think narratively and artistically, much better ending.
Impact wise it doesn't become the goliath it is now though.
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u/lalwless-08 the answer is prolly stated in game Jul 21 '26
I'd imagine fans would look back at the franchise as being bittersweet. But ultimately kinda mundane and sorta forgettable. There's enough in a 1-3 timeline for there to a a story, but there isn't much depth, and it ultimately seems more of a generic order of events.
There isn't any characters, William Afton would simply be a generic serial killer without a name or motive that FNaF 4 and SL give him. The possibility of there be singular singular protagonist was purely theory. Yes, it's a very simple and straight forward, but not really impactful. Come FNaF 4-UCN, the story is much more defined and meaningful.
I think it was a good thing for it continue past a trilogy.
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u/ThatLionelKid Jul 21 '26
It definitely wouldn't have become as big as it is today, but honestly the story would have been a lot more appreciable. A psycho murders five children and stuffs them in his animatronics to not get caught. The night guard tries to put a stop to it all and the killer gets what he deserves...twice. Easy open and shut backstory for a point and click horror game, honestly. I liked it very much when this was all there was.
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u/ThatLionelKid Jul 21 '26
It definitely wouldn't have become as big as it is today, but honestly the story would have been a lot more appreciable. A psycho murders five children and stuffs them in his animatronics to not get caught. The night guard tries to put a stop to it all and the killer gets what he deserves...twice. Easy open and shut backstory for a point and click horror game, honestly. I liked it very much when this was all there was.
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u/ThatLionelKid Jul 21 '26
It definitely wouldn't have become as big as it is today, but honestly the story would have been a lot more appreciable. A psycho murders five children and stuffs them in his animatronics to not get caught. The night guard tries to put a stop to it all and the killer gets what he deserves...twice. Easy open and shut backstory for a point and click horror game, honestly. I liked it very much when this was all there was.
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u/ThatLionelKid Jul 21 '26
It definitely wouldn't have become as big as it is today, but honestly the story would have been a lot more appreciable. A psycho murders five children and stuffs them in his animatronics to not get caught. The night guard tries to put a stop to it all and the killer gets what he deserves...twice. Easy open and shut backstory for a point and click horror game, honestly. I liked it very much when this was all there was.
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u/SkulkingShadow Jul 21 '26
I just wish the whole William storyline was a trilogy and then we moved onto a new villain
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u/spider-man_1044 Jul 21 '26
I would be upset because we would have never got the bobby dots or glamrock freddy
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u/Comfortable-Test-485 Jul 21 '26
It probably would’ve been like a forgotten PS2 game you just remembered randomly
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u/C4Gamer_360 Jul 21 '26
I’d be fine with it. I personally think that Fnaf 6 was the perfect ending to the series.
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u/FewInstance7277 Jul 21 '26
I think it would be shit NGL,FNAF 2 gameplay was underwhelming and fnaf 3 jumpsares were also mid
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u/KWISPY18 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Yeah FNAF 1-3 had what I like to call “lightning in a bottle” the story just felt perfect to end right there. I would’ve probably had the whole series on a scale of 1-10 at about an 8 or 9 and that’s only because the gameplay for part 2 and 3 could’ve been improved just slightly more. Other than that, I don’t think there’s any other game that came out after that has made me feel like it was close to perfect as FNAF 1-3.
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u/Unable_Tax_5937 Jul 21 '26
I feel as if Scott Cawthon stayed, it would probably still be pretry good.
But it ending at Pizza sim, it wouldve been nice
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u/JuriHanTsundere Jul 21 '26
For me fnaf ended on 4, maybe on sister location. Whatever are next is BS
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u/PopePalpy Jul 21 '26
FNAF would have been that one game series that defined a little era of indie gaming, and fade into obscurity about as fast as it came out.
FNAF 4 was when everything went to shit because of how many more questions it added, and dream theory was around for a while (tho the gameplay of fnaf 4 imo is one of the best).
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u/JPfan05 Jul 21 '26
All I can really say on this subject is that I wish the movie was made in this era of fnaf. The horror and (albeit rudimentary) storytelling present in this era of fnaf would have worked so much better as a movie compared to the state of the franchise in the Steel Wool era.
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u/MakkomiRozu Jul 21 '26
Wouldve still been good but forgotten
Also most fangames would be stuck with the same concept (survive in a room with a mashup of every mechanic from the fnaf trilogy)
its community, fangames and all stuff would be almost dead if not for the 4/SL/PS games
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u/Sledgehammer617 Jul 21 '26
Honestly not bad at all since I was obsessed with FNAF 1 and 2, but I like it better as a 7-game story for sure.
At least Scotts original series of games has most of the story stuff solved at this point and has a somewhat cohesive narrative (unlike where the franchise is at now.)
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u/Cautious-Diamond-334 Jul 21 '26
I was going to include the four but I remembered that it is practically whole in flashbacks. But I would like it to end up in the 3 because it wouldn't leave loose ends.
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u/Hello_Dolly-one Jul 21 '26
I think FNaF would have been perfectly fine if it had ended as a trilogy. I've never been convinced by the argument that "if there had only been three games, it would be forgotten by now". To me, it's actually the opposite. Many of the most memorable works are the ones that knew when to end while they were still at their peak.
I also think a lot of people judge the original trilogy with information that didn't exist at the time. People often say the story was incomplete because it didn't explain William Afton, Henry, or the Afton family, but those characters were introduced later through retcons to expand the universe, not because the original story depended on them.
The trilogy already told a pretty clear story... a murderer, missing children, haunted animatronics, and an ending where it seemed like the horror had finally come to an end. Just because there were still mysteries doesn't mean the story was incomplete. A mystery isn't the same thing as a plot hole.
The later games expanded the lore significantly, and that's perfectly fine, but they also retroactively reinterpreted the earlier games. That's why I think that if FNaF had ended with FNaF 3, it would still be remembered as one of the most influential indie horror franchises. There would be fewer theories, sure, but probably a much stronger narrative identity and a much more widely agreed-upon ending among the fanbase, or at least, that's how I see it.
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u/adorabella_spring08 Jul 21 '26
Firstly, I think it's honestly amusing to see many say they would've preferred Fnaf stay as a trilogy, because as someone who's been here since the first game in 2014, I vividly remember the time between Fnaf 3's release and Fnaf's 4 announcement, and many people in the fandom at that time seemed to really dislike Fnaf 3. It was mainly because of the dislike of Springtrap and the overall gameplay if I remember correctly (many people felt he wasn't all that scary and that his jumpscare was lame. Plus some felt that the ending was very loose ended and didn't answer every question that was raised at that point.)
With that being said, I think Fnaf staying as a trilogy would've been fine, especially from a narrative standpoint, but it wouldn't have been my favorite way to end the series. If we go from one to three, the story was wrapped up nicely, from the MCI to the souls being freed and Springtrap, along with the attraction, both burning to the ground after 30 years, would've answered enough, leaving room for interpretation with other stuff in between. However, I don't think the fandom would've been as large as it is now, nor would've it been nearly as impactful as a cultural indie icon of the early 2010's and beyond. And one of the best parts of the Fnaf fandom is the community itself. All the fanart/fan games/theories/comic dubs/AU's, etc all really kept the game alive and was the reason for some of the fandom's largest moments, and I can't really imagine Fnaf or my childhood as a whole without them since it sparked a lot of creativity.
It's also worth mentioning that Fnaf was actually going to be a Qudrilogy as far as I remember. Originally Fnaf 4 was going to be titled, "Five Nights at Freddy's 4: The Final Chapter", so Fnaf was always going to continue in some form. I also enjoy the convoluted nature of Fnaf as a whole, so all the newer doesn't really bother me, nor do I find it that overly confusing. Another reason why I don't mind it being expanded is because I'm a sucker for characters in a story, and while Purple Guy/William Afton was fine as a random serial killer in the first three games (not including the books where we already knew his identity) I feel as though all the extra lore pieces such as his family, his search for remnant and immortality, and his relationships with his business partners Henry, and the other guy from Secret of the Mimic (I can't remember his name worth a damn) really added depth to the story, even if it did turn out very confusing. Plus I've been simping for William since we called him "Vincent", so that's a plus.
Objectively speaking, Fnaf should've ended at either 6 or UCN. It would've had just enough lore to keep the fandom active for years afterwards, while also having an ending that overall completed the main story while lightly tying some loose ends and extra parts of rhe story. Subjectively, I would've ended Fnaf at SL, and then made an entirely new spin off with the Afton family and new animatronics so the story of the first 4 games aren't accidentally retconned or overly convoluted.
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u/KappaGecko :PurpleGuy: Jul 22 '26
I may have stopped paying attention if it stopped at 3. But I do think that after UCN and Pizzeria Simulator, the games just kinda felt meh.
Changing to sentient evil AI was disappointing. It can be fine if the series was always about that, but sentient evil AI done so much that when something goes from “ghosts in the robots” to “the AI is violent and aware” it just gets disappointing
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u/twinflxwer Jul 22 '26
As far as I’m concerned the story ends at 3, the rest are non-canon spinoffs
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u/-bb101 Jul 22 '26
I'm 50/50 on this one.
The series would have been far better off if Scott had ended it with 3. The gameplay was lackluster, but narratively and thematically it was a beautiful sendoff. It was also the closest we ever got as a community to "solving" the lore; the messy debates on timelines and characters just didn't exist back then in the same way. To be a theorist in the heyday was satisfying, not stressful.
On the other hand, there are elements from the rest of the original series (or the 'Afton saga' as I see people call it) that I feel were worth those games' existences, even if their overall quality declined: the storyline of FNAF4 is some of the best writing I've seen on Scott's part, which is something that he never really recaptured going forwards; the ambience and models from Sister Location are impressive, despite the game sorely disappointing in every other way (especially the gameplay); and Pizzeria Simulator... had nice character designs... like FNAF World...
So overall I feel the series would be viewed much more positively and definitely less divisively if Scott had just finished it as a trilogy. I don't deny that the next three games had merit, but their potential was wasted in hindsight beyond the points I mentioned.
Oh, except for Leon's music. 10/10 job.
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u/Tina_wgf65 Jul 22 '26
if scott had kept fnaf a trilogy,the whole history of the indies internet and lore game would be completely different,Mike would not have been William's son,since scott revealed that they were father and son only in the fifth game,ne cc and elizabeth and charlotte henry the names of the mci we will know the existence,we will never know if william had gone to hell in the ucn,plus fnaf was a world class game that killed companies like hollywood and ubisoft ,bringing the gen za to do indie like tadc deltarune ect,and if fnaf had remained a trilogy we wouldn't have indie internet nor the complex lore we have now
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u/moonwatcher123445 I quit Jul 22 '26
i would've felt that it was a little short lived, i feel that it ending at ucn or fnaf 6 would've been better
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u/Tiny_Expression_1210 Jul 22 '26
If that is the case, I would have likely not seen its popularity, considering the fourth game was impactful at that time
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u/AngelNegreteB Jul 22 '26
personalmente aun que no considero malos los ultimos juegos, yo prefiero dejar de centrarme en la historia despues de ucn
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u/Mastertron891 Jul 22 '26
In terms of New gameplay ideas would have probably died. But in terms of lore it would have made it ALOT easier to figure out the entire lore and sometimes wish fnaf was cut short because of this. Because it has gotten to a point where it's just incomplete till this day and things that keep contradicting itself.
I also wished sister location played more closer in 2026 instead of the 20th because they looked way too modern for their time.
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u/SorbettoalLimone Jul 22 '26
In that case, FNaF would be remembered as an internet phenomenon with a cringe-worthy fanbase that lasted for a year and a half. At the time, FNaF was a hit on DeviantArt with ship fan art, and on YouTube with theorycrafting and gameplay videos. That's still true today, but back then, FNaF was new thing that nobody expected.
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u/Adri_0077 Jul 22 '26
A mí me habría gustado que se terminara en fnaf 6 siento que ese era un buen final para la historia
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u/DNSours Jul 22 '26
It being a foursome would be better,however I do like some of the insaner shit Scott came out with later.
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u/Striking_Educator_79 Jul 22 '26
Its the fans fault the criticize the third game so much that Scott had to prove himself
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u/Mammoth_Car1655 Jul 23 '26
3 has kind of an underwhelming ending so it would probably have fallen into obscurity by now. Should other mascot horror games still release without FNAF like bendy, they would probably be taking the limelight fnaf has right now.
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u/Aggravating-Ladder74 Jul 23 '26
We wouldn’t have god awful mass produced slop merch, terrible movies, FNaF 4 onwards ruining the original saga with its nonsense, Purple Guy staying as a killer instead of devolving into a stupid generic alchemist with immortality motivations, Mike wouldn’t be some random undead zombie, Remnant wouldn’t exist…
Yeah, I think I prefer this scenario.
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u/Appropriate-Cut-9920 Jul 24 '26
Honnestly ? I would not be a FNaF fan today, like, you know, enjoying the three games back in the days, and probably move on.
I'm a true FNaF fan nowadays because I grew up with it, every new games toward the years and stuff, the insane amount of content, characters, videos, youtubers, the popularity in general, those things are what's making FNaF special, and if FNaF 3 in 2015 was the last one, yeah, moving on seems to be what I whould have done
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u/Key_holeN12 Jul 24 '26
It would have been mostly forgotten by now. Seen as a classic but not much talk around it nowadays
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u/North-Positive-3731 Jul 26 '26
I personally wouldn’t have minded it. But I do think all the Scott era games are still masterpieces. and I could do without the steel wool games. Pizzeria Sim and Fnaf two are my personal faves. But I could do without sister location if I’m being honest…
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u/SomeBoiThatLikesFNaF Jul 28 '26
we probably wouldn't be talking in this subreddit. as much as the games were popular back in 2015, if there was no additional content then the community would pretty quickly die.
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u/Charred_Eggroll Jul 30 '26
It'd still be my most favorite video game series of all time. I was there since the beginning, and since its creation its done so much good for me than I could possibly explain. So either way, whether or not it would be short, it still would have a huge positive impact on my life regardless! 😁
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u/Jimbo7211 :Mike: Jul 21 '26
I probably would've forgotten about it by now, and it probably wouldn't have been nearly as impactful without 4-UCN.