Best FNAF Fanverse Initiative Projects

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Elitz Caballero

Elitz is a sucker for lore, and if it's a narrative with a healthy dose of horror, then all the better. She's a huge fan of games like Plasmaphobia and Poppy Playtime, but nothing comes close to rivalling the joy she gets when playing FNAF. She's played every game in the series, read all the books, and has all the info needed to be your guide to this intriguing and creepy series!

Latest posts by Elitz Caballero (see all)

• FNAF Puppet Plush Guide - November 16, 2022
• Best FNAF Fanverse Initiative Projects - October 18, 2022
• Best FNAF Shirt Ideas - October 18, 2022

Five Nights at Freddy’s is not just a game but a community. A community filled with talented writers, artists, and game developers. They dedicated their time and effort to show their adoration for the killer animatronics. Unfortunately, these fan-made works could not be sold to the market due to numerous copyright laws. The only things these artists and developers gain are recognition and adoration – which does not put food on the table.

Fortunately, Scott is not selfish and mean to his fans. The brain behind the franchise started the Fazbear Fanverse Initiative Project – an idea that brings talented developers into the franchise to allow them to find success within the gaming industry.

Scott attempted to give back to the fans as gratitude for their endless support for the franchise. The Projects has plenty of games to offer, so it could be overwhelming where you spend your money. This article will help you choose the best games the project has to offer.

Bottom Line Up Front

Fazbear Fanverse Initiative was announced on August 21, 2020, by the FNaF Creator, Scott Cawthon. According to Scott, the Fazbear Fanverse invests in developing numerous fan-made games and includes them in official merchandise.

The stories within the fan-made games are not included in the main canon since they have their own set of continuities. Some fan-made games in the project are also not incorporated due to copyrights and questionable content issues.

What Is Fazbear Fanverse Initiative?

Background

Five Nights at Freddy’s was an unexpected success. It was played by millions of people just months after release and has become an internet icon. Fans can’t get enough of Freddy, so they make and share lots of fan art and fanfiction to show their love and dedication to the series.

Other fans took their devotion to a new level and made their own FNaF fan games. These games have widely different stories from the canon source and have different game mechanics. Nonetheless, these fan-made games quickly became popular within the FNaF community.

Announcement of the Project

Scott Cawthon posted on Reddit that he is announcing the Fazbear Fanverse Initiative. The project was supported by fans, garnering almost 17,000 likes on Reddit.

Scott explains that he will be collaborating with the creators of the most popular fan-made games. The project was a way for the FNaF franchise to invest in these fan-made games and allow the creators to sell their games legally. The project aims to give back to the developers for appreciating his game.

Scott promised that he would treat the games just like how he treated his own. Each fan-made game was extensively reworked to make it compatible and remove any potential copywriting issues. Afterward, they will be released in bundles.

If the project becomes successful, more fan-made games will be sold officially by the FNaF franchise.

What Should You Look For In a Fanverse Game?

The Fanverse offers you a plethora of games for you to choose from and play. Each game possessed unique lore and gameplay that might be more interesting and challenging to play compared to the originals.

Gameplay

Gameplay is the most critical factor in choosing a game. It is essentially how you play the game, the rules determining if you win or lose, and how challenging it would be for the player. Good gameplay would fully immerse me in the game and offer an escape from reality – at least for an hour or two.

Distinction

The main FNaF games were often criticized due to their repetitive gameplay mechanics and alternate versions of the original animatronics. Due to the franchise’s meteoric rise and popularity, fan-made games must be distinct enough to stand above other fan-made work.

Story and Lore

The stories of fan-made games are not part of the official canon, but it is still fun following them. I want the stories in fan-made FNaF games to be interesting, mysterious, and terrifying, much like the original canon. Honestly, it would be interesting if the story is much better than the canon ones.

Horror and Atmosphere

The FNaF games are one of the most iconic horror games on the internet. Its sudden meteoric rise has turned the franchise into a Horror juggernaut. Of course, I expect my fan games from Fazbear Fanverse to be just as terrifying as the original.

My Top 10 Fanverse Games:

• Five Nights at Candy’s
• The Joy of Creation
• POPGOES
• One Night at Flumpty’s
• One Night at Flumpty’s 3
• The Joy of Creation: Reborn
• Five Nights at Freddy’s Plus
• POPGOES: Arcade
• POPGOES: Evergreen
• FNaC Fur

The Best Fanverse Games

1. Five Nights at Candy’s

This fan-made game was developed by Emil Macko and was originally released on July 18, 2016. Since then, the series would develop three more sequels and a spin-off called FNaC fur. By August 2020, the game series is now a licensed product of the Fazbear Fanverse Initiative.

The game is set in an alternate universe, separating it from the main series. The game centers around Candy’s Burgers and Fries, which served as a corporate rival for the alternate Freddy’s Fazbear Pizzeria.

Although Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria was closed permanently, the animatronic’s reign of terror continued in Candy’s.

Players must fend-off Candy the Cat and his cohorts and survive until 6 am for five days. Players must carefully manage their battery because not only do they need to close the doors, but they must also close the window in front of the player – otherwise, Blank will smash it and kill them.

The game is also set in the same universe as the POPGOES series.

Pros

• The voice-acting in the game is great.
• They managed to develop a realistic explanation of the basic game mechanics.
• There are plenty of ways to scare people; jumpscares would even occur in-camera, thus making it much more unpredictable.

Cons

• The nights are longer, making it a little bit draggy.
• The character designs of Candy are not scary or unsettling to look at.

2. The Joy of Creation

The Joy of Creation was developed by Nikson and released the first game on November 30, 2015. After the first game garnered praise from critics, two more sequels were released on May 15, 2016, and July 18, 2017, respectively. By August 2020, the game series is now licensed by the Fazbear Fanverse though the remastered versions are yet to be released.

Players control Scott Cawthorn and his family as they navigate their home and try to survive as Scott’s horrific creations, called the Ignited, which began to lurk in the real world. Scott must also uncover the mystery behind the cancellation of the latest FNaF game.

Players must have sharp vision and hearing so that Scott and his family will be safe from the Ignited until 6 am.

Pros

• The graphics and sound design of the game are incredibly detailed.
• The free-roam mechanic in a limited space makes the game thrilling to play.
• The jumpscares are scarier than in the original game.

Cons

• The lighting is too dark sometimes.
• Using Scott’s children as characters in a videogame might seem tasteless to some people.

3. POPGOES

POPGOES is a popular fan-made FNaF game that was made by the members of r/2124. The game would later become part of the Fazbear Fanverse Initiative, followed by the announcement of POPGOES Arcade.

A year after Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria burned down, an English inventor attempted to revive the animatronic restaurant industry by establishing the Popgoes Pizzeria. Due to the horrid reputation of Fazbear’s Pizzeria, the inventor promised that his animatronics were made of state-of-the-art technology and incredibly well-behaved.

Unfortunately, someone reprogrammed the animatronics to become killing machines once again. The player must help the inventor regain control of the robots – before it’s too late.

The series gained popularity, spawning numerous sequels and spin-offs.

Pros

• The sound design of the game is just gorgeous. I love the game’s sound when I click the rooms and the ventilator.
• The guard’s location, being inside the same room as the animatronics, makes for a paranoia-fueled run.
• The twist that animatronics are building things that could kill you rather than killing you themselves is a great twist.

Cons

• The game might overwhelm new players due to additional heat and ventilation systems.
• Panic meter is unnecessary.

4. One Night at Flumpty’s

A fan-made FNaF game that was intended to parody the numerous tropes and gameplay of the original FNaF games. Jonochrome developed the game. It debuted on Gamejolt as part of the project.

It’s a unique game because comedic elements are scattered across the restaurant. It is guaranteed that you will scream and laugh – possibly at the same time!

Pros

• Perfect mix of comedy and horror.
• The animation of the game is beautiful.

Cons

• Some jokes are crude.
• Some jumpscares might not be scary, though they could have been intentional.

5. One Night at Flumpty’s 3

The final game of the One Night at Flumpty’s series. According to Jonochrome, he wants the final game to be a ‘little bit better than the first two games. It is also the first game in the series released during the project. The game has brand-new mechanics that make it stand out from its predecessors. Like the other two, it would only be a single night and a Hard-Boiled mode. Unfortunately, the game does not have any resemblance to a story.

Pros

• The game has a new map that is gorgeous to look at.
• The animation has been improved due to more funding from the project.
• New gameplay mechanics that made it stand out from its predecessors.

Cons

• No significant improvements from its predecessors.
• It does not feel like a season finale for a wonderful fan-made series.

6. The Joy of Creation: Reborn

Liking the gameplay of the first Joy of Creation game? Fear not; Reborn will deliver exactly what you want. What makes Reborn great is that it is entirely randomly generated. Each playthrough differs from the last, thus making it unpredictable once you replayed it.

The original game was released on May 15, 2016, with the Project version being under development.

Pros

• Random-generated levels made the game unpredictable to play.
• The free-roaming mechanic in Reborn is significantly better than the original.
• The graphics are better than the original FNaF game.

Cons

· Lack of a storyline that made the game less engaging.

7. POPGOES: Arcade

The POPGOES: Arcade serves as a prequel to POPGOES: Evergreen, which is a reboot of the original three POPGOES games.

The game is unique from all other FNaF fan-made games because of its retro-style graphics. It is also one of the few fan-made games that are an RPG. It’s a fun tribute to a bygone era where games like Baldur’s gate ruled the gaming industry.

The lore of POPGOES: Arcade is twisted and terrifying, uncovering the mystery of a murder by piecing together… body parts of the murdered girl. It also has a lot of gore relative to any fan-made games that are part of the Fanverse – a surprise that I enjoyed very much.

The game also has a lot of easter eggs referencing plot points from canon, other Fanverse games, and even a creepypasta. It is so satisfying to understand them, and it made me feel proud to be part of the community for many years.

Pros

• Great RPG-style combat mechanics.
• Tons of easter eggs referencing many characters and lore from the Main Series and other Fanverse games.
• Amazing story that would make your bones shake.

Cons

• Some fans might not like the retro graphics.
• The presence of gore in a Fanverse game.

Upcoming Fazbear Fanverse Games:

1. Five Nights at Freddy’s Plus

The game is a reimagining of the original Five Nights at Freddy’s game, made by a developer called Phil Morg. The game is not intended to replace the original canon but an alternate version. This highly anticipated game is still currently in development.

The game has elements similar to FNaF but has a darker tone. The game emphasized the horror elements and the complexity of the original game. The creators also promised it to be more challenging. This game is for you if you feel nostalgic but want something new. The game also has a feature allowing players to choose the UI and sound design that matches the original game for maximum nostalgia.

Pros

• A refreshing take on the first Five Nights at Freddy’s game.
• More game mechanics and harder difficulties will be introduced in the game.
• Promised to focus more on the horror element compared to the original.

Cons

• The game is still in development; it’s probably best to control your hype.

2. POPGOES: Evergreen

POPGOES: Evergreen serves as an official reboot of the POPGOES series. It is slated to be released in 2023. POPGOES: Arcade serves as its canon prequel. According to the creators, POPGOES: Evergreen’s story is more refined than the original fan-made series, with a few retcons that would make the pay-off more satisfying and surprising.

Carter also said that POPGOES: Evergreen’s gameplay would be significantly better than the originals. Promising seamless animations, improved UI, and an easier-to-read map.

Pros

• Improved storylines
• Improved gameplay
• Lots of twists that will shock even the veteran fans.

Cons

• The game is still in development, so game creators might not realize some promised changes.

3. FNaC Fur

Also known as Five Nights at Candy’s Fur. It is a spin-off to the FNaC series that Emil Macko developed. The game is a platform genre that originated from FNaC 3’s minigames. The game follows Candy and Cindy the Cat as they travel on a quest to collect Candy’s molted fur scattered across the world.

The game’s release date is supposed to be this year, so we can expect it in a couple of months.

Pros

• Platform games are fun!
• More character development for Candy and Cindy

Cons

• The game’s potential to be great may not be a guarantee because it is still undergoing development.

Fun Facts about Fazbear Fanverse Initiative

1. Five Nights In Anime Was Teased About Being Included In The Fazbear Fanverse.

The creator of the fan game teased that Five Nights in Anime will be included in the Fazbear Fanverse Initiative in the future. Unfortunately, the announcement was merely an April Fool’s Joke. The game is real, though, with the first game being released on April 14, 2015.

The game is a parody of the different tropes of the franchise. However, it is impossible to be included in the Fanverse due to the pornographic nature of the game.

But who knows?

2. They Supposedly Included Jolly In The Fazbear Fanverse.

One of the more popular fan-made FNaF games. The game is centered around the famous Filipino fast-food mascot, Jollibee, and his friends.

According to Kane Carter in Discord, the game was supposed to be included in the Fanverse. Still, Scott was unaware that it included a copyrighted title – the aforementioned Jollibee Fast Food Restaurant.

The game’s developer, IvanG, even announced it on his Twitter Account about the game’s inclusion – before interacting with Scott. After Scott learned about the copyrighted material, the game was removed from the Fanverse. Sad news for Filipino Fans.

3. The Fanverse Was The First Time Scott Is Collaborating With The Developers Of Fan-Made Games.

Scott was well-known for his interactions with his fans – be it on Reddit and other Social Media Accounts. It was no surprise that he started the idea of collaborating with the developers of Fan-made games.

Rather than badgering these developers, Scott allowed them to earn money through their hobbies and creativity. This was in line with Scott’s idea of making his game and his franchise very friendly to the fans.

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