Graveyard Shift at Freddy's

Honestly... I quite loved the game and decided to draw something about it!

I even feel like it's more eerie than the original fnaf 1

The original FNaF was the first proper horror game I ever played. I remember the sheer feeling of dread I got just looking at the images on its Google Play Store page - the one with Chica in the hallway in particular, her jaw slacked lifelessly, unnaturally, and her eyes staring blankly in the direction of the office. The concept was so fresh and uniquely horrifying at the time, the sheer helplessness of it, when we were all so used to simply running away from the monster. "What do you mean I'm stuck in one place? What do you mean these things will start to move and slowly close in on me?? What do you mean the doors open when the power runs out???"

But as with everything, exposure steadily dulled that intense sense of dread, as games in the series and endless fangames kept rolling out. There would still be an anxiety-inducing new mechanic, or a particularly unnerving render now and again, sure. But the formula itself would get familiar. To the point where nowadays, FNaF-type games are a comfort food for me. I'll sit down after a long day, with a bag of chips, and watch Dawko play the newest fangame. Some of the new mechanics are neat. The animatronic designs are cool and creative. The jumpscares are really well-animated. And none of it is scary.

...Or at least, that's how it usually goes. And that's what I was gearing up for last night, when I clicked on Dawko's "Graveyard Shift at Freddy's" video.

This game is a veritable, unadulterated nightmare. There is no source of comfort to be found here. Your office is awkwardly crammed at the side of the building, with entries on nearly all sides, feeling simultaneously claustrophobic and painfully exposed. There's a gaping, pitch-black abyss right in your face at all times. The phone guy isn't a goofy, awkward dude in the same position as us, he's a detached boss who doesn't see the need to waste too many words on you. The animatronics look juuust malformed and demented enough to trigger that sense of uncanny valley in full-force without being absurd. And god, those fucking eyes.

The environment itself also strikes that balance perfectly. You believe this could be a shitty kids' joint during the day. It's crowded and lived-in... and absolutely filthy. Everything is scuffed around the edges, caked with grime. Dark and empty of people, the building feels like it's been abandoned for years. The camera angles and the clutter make the rooms look so small. It's like a tomb. And you're trapped in here with those things.

Even the main menu doesn't give you any respite. It's an anxiety-inducing assault to the senses, with all the mismatched, jittering text, and those ungodly noises. It's just not right, and it gives off the feeling that if you linger there for too long, something bad will happen.

But the crowning jewel of this game is the camera system. It's just... the absolute worst. Clunky, disorienting, and it fails you when you need it most. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it, it's brilliant.

I'm not the type who actively enjoys playing horror games - quite the opposite, they get to me like other forms of horror media never could, and the experience is usually super draining. But with that said, I really, really want to play this game when it comes out in full. I didn't think it was possible for something to make me feel the same way FNaF 1 did after almost a decade. You're making something truly special here.

I love so much about this: the way a lot of things feel -just- slightly off to throw players used to the first game, mechanics from the trailer and kickstarter we only briefly saw, how close to the original renders it looks but just enough to look off, the cameras that dont line up, the animatronics sliding in view , even the lack of visual and audio cues helps sell this as being the actual beta of the game. fucking bravo!!!!

im so fuckig excited for the full game

first fnaf fangame in YEARS to make me feel actually scared

this game has so many things ive been waiting for a fnaf fangame to have, and just the demo makes me so hyped for the full release, good luck on this game!

(also youre still not breaking the really unique fnaf fangame streak i see)

This feels like it has a creepypasta feeling here