The Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) lore is complex, convoluted, and intentionally vague, leaving many questions unanswered. Here’s a simplified summary:

Main Story:

The games revolve around Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, a family-friendly restaurant featuring animatronic animals (Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy) that entertain children during the day. At night, these animatronics become hostile and start roaming freely.

The Murders:

A series of tragic events occurred at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, including child abductions and murders. The main suspect is a man named William Afton, who wore a yellow suit to lure and kill children. Afton’s identity and motives are central to the lore.

The Animatronics:

The animatronics are haunted by the vengeful spirits of the murdered children. As the games progress, it becomes clear that the animatronics are not just simple machines but are instead vessels for these restless spirits.

The Games’ Storylines:

Each game builds upon the lore, introducing new characters, locations, and plot twists:

1. Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF 1): The first game introduces the player as a security guard at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, tasked with surviving nights while avoiding the animatronics.
2. Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (FNAF 2): The sequel takes place in a new Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza location, where the player must navigate updated animatronics and new mechanics.
3. Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 (FNAF 3): Set 30 years after the events of FNAF 1, the game takes place in a horror-themed attraction called Fazbear’s Fright: The Attraction.
4. Five Nights at Freddy’s 4 (FNAF 4): The game takes place in the child’s bedroom, where the player must defend against nightmarish versions of the animatronics.
5. Sister Location (FNAF SL): A spin-off game that introduces a new location, Circus Baby’s Pizza World, and explores the backstory of the animatronics.
6. Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria Simulator (FFPS): A free game that appears to be a lighthearted spin-off but actually contains crucial lore revelations.
7. Ultimate Custom Night (UCN): A customizable game that allows players to create their own nights with any combination of animatronics.
8. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted (FNAF HW): A VR game that revisits the events of the previous games and provides new insights into the lore.
9. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach (FNAF SB): The latest installment, which takes place in a large shopping mall and introduces new animatronics and gameplay mechanics.

Theories and Speculation:

The FNAF lore is intentionally vague, leaving many questions unanswered. Fans have developed numerous theories to explain the events and characters, including:

– The Bite of ’87: A theorized event in which a man dressed in a yellow suit (William Afton) was killed by the animatronics, leading to the haunting.
– The Missing Children: Theories abound about the fate of the children who went missing at Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza.
– The Identity of the Purple Guy: William Afton is widely believed to be the Purple Guy, a serial killer responsible for the murders.

Keep in mind that the FNAF lore is complex, and this summary only scratches the surface. Theories and speculation continue to evolve as new games and content are released.