The franchise maintains an active fanbase, known for its production of fan art and fan games, and merchandise for the games is available internationally.
The franchise also includes spin-off games and other media, such as a feature film adaptation, novel trilogy, and an anthology series, comprising an all-encompassing fictional universe. The series' lore is gradually revealed through voice recordings, minigames, and Easter eggs featured throughout the games. In most games, the player assumes the role of a night-time employee, who must utilize tools such as security cameras, lights, doors, and vents to defend themselves against animatronic characters who inhabit the locations and become mobile and hostile at night. The main series consists of nine video games taking place in locations connected to a fictional family pizza restaurant franchise named 'Freddy Fazbear's Pizza', after its mascot, the animatronic bear Freddy Fazbear. The first video game was released on August 8, 2014, and the resultant series has since gained worldwide popularity.
Five Nights at Freddy's ( FNaF) is a video game series and media franchise created by Scott Cawthon.
