As horror games become increasingly popular, so does the concept of them being even darker than some may think. One of the more recent examples of this is Poppy Playtime. The survival horror game dives into a story that seems to get darker and more twisted the more we discover. As the Player, we’re in a strange situation, stuck in an even stranger place. With danger at every turn, our main goal is to survive and solve the mystery that we’re faced with. Here’s everything you need to know about Poppy Playtime.
Poppy Playtime Chapter 1
Chapter One of Poppy Playtime is relatively short. The indie horror game costs less than five dollars on mainstream consoles and is free to begin on Steam, with the other chapters being paid DLCs. We opened up learning about Playtime Co., which is an inventive toy factory whose mascot toy was the Poppy doll. We are an unnamed player, with the game being in first person, and are confirmed to be an ex-employee at Playtime. In the mail, The Player receives a letter mentioning all of the Playtime employees disappearing ten years prior. Contrary to popular belief, the employees were still in the factory.
The Player ventures into the abandoned factory to try and find the employees for reasons unknown and encounters the terrifying reality of what’s become of Playtime Co. In Chapter One, we are hunted by a large sentient toy named Huggy Wuggy, who follows us as we solve puzzles to move forward in the factory. Eventually, we come face to face with the monstrous blue creature and defeat him, letting us continue our mission. We happen upon none other than Poppy herself, who can speak and eventually lose consciousness.
Chapters 2 and 3
Chapter 2 of Poppy Playtime picks up where we left off, and we make our way through the factory. Through VHS tapes lying around, we begin to get a picture of what the factory was and the different things they seemed to be doing. The tapes revealed parents who sought the whereabouts of their children, employees sharing concerns, and interviews with experiments. Slowly, we begin to understand that creatures like Huggy Wuggy were most likely once children. The antagonist of chapter two is Mommy Long Legs, a spider-like creature who stops us from escaping despite Poppy trying to help. Mommy puts us through many trials and puzzles until we’re able to earn the code to the train to escape.
Despite earning this code, Mommy Long Legs still tries to attack us, not wanting to let us leave. The Player kills her, and a strange metal hand, only known as The Prototype, drags her body away. Chapter 3 of Poppy Playtime introduces us to a new villain after Poppy sabotages our getaway train. The antagonist of the chapter, CatNap, hunts us as we go deeper into the factory. The Player enters a new area and meets a new character in Poppy Playtime. Playcare, an underground utopia for the orphans. It was complete with play areas, living quarters, and schools. The creator of Playtime Co., Elliot Ludwig, narrates his intentions as Playcare opens up to us.
We’re also introduced to a character named Ollie, who we never actually see but has the voice of a child, much like Poppy does. Ollie says that he’s friends with Poppy and wants to help The Player stop CatNap and right the wrongs that had been committed. Throughout the chapter, Poppy, Ollie, and Kissy Missy help The Player navigate Playcare and defeat CatNap. Once again, we encounter The Prototype, but this time, it kills CatNap once The Player defeats him. Eventually, Poppy reveals that the employees of Playtime Co. didn’t disappear but were all murdered in an event called The Hour Of Joy, when Playtime Co.’s factory were overrun by toys.
Fan Theories
The Player
Like Five Nights At Freddy’s, Poppy Playtime has its fair share of fan speculation as the game isn’t finished yet. The most popular theories surrounds The Player, The Prototype, and CatNap. Some fans think that The Player is an orphan who used to live in Playcare. However, it’s been confirmed that The Player is an ex-employee. There’s the initial letter at the beginning of the game convincing them to return to the factory. Then by certain characters throughout Poppy Playtime, like Mommy Long Legs, The Player is seen as a threat.
During a CatNap’s hallucination, it’s believed that The Player feels overwheming guilt. A possible sign of survivor’s guilt after the The Hour Of Joy occurred. Yet, in the tape, it is unknown if they were either fired, quit, or went on a day off. They were nowhere to be seen nor does the fanbase know of The Player’s appearance. These are things that fans try to figure out as we move into future chapters of the game.
The Prototype
The theory surrounding The Prototype is that it is the most powerful experiment that organized The Hour Of Joy. It’s also speculated that Ollie, the presumably helpful ally, is actually The Prototype, trying to throw The Player off and misdirect them into CatNap’s claws. This theory is supported by certain ways that Ollie mixed up pronouns and the fact that it’s confirmed that The Prototype can mimic voices.
As for CatNap, it’s said in Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3 that something happened to him, and The Prototype saved him. Many believe that The Prototype befriended CatNap when he was still a human boy, saving him from a dangerous accident. It’s believed that this accident prompted the Playtime scientists to turn him into CatNap, but these events made him loyal to The Prototype. Ollie confirms that CatNap thinks of The Prototype as his god, worshipping it, which is only confirmed by CatNap offering himself to be killed by the mysterious metal hand.
Final Thoughts
Poppy Playtime is a game that is well-thought-out and well-developed. Playtime Co. looks beautiful from a graphical standpoint, and it’s easy to see that the developers put a lot of effort into the design. While the story reminds fans of Five Nights At Freddy’s in some ways, it’s unique and immerses you as you play. The game is filled with more gut-wrenching twists that’ll stick with you. By the end of chapter three, you’ll find yourself wondering if you should be extending your sympathy to The Player or the monsters hunting them.
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