Since 2014, the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (FNAF) franchise has terrified adults and children alike. Now, nearly three years since the last game has been released, creator Scott Cawthon and indie game developer Steel Wool Studios have teamed up to release Security Breach, the eighth installment of the Five Nights at Freddy’s Franchise.

The new game takes place in a mall or “pizzaplex”, while also straying away from the traditional gameplay, opting for a free-roam style. You play as Gregory, a young boy stranded in the pizzaplex after hours while ’80s style glam rock animatronics hunt you down.

I’ve been an avid fan of FNAF since its first release and Security Breach is definitely a change of pace from the other games. I will preface that because I don’t have a PlayStation or super expensive PC, so I’ll be basing my review off of several play-throughs from various YouTubers.

Given its delayed release, fans expected “Security Breach” to be a polished, perfect game. Instead, you’re met with crazy glitches and bugs- some even allowing you to glitch out of the map and speed run the game in under five minutes. That being said, I can look past the technical difficulties in order to appreciate the awesome characters and map design. “Security Breach” introduces many characters, all with unique personalities and designs with new and exciting boss battles.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the game and think Steel Wool did an excellent job with the map, especially given how small the game developer is. The area is ginormous and no place in the entire pizzaplex is left unfinished. Every single room has immense detail and even some fun easter eggs and callbacks to older games.

The gameplay itself is entertaining and at some points, pretty scary. As you try to survive the night, you also have to run from and fight against killer robots, all while completing tasks to break out of the mall. At certain points, you’re even given a throwback to the older games, as you play in security offices- manning doors and cameras in order to keep the animatronics out.

“Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach” offers some awesome gameplay, plus new and refreshing content. There are six endings you can get and each one offers new lore and unexpected plot twists. I think the game is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stagnant franchise, offering new storylines to explore in the future. I definitely recommend checking Security Breach out, you’re sure to be entertained!