A remake of the first Five Nights at Freddy’s game has the potential to not only update its gameplay, but radically expand its contents to fit the wider franchise as it now exists. Despite launching one of the most popular horror game franchises, the original Five Nights at Freddy’s was a relatively simple game in both its lore and mechanics. Now, of course, FNAF has grown far beyond its roots, to the point that returning to the original title can even feel like it is somewhat lacking.

The games in the FNAF franchise.

FNAF 1 Deserves An Extended Remake

There Are Plenty Of Potential Improvements For A Remake Of The First FNAF Game

Considering just how much the franchise has expanded beyond the simplicity of FNAF 1, it is clear that any remake would be able to incorporate much of the now-established canon into itself. This would allow the new version of the game to be much larger than the original, and as a result appeal to both people familiar with the franchise and those looking to get started with it for the first time. Furthermore, a remake could massively improve on both the graphics of the original and some aspects of its core gameplay.

The potential for improved graphics in a remake of this game is immense, especially considering the original title only made use of extremely limited movement. Outside of jumpscares, only Foxy can be seen moving, and even then only briefly. A new version of the game could give the original animatronics additional animation while being viewed through the security cameras, and perhaps make them compare better to FNAF’s scarier animatronic characters as a result. But even if they remain static to remain closer to the original atmosphere, their models could still become far more detailed to fit the franchise’s current standards.

Naturally, the gameplay of FNAF 1 could receive similar upgrades. While it is unlikely for the core gameplay to be changed to any great extent, as doing so would risk the identity of the game, adjustments could still be made. The behavior of the animatronics could be altered to make defending the security office more difficult, for example, and extra segments outside the office could also be added. Meanwhile, new features could be added to supplement the main game, such as introducing new lore-revealing minigames to fit the tradition begun in FNAF 2.

Remaking FNAF 1 Could Explore FNAF's Extended Lore

References To More Recent Lore Would Work Well In FNAF 1

Of course, the ability to incorporate newer lore into FNAF 1 would be one of the greatest reasons for remaking it. FNAF has had plenty of dramatic lore reveals since its debut, which have deepened people’s understanding of the circumstances surrounding the first game considerably. Of course, in some respects there is still a layer of mystery surrounding the franchise, as the franchise rarely provides simple, clear answers to any question. But even so, there are some aspects of the wider canon that would be perfectly suited to being referenced in a remake.

While the newest FNAF games seem to revolve strongly around the impact of the Mimic, the original era of the franchise was undoubtedly the story of the Afton family; William Afton, the serial killer responsible for most of the franchise’s many tragedies, and his children. Notably, there is strong evidence to suggest that the protagonist of FNAF 1, apparently named Mike Schmidt, is actually Michael Afton. A remake could confirm this and explore this angle further, and provide further hints about Michael’s motivations for taking a job undercover at Freddy Fazbear’s, as well as reveal more about the Afton family.

Likewise, now that the wider in-universe Fazbear franchise has been expanded considerably, a remake of FNAF 1 would be able to incorporate references to these other locations and characters, as well as events now established to have taken place before FNAF 1. This could range from more minor inclusions like the Mediocre Melodies, to more significant plot points like Fall Fest or the events of FNAF 2. Assuming that the protagonist truly is Michael Afton, then references to the deaths of his siblings would also make sense to include.

A FNAF Remake Would Be A Perfect Way To Clarify Canon

An Expanded Game Could Offer New Perspective On Some Of The Franchise’s Mysteries

Although it would be extremely unlikely for any FNAF game to simply provide a wide array of clear answers to lingering lore mysteries, it could still easily clarify some points. For example, a remake of FNAF 1 could finally provide a definitive culprit for the infamous Bite of ‘87. Naturally, the same title could also make clarifying references to any part of the early stages of the franchise’s timeline, including the precise placement of some game’s events.

Of course, it should also be noted that any FNAF game, even a remake, is equally likely to pose new mysteries with its lore as it is to solve older ones.

Similarly, a remake could reveal whether the Puppet was secretly present at the FNAF 1 pizzeria. Despite having become one of the most important animatronics in the story of FNAF following its introduction in FNAF 2, the Puppet effectively disappears after the events of that game for a long period of the franchise’s timeline. However, as it clearly survived the scrapping of the Toy animatronics, there is a strong theory that it was instead transferred to the FNAF 1 pizzeria. A remake could easily prove or disprove this theory with new details referencing the Puppet’s whereabouts.

While the core gameplay of FNAF 1 would likely remain consistent in a remake, it could still be greatly expanded with new features, such as minigame interludes appearing between each night or after dying. A remake would also be able to incorporate lore from the rest of the franchise to tie the original story of the game more into what the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise as a whole has developed into over the past decade. As such, although such a game is only speculative at present, it is clear that the concept still has immense potential.