Five Nights at Freddy's (2014)

Welcome to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, a seemingly cheerful establishment promising endless entertainment and delicious food for families. You've just landed a summer job as the night security guard, a role that pays considerably less than a professional repairman for the place's animatronic stars: Freddy Fazbear and his friends. These cheerful robots, programmed for daytime delight, develop a rather unsettling unpredictability after dark. Your mission is to survive five terrifying nights from the confines of your security office, meticulously monitoring the cameras with a severely limited electricity supply. When the power dwindles, so do your defenses – no doors, no lights, just you and the growing unease of where these animatronics might be. "Five Nights at Freddy's (2014)" stands as a cornerstone of Scott Cawthon's legacy and a prime example of his genius in crafting chilling experiences. Despite its simple controls and premise, the game masterfully instills genuine terror, demonstrating how intelligent design and subtle atmosphere can create an unforgettable fright. The game's success lies in its brilliant use of still images and the meticulously crafted character designs, revealing Cawthon's profound understanding of primal human fears associated with dolls and toys. Joel Couture aptly highlights its elegance in sowing fear, making it an essential acquisition for any fan of the horror genre. This title's innovative approach to survival horror, relying on psychological dread over jump scares alone, cemented its place as a defining entry in Cawthon's impressive catalog.