🔥 Trending An Undeniably Canon FNaF Timeline Explained

The Five Nights at Freddy's (FNaF) timeline is notoriously complex and has been a subject of intense debate and theorizing among fans for years, largely due to the cryptic nature of the games' storytelling. While there isn't one single, universally agreed-upon definitive timeline, the most widely accepted and supported version, primarily based on in-game lore, book series, and developer (Scott Cawthon) confirmations, can be summarized as follows:

Early 1980s: Origins and First Tragedies

Fredbear's Family Diner Opens

This is where it all begins. Owned by William Afton and Henry Emily, Fredbear's features two animatronics: Fredbear and Spring Bonnie. It's a small, local establishment.

The Murder of Charlotte Emily (The Puppet)

(Circa 1983) Henry Emily's daughter, Charlotte (Charlie), is murdered outside Fredbear's by William Afton. Her spirit possesses the Puppet animatronic, becoming the first victim to inhabit a robot. This event is depicted in FNaF 2 minigames and is central to the lore.

The Bite of '83

(1983) William Afton's youngest son, the Crying Child (often referred to as Evan or Garrett by fans), is tragically killed during his birthday party at Fredbear's. His older brother, Michael Afton, and his friends, as a cruel prank, shove the Crying Child into Fredbear's mouth, leading to the animatronic crushing his head. This is the pivotal event of FNaF 4. It's believed that the Crying Child's spirit may possess Golden Freddy or become a lingering presence.

Fredbear's Family Diner Closes

Following the Bite of '83, Fredbear's is shut down due to the tragedy.

Mid-1980s: Freddy Fazbear's Pizza and More Murders

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza (First Location) Opens

(After 1983) Henry and William open a new, larger establishment: Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, featuring Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. The original Spring Bonnie and Fredbear animatronics are retired or stored.

The Missing Children Incident

(Circa 1985) William Afton, now a serial killer, murders five children at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Their spirits possess Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy, and Golden Freddy (or one of the five possesses Golden Freddy, while the Crying Child is the other). This is the core tragedy that drives the original games.

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza Closes

Due to the murders and health code violations, this first Freddy's location is shut down. The animatronics are sealed away.

Late 1980s: The New and Improved, Yet Doomed, Freddy's

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza (Second Location, FNaF 2 Setting) Opens

(1987) A new, modernized Freddy Fazbear's Pizza opens, featuring "Toy" animatronics (Toy Freddy, Toy Bonnie, Toy Chica, Mangle, Balloon Boy, JJ, Puppet). The old, withered animatronics from the first location are kept for parts. Jeremy Fitzgerald is the night guard.

The Bite of '87

(1987) One of the animatronics (most likely Mangle, though debated) bites a night guard, severing their frontal lobe. This event leads to the closure of the FNaF 2 location.

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza (Second Location) Closes

The Bite of '87 and the animatronics' aggressive behavior force the closure of this location. The Toy animatronics are scrapped.

Early 1990s: The Final Freddy's and William's Demise

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza (Third Location, FNaF 1 Setting) Opens

(Early 1990s) A smaller, budget-friendly Freddy Fazbear's Pizza opens, reusing the original, now repaired, animatronics (Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Foxy). Michael Afton, under the alias Mike Schmidt, works as the night guard, possibly trying to undo his father's wrongs or investigate.

Freddy Fazbear's Pizza (Third Location) Closes Permanently

The animatronics' supernatural activity and general decay lead to this location's final closure.

William Afton's Death (The "Save Them" Minigame and Springtrap)

(Shortly after FNaF 1's closure) William Afton returns to the abandoned Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. He dismantles the animatronics, releasing the spirits of the murdered children. However, the spirits corner him. In a desperate attempt to hide, William dons the Spring Bonnie suit. The suit's spring locks fail, crushing and impaling him, leading to his agonizing death. His body remains trapped inside the suit, becoming Springtrap.

2020s-2030s: Fazbear's Fright and Sister Location

Fazbear's Fright: The Horror Attraction Opens

(30 years after the closure of the last Freddy's, likely around 2023) An amusement park attraction is built, based on the urban legends of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. They discover and salvage Springtrap. Michael Afton, now seeking his father, works as the night guard.

Fazbear's Fright Burns Down

At the end of FNaF 3, Fazbear's Fright burns down, possibly due to Michael's actions or an accident, with Springtrap (and William) seemingly escaping.

Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental (Sister Location)

(Undetermined, but likely after the Bite of '83 and before FNaF 1's closure, possibly overlapping with some Freddy's locations) This underground facility, designed by William Afton, houses advanced animatronics (Circus Baby, Funtime Freddy, Funtime Foxy, Ballora) intended to capture and kill children for their "remnant" (a supernatural substance linked to souls). Michael Afton works here, sent by his father to "put her back together" (referring to his sister, Elizabeth, who possesses Circus Baby).

Michael Afton is "Scooped" and Becomes Ennard

Michael is tricked and lured into the Scooping Room, where his insides are removed. The animatronics, now merged into Ennard (controlled by Baby/Elizabeth), use Michael's empty body as a disguise to escape the facility. Michael's body eventually decays, forcing Ennard to abandon him. Michael, however, is reanimated by remnant, becoming an undead being, stating, "I'm going to come find you, Father."

Later Events: Pizzeria Simulator and Ultimate Custom Night

Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator (FNaF 6)

(After Sister Location and Fazbear's Fright) Henry Emily sets up a new, fake pizzeria as a trap. His goal is to lure and destroy all remaining animatronics possessed by souls (Springtrap/William Afton, Molten Freddy/Ennard, Scrap Baby/Elizabeth, Lefty/Puppet/Charlie). Michael Afton works as the manager. Henry burns down the pizzeria, finally freeing the souls, including his daughter Charlie and the missing children. William Afton's soul, however, is condemned to eternal torment.

Ultimate Custom Night (UCN)

(After Pizzeria Simulator) This is widely interpreted as William Afton's personal hell, where he is tormented by the spirits of his victims, particularly Cassidy (the spirit in Golden Freddy), who refuses to let him rest.

Modern Era: Help Wanted, Security Breach, and Beyond

Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted

(Years after FNaF 6) Fazbear Entertainment, attempting to clear its name, commissions a VR game developer to create a game based on the "urban legends" of the pizzeria, hoping to prove the past events were fabrications. However, William Afton's consciousness, now a digital virus known as Glitchtrap, infects the game.

Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach

(Likely decades after Help Wanted, in a futuristic mega-mall built over the ruins of the FNaF 6 pizzeria) Gregory, a young boy, is trapped overnight in the Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex. He is helped by Glamrock Freddy and pursued by other animatronics controlled by Vanny (Vanessa), a security guard who has fallen under Glitchtrap's influence and is becoming a new William Afton. The game explores the lingering threat of William Afton (now as Burntrap) and the continued struggle against his evil.

Ruin DLC (Security Breach DLC)

(After Security Breach) Cassie, a young girl, enters the abandoned and decaying Pizzaplex to find Gregory, encountering new threats and further unraveling the mysteries of the Pizzaplex and the lingering digital consciousness of William Afton.

This timeline is a condensed version, and many smaller details, character motivations, and exact dates are still debated. The FNaF lore continues to expand with new games and books, often adding more layers of complexity and new interpretations.