Poppy Playtime review

Poppy Playtime is a first-person survival horror where the player plays as a former employee of Playtime Co. who returns to the abandoned toy factory of said company after receiving a letter from the staff who were thought to have disappeared 10 years ago.

Gameplay

The game utilizes multiple puzzles throughout, which the player must solve in order to progress further, with some requiring a gadget named the GrabPack, a backpack that can be equipped with two extendable hands which can be used to pull and reach objects from a far distance, conduct electricity, and access certain doors; in Chapter 2, it can also be used to swing across gaps and, with a green hand obtained during gameplay, transfer electricity between sources.

Graphics

The graphics of the game look colorful and cartoonish. The game is set in a fictional factory which is supposed to be in the 80s. The atmosphere is scary and gloomy, which adds to the game. There are a lot of things in the game to explore and the player can interact with them. The graphics are very detailed and everything looks so realistic.

What are the risks of playing Poppy Playtime?

There are multiple risks that can arise from children and young people being exposed to frightening content before they are prepared.

Added anxiety and stress – children and young people are still growing and learning. They may not be at a level of emotional maturity that would be able to process frightening content, even if it is intentional. Horror games could hamper that growth by creating unnecessary anxiety and stress.

Intrusive thoughts – Everyone has the ‘thing that goes bump in the night.’ If children play this game or watch it, the Boogeyman could easily be replaced with characters like Huggy Wuggy. This could cause children to lose focus or sleep and could interrupt family rest cycles.

New fears – The manipulation of child-friendly items into threatening characters exploits the sense of security a child would feel around these things. They may suddenly be terrified of something that had never been a worry before.

Conclusion

Poppy Playtime takes what we love about classic horror puzzle games and puts them together for a quick adventure. There are only a few jump-scare moments, while the remainder of the game relies on suspense and forecasting. If this game is anything to go by, I expect Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2 will be way more intense.