Horror-based video games have been a popular genre since the dawn of the medium, but very few make it out of cult-like status. Sure, Resident Evil and Silent Hill are very notable exceptions, but one game, in particular, has arguably become more popular than both of those games.
Five Nights at Freddy's -- created by indie game developer Scott Cawthon -- was released in 2014. Shortly after its release, popular YouTuber Markiplier released a series of reaction videos as he played the jump scare game, further pushing the game into the limelight. The first FNAF game was especially popular with younger people, who both played the game and enjoyed watching playthroughs on YouTube.
Since 2014, FNAF has become an impressively large media franchise. The latest game, Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach, was released on the PlayStation 4, 5, and Windows, in December 2021. A port for the Nintendo Switch was just released in April 2023 to much fanfare, and the first FNAF live-action movie -- aptly named Five Nights at Freddy's -- will be released in October 2023.
The 1st game is a basic point-and-click set in a twisted version of
Chuck E. Cheese.
Your goal is to survive 5 nights inside the pizzeria and avoid being taken out by one of the four animatronics: Freddy Fazbear, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. These animatronics come alive at night, and if they see a human, they attack.
As I said earlier, the game relies heavily on jump scares. It's a delightfully fun game that knows how to build tension. If you've never played any FNAF game and want to, start with the first installment.
Since the first installment, there have been over 10 different games, with the lore of FNAF expanded on in books, music, and even collectibles. Over the years, the character roster has expanded and changed, with Freddy Fazbear being the one common character in most of the games.
While you can buy physical copies of the games, the items collectors should really focus on are toys and plushies. Let's take a look at some recent prices on two popular types of FNAF collectibles.
FNAF Plushies
Out of all the collectibles related to FNAF, the 2016 Possessed Freddy plush by Sanshee is arguably the item to get. On eBay, this $30 plush routinely sells for $800+. In May 2023, one sold for $1500, another for $850, and one more for $900. Other 2016-era FNAF plushies tend to do well overall.
The 2016 Hot Topic Shadow Freddy exclusive does extremely well on eBay. Prices have ranges between $250 - $400 over a three-month period, with prices trending up.
Other types of plushies, such as the 2016 Funko Bonnie, and Golden Freddy routinely sell for over $200 on eBay. A plush of Exotic Butters from the Sister Location game tends to sell for over $150 at auction. Overall, FNAF plushies are in high demand with collectors.
Funko FNAF Action Figures
It should come as no surprise to seasoned action figure collectors that figures based on FNAF would go for a pretty penny. A number of figures have been released over the years, with many being in-store exclusives. In August of 2023, a set of six 2016 released figures still in their package -- Nightmare Bonnie, Freddy, Chica, Foxy, Jack-O-Chica, and Funtime Foxy -- sold for $900.
In 2018, Funko released a line of blacklight FNAF figures, featuring bold colors that glow under a blacklight. I'm personally a big fan of this set as I love the trippy nature of these figures. In July 2023, a lot of sealed figures -- Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and Mr. Cupcake, and Foxy -- sold for $299. A similar lot sold for $290 in June 2023, and $300 in May 2023.
Is collecting FNAF worth it?
As it's been nearly 10 years since the first game, it's clear that FNAF is not a fad. With the new movie coming out in October a new wave of fans will join in on the fun, and I absolutely believe demand for FNAF collectibles will go up.
