Before I begin this review, I should admit something: I’d never actually played a chapter of Poppy Playtime before Chapter 5. I’ve watched playthroughs and kept up with the story online, so I wasn’t completely lost on the narrative, but experiencing it first-hand was a first for me.
Jumping into a series at its fifth instalment might sound questionable, yet after finishing Poppy Playtime Chapter 5, I’m oddly glad I did—even if it unfolded almost exactly how I expected. The story pulled me in, and the visuals were far more impressive than anticipated, but the gameplay often had me wishing I’d stuck to watching a lore recap instead.
Who Doesn’t Love The Chase?
Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 wastes no time throwing you back into the chaos, picking up immediately after the previous instalment with Huggy Wuggy hot on your heels. What follows is one of the chapter’s many frantic chase sequences, as the blue menace roars and smashes through obstacles while you descend deeper into the facility. Even when you think you’ve escaped by slipping into an elevator, safety is short-lived. He forces the doors open, rips the GrabPack from your back, and sends the lift plummeting into the depths below.
Now stranded beneath Playtime Co., your goal is simple: survive and escape—at least, until you’re caught up in the conspiracy to take down the Prototype. Along the way, you encounter unlikely allies, terrifying new enemies, and a story that largely sticks the landing. The real highlight, though, is the aforementioned Prototype. The looming antagonist teased throughout earlier chapters finally steps into the spotlight and proves to be a worthy central threat as his lore is explored in greater detail.
He isn’t the only one to get attention, either. Returning faces and newcomers alike, including the charming Giblet, receive meaningful development across the roughly four-hour experience. Much of this comes through the main narrative, but the richest details are tucked away in collectable notes and cassette tapes scattered throughout the environment.
These hidden lore pieces deepen the world and hold some of the game’s most important revelations. For casual players, locking key story elements behind collectables may feel frustrating, but for those invested in unravelling the mystery, there’s a wealth of secrets to discover. The only real drawback is that uncovering them means pushing through the gameplay itself.
Grab Pack, Grab Pack
When it comes to horror games, there are two essentials developers have to get right: the story and the gameplay. Admittedly, that’s true for most genres, but both need to work in harmony to create a truly unsettling experience. Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 absolutely succeeds in the narrative department, delivering a haunting and intriguing storyline—but it struggles to match that same quality when it comes to gameplay.
Some of the scariest moments come during the frequent chase sequences, yet even these lose their tension quickly. Getting caught simply triggers a game-over screen that lingers a little too long before dropping you back in for another attempt. That repetition drains the fear factor, especially since the routes can be confusing enough that you’re almost guaranteed to fail at least once. Instead of feeling hunted, you start to feel like you’re just retrying a trial-and-error segment.
That issue is amplified by how much of the experience revolves around puzzles using the Grab Pack, the extendable-hand gadget that’s been evolving since the first chapter. While a few upgrades add variety, like the Pressure Hand and Element Hand, most puzzles slow the pacing rather than enhance it, often feeling like obstacles placed between you and the next story beat instead of meaningful challenges.
Part of the problem is that the game rarely makes you feel truly threatened. Much of the adventure takes place in plain grey laboratory environments, which are far less interesting than some of the franchise’s other locations. There are standout moments—like exploring Lily Longbraids’ dollhouse—but they’re brief highlights. Outside of a short section where Huggy Wuggy actively patrols, you’re usually left alone, and that lack of constant danger quickly erodes the sense of dread. Before long, it becomes clear that any looming threat will likely just trigger a cinematic chase sequence designed to funnel you toward the next area rather than genuinely scare you—or at least keep you on your toes.
It’s a real shame, because the game is genuinely beautiful to look at. The character models move with striking realism both in gameplay and cutscenes, and visually, the series has never looked better. That detail enhances the horror too, pushing many characters into uncanny valley territory and making them far more unsettling. I also didn’t encounter any bugs or technical issues, so it’s a very smooth experience overall—just one I wish offered a bit more. If the gameplay leaned into that eerie realism to build tension, it could have elevated the experience tenfold.
Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 Review Verdict
Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 delivers where it matters most for fans invested in its universe: the story. Its narrative payoff, character moments, and lore reveals make it one of the most compelling entries in the series, and visually, it’s easily the most polished and unsettling chapter yet. The presentation and atmosphere show just how far the franchise has come.
Unfortunately, the gameplay doesn’t quite keep pace. Slow puzzles and tension-breaking chase sequences hold it back from true greatness, leaving the experience feeling more like a vehicle for the plot than a fully satisfying horror game. It’s still a worthwhile chapter—especially for lore lovers—but it falls short of reaching its full terrifying potential.
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Poppy Playtime Chapter 5
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Poppy Playtime Chapter 5
