Every VHS tape discloses the hidden lore of the facility and the Poppy Playtime is a first-person horror-puzzle adventure game developed by MOB Games Studio. It's a pretty small group of developers who are directed by Isaac Christopherson. It consists of a number of chapters around the abandoned Playtime Co. factory, specializing in producing “the nation’s favorite toys.” As an ex-employee at the toy factory, you solve the mystery behind the disappearances of employees. You make your way further into the mysterious factory with your Grabpack while you sneak around the dangerous toys ahead.

The game of Poppy Playtime shrouds you in an enigmatic atmosphere from start to finish. Immediate explanations are rarely provided, and when they are, they're typically found in VHS tapes scattered throughout the game. These tapes gradually unravel the narrative, making them a crucial element of the gameplay. I recommend playing the game yourself to experience the plot fully, as sharing too much about the tapes could potentially spoil major surprises.

Gameplay

Grab pack - your toy is in danger of hiding away from toys. The Grabpack is like to have sticky hands and acts as an electrical conductor to power through the puzzles ahead. Grab pack has the ability to grab little items and get to places that are far to reach. It is an unusual feature and provides a new technique for players to interact with the game, other than simply walking through the facility. When you return power to the facility, you discover the second hand needed to progress through the rest of the game.

Graphics & Audio

The special effects offer a gritty realism that complements the notion of an abandoned facility. The place perpetually exudes dim lighting, never truly illuminating. The presence of extended passageways and confined spaces like ducts heightens the sense of claustrophobia. Despite the factory's grime and griminess, there's a concerted effort to inject a sense of cheerfulness into the surroundings.

While exploring the facility, you can notice posters plastered around the game featuring Huggy Wuggy and other viewless mascots to promote the facility and stimulate kids. Almost all of the art is also trailed around the walls and has a simplified cute art style. One more fascinating thing is that the colors utilize the three primary colors.

Mascot horror dominates the video game industry, but this game is obviously high level with its unique use of the trend. The game properly uses its strong points to its advantage to bring fear into players. In place of using jumpscares to create fear, it builds tension to spook the player. It makes an illusion of being safe when in reality, the danger is still lurking within. 

As an introductory chapter, its length is fairly brief, taking between half an hour to an hour to complete based on the player's pace. Despite the short duration, it delivers a compelling taste of the suspense and thrill expected in the subsequent chapters. Poppy Playtime has the potential to be one of the standout indie games of the year, owing to its high production values and successful implementation of horror elements.