Fredbear's Family Diner
Players start the story with William Afton and Henry Emily. The two open Fredbear's Family Diner and use springlock suits, worn by a person or walked by the machine inside. Fredbear is the bear. Spring Bonnie is the yellow rabbit.
1983
Players place a birthday at Fredbear's in 1983. The older brother, usually named Michael, and his friends push the younger brother into Fredbear's mouth. Players call that the Bite of '83. The younger child dies. His name is not settled. Players call him the Crying Child.
Henry's daughter Charlotte is killed outside the restaurant. Players say her soul stays with the Puppet, also called the Marionette, and that she is the one who later helps the other children.
1985
Players place the Missing Children Incident in 1985, at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. William wears the yellow rabbit and lures children away. The telling most players learn gives five children to five suits: Gabriel in Freddy Fazbear, Jeremy in Bonnie the Rabbit, Susie in Chica the Chicken, and Fritz in Foxy the Pirate.
The fifth suit is Golden Freddy. Many players say that child is Cassidy. Others say the Crying Child, two spirits, or Andrew. The restaurant closes. The four main robots are kept.
1987
Players place a new Freddy Fazbear's Pizza in 1987. A new cast performs, including Toy Freddy and Balloon Boy. The older robots are kept in the back for parts. Players say William kills five more children there, and that those children possess the toys. They call that set the DCI.
The Bite of '87 is a different bite from 1983. Players say it happens at this restaurant, the toys are scrapped, and the older robots are saved for a later opening. Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is the night at this restaurant. On this site, Toy Freddy stays on the Show Stage.
The week players date to 1993
The older robots are repaired and the pizzeria opens again. Players date the night on the homepage to 1993, and they say the guard is Michael Afton using the name Mike Schmidt. You stay in the office from 12 AM to 6 AM. The cameras show the halls. The doors and the lights share one power bar. Steam lists that game as August 18, 2014, names Freddy as the main attraction and his two friends, and does not give 1993 or Michael's name.
Press play on Five Nights at Freddy's.
Circus Baby and Springtrap
William builds Circus Baby to catch children. His daughter Elizabeth goes to Baby and is killed. Players say she possesses Baby. He sends Michael to Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location. The Funtime robots join as Ennard, hollow Michael out, and wear him until the body fails.
William then wrecks the four haunted robots. The children corner him. He hides in the Spring Bonnie suit, the locks fire, and he is crushed inside it. Players call that ruined suit Springtrap. Five Nights at Freddy's 3 is a horror attraction years later. Springtrap is brought in. That building burns, and he walks out.
The fire after that
Henry comes back and calls the remaining haunted machines to one place, including Springtrap, Baby, and the Puppet. Michael brings them in. Henry burns the building, with himself inside. Ultimate Custom Night is the night players tell after that fire: the child who will not leave William keeps him there.
Five Nights at Freddy's 4 is the nightmare of the bite and the robots. Players do not put it on one year.
The pizzaplex
A later virtual game scans old circuit boards and produces a yellow rabbit that talks like William. Some players say William came back. Others say it is the Mimic copying him. A follower, usually called Vanny, carries that into Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex. Help Wanted, Special Delivery, Security Breach, Help Wanted 2, and Secret of the Mimic are those later games.
ENTIRE FNAF LORE EXPLAINED IN 15 MINUTES walks this same order.
Play the night you just read
The week players date to 1993 is the game on this site. You sit in the office from 12 AM to 6 AM, watch the cameras, and spend power on the doors and the lights. That is the scare. Press play on Five Nights at Freddy's.
The 1987 restaurant is Five Nights at Freddy's 2. Springtrap's attraction is Five Nights at Freddy's 3. Elizabeth's night is Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location.
Sources
The order above is the one shared by a short public overview, a long comment under "Can someone explain the whole Fnaf lore?" on r/fivenightsatfreddys, and a fan timeline of the games. Golden Freddy's name, Michael's name on the 1993 badge, and the yellow rabbit after the fire are the points those tellings do not share.
Steam, Five Nights at Freddy's: Scott Cawthon, August 18, 2014. No story year. Checked October 28, 2026.
Steam, Five Nights at Freddy's 2: November 10, 2014, a new cast and an empty Freddy head. Steam does not say 1987. Checked October 28, 2026.
ENTIRE FNAF LORE EXPLAINED IN 15 MINUTES: Rexter's 15-minute walk through this order.
