Never in a million years would anyone think a simple game about being a night guard at a pizzeria would turn out to be one of the biggest game series of all time.

Ever since I bought my Oculus Quest 2 almost three years ago, I’ve been interested in the idea of virtual reality (VR) and all the games that people make for it. One of the few games that piqued my interest was “Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted.” I’m not the biggest fan of horror, but this game was fantastic and threw me for a loop. It featured a lot of classic experiences from the first three Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) games, and it added a lot of original experiences as well.

FNAF VR 2 was released last month and was developed by Steel Wool Studios in collaboration with Scott Cawthon, the creator of FNAF. It deviates from the typical FNAF formula; instead of being hunkered down in a single room and fending off killer animatronics, FNAF VR 2 has several distinct game modes, ranging from arcade-style games, repairing parts of the pizzeria, and classic minigames from a previous installment in the franchise, FNAF: Sister Location.

The first thing I enjoyed about this game is the art style. Similar to FNAF VR, FNAF VR 2 has a lifelike art style. The animatronics and settings look mildly realistic, but not enough to make you feel like it’s too real. It’s a nice balance between true-to-life and cartoony graphics.

Additionally, the variety in the mini-games left me chronically entertained. There’s lots of different types of games that anyone, regardless of skill, can enjoy. Additionally, many of the environments are similar to ones from previous games. For example, in the shooting gallery game, the environment is similar to the Halloween DLC from the first FNAF VR. It’s a small detail, but it’s a welcome surprise for any fans of the series. 

I also liked the difference in skill levels required for this game. For instance, I left one of the arcade games, thinking that the game was pretty easy, but when I went to another section of the game, I was surprised by how challenging it was. Each of the minigames have a different level of difficulty, which makes some games a good challenge for players.

Even with all of the variety, there’s also a risk of jumpscares by many different animatronics constantly. It makes any game that you decide to play risky and can make the most trivial tasks feel stressful. For example, in the second half of the shooting gallery minigame there are animatronics that one has to shoot in order to not be jumpscared. While I was playing, I could feel my hands shaking as I tried to hit the Plushbabies trying to kill me. It drastically alters the overall game dynamic, and creates an agonizing atmosphere.

One game feature I would change is the locked levels. When you first start the game, there’s only one level that can be chosen at a time. It severely restricted my options, which is something that I didn’t really like when I first started the game. There’s over 20 minigames that are available, but they are locked. This was my grievance with the initial FNAF VR. However, in that game, it made more sense because the majority of the games relied on a progression system that changed from night to night, but in this game, there is less of a connection between elements. I would much rather have all of the content unlocked from the start of the game.

Overall, Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted 2 is a superb virtual reality experience. The games are excellently done and provide a unique challenge to the player. The animatronics are unique and charming, albeit a bit evil, and the atmosphere of each area shows the vibe. I would definitely suggest this game if you’re searching for a fresh, thrilling virtual reality experience with enjoyable minigames and a few terrifying moments that might make you jump out of your seat.