Is Project: Children's Playtime? everything parents should know

With the popularity of Poppy Playtime, many kids are interested in playing this multiplayer spin-off - but parents should approach it with caution.

With the release of a new multiplayer project, Project: Playtime, Poppy Playtime, this toy-inspired fictional world is more accessible than ever. Since its release in early December 2022, the survival horror game has particularly appealed to younger audiences thanks to its unique atmosphere, popularity online and among content creators, and the fact that the game is completely free to play. But oddly enough, characters and lore, it can be difficult to determine if Project: Playtime is appropriate for children.

The single-player version of the game garnered a large following shortly after the release of Chapter 1 in 2021, with the series' figure, Huggy Wuggy, quickly becoming an iconic mascot and a favorite character among children. Since then, the grinning opponent has caused confusion and controversy. Parents, schools, and even the police have warned against Poppy Playtime in the past, mostly about Huggy Wuggy himself and the strange obsession some people have developed with him. With this role, and others, in Project: Playtime, it's important to know the facts when engaging with children on this topic.

Project: Playtime Is A Multiplayer Horror Experience

Like its predecessor, Project: Playtime is first and foremost a horror game. Play with (and against) other players, children One of two roles can be assigned: survivor or monster. As a survivor, the main goal of the player is to build a giant toy and escape the map. They must solve various puzzles that reward them with toy parts, then join five other teammates to assemble the toy and ride away on a train. When they do, a player in the role of a monster will chase and try to attack the survivors.

Project: There are three different enemies to choose from in Playtime, each with unique abilities to aid them in their quest. Huggy Wuggy, Mommy Long Legs, and the new Boxy Boo all have the power to kill survivors. Meanwhile, the survivor player has no means of self-defense and must run or hide to avoid being caught. If they get hit enough times, the monster will jump out to scare people, and the player will fall to the ground. Incapacitated survivors are often dragged to an "extraction pit", where they can be revived by another player - but in the meantime they'll be swarmed by Mini Huggys.

Creepy Atmosphere Replaces Graphic Violence In Project: Playtime

Compared to many other horror games, Project: Playtime Not too graphic. No gore, gore, or anything depicting straight-up violence. The most graphic part of the game is the jump scares, which offer unexpected and disturbing close-ups of monster faces--but show nothing else. The game Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF) is similar in concept to Poppy Playtime, relying heavily on jump scares to keep players on edge. Those who have played FNAF in the past may not be sensitive to these moments, and may not find Project: Playtime scary. Even those who haven't played FNAF can dodge jump scares if they're skilled enough to dodge monsters.

Having said that, Project: Playtime is not a casual, lighthearted game. Much of the tension comes from the intense music and creepy atmosphere it creates. These maps are similar to the ones in Poppy Playtime in that they mimic kid-oriented spaces from the 90s, and their designs are reminiscent of things like old McDonald's PlayPlace or Chuck-E-Cheese, only these places are dimly lit, abandoned, and Giant toy monsters drown. Even though Project: Playtime isn't as scary as Poppy Playtime, it still confuses and scares most kids.

Project: Playtime Reinforces Obsessions With Huggy Wuggy

To the disappointment of parents, Project: Playtime may even create There's also a deeper obsession with monster characters. As the face of the Poppy Playtime series, Huggy Wuggy is undoubtedly the first enemy children encounter in the game. In the Survivor tutorial, when the narrator tells the player that it's safe to come out, he has his own jump scare, but Haji is actually waiting around the corner. However, he is also the main focus of the monster tutorial. A distorted voice instructs the player (as Huggy) to kill the survivors, while delivering disturbing dialogue such as "put them to the ground" or "rip them apart".

Not only does this send an unsettling message, but it also encourages children to further their fascination with Huggy Wuggy. Some kids may find these dark, violent themes cool or fun because it provides some insight into the characters' backstories. Potentially, it could spawn more arcade games or urban legends based on the infamous character that were the basis for the Poppy Playtime warning in the first place. While Huggy Wuggy isn't actually as violent as other horror game characters, his psychological impact on children is undeniable and may be a cause for concern Coming to the item: Playtime.

Project: Playtime's Battle Pass Includes Microtransactions

Not only is the game content scary, but the microtransactions are just as scary (if not more scary) to parents. It's currently free in early access (meaning it's still in development), but aside from the innocuous toy tickets in Project: Playtime, MOB Games has already implemented a battle pass system into its game. While nothing on it will necessarily help them win, it does contain some cosmetic items that kids will crave. From colorful accessories to full-fledged skins (many of which revolve around beloved monsters), kids always want to look their best in games, and this system takes advantage of that.

The Battle Pass, also known as the Toy Box in Project: Playtime, can only be unlocked with Playcoins, the purchase requires real life money as it cannot be earned by playing the game. Players can get some free items without buying the premium battle pass, but they're not that exciting, especially the premium tracks, which include skins for Huggy Wuggy, Mommy Long Legs, and the new Boxy Boo character in Project: Playtime .This is especially important as the content is clearly geared toward a younger audience Parents beware of credit card information, as children can purchase up to $50 worth of Playcoins at a time.

In some respects, Project: Playtime is superior to other games popular with children. There's no voice chat, and text chat automatically has a profanity filter that can't be disabled -- plus, no gore or violence. However, in the bigger picture, parents should think carefully before allowing their children to play games. It can have frightening associations with the infamous Huggy Wuggy and other monsters, which can easily lead to nightmares (for both kids and parents, who may be asked to buy Playcoins). Ultimately, the choice is up to the parents, but in general, Project: Playtime is not suitable for particularly young children.

More: Poppy playtime warning: Is it really that scary?