An MCHS student sits in the library during their study hall. After 30 minutes of hard work they get up and stretch, glancing over at another student in soft seating nearby. It looks like they’re playing Five Nights at Freddy’s on their school chromebook, but as they look closer the rooms on the cameras resemble an island instead. Just then, Jeffrey Epstein jumpscares the gamer and they lose.
A new game based on the hit game series, “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” is on the rise. “Five Nights at Epstein’s,” has been popular on social media and is broadly recognized by younger kids and teens, some even using district ordered devices to access the game.
The video game is centered around the convicted child sex offender and financier Epstein, and is set on the Island of Little St. James, also known as Epstein’s Island. The characters that are portrayed include Jeffrey Epstein, President Donald Trump and others like scientist Stephen Hawking.
Many YouTubers and streamers on various other platforms are playing, “Five Nights at Epstein’s,” and are typically targeting this game toward younger children.
“I never played it personally, but I heard that people really like it,” an anonymous MCHS senior says. “It just seems odd to me, why not just play actual, ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’?”
While the game does not include any inappropriate or offensive imagery, the topic itself still projects the game as ill-suited through the characters and setting surrounding all the current controversy.
“I can see this being offensive to victims, but I just find it more weird,” an anonymous MCHS junior says. “Especially if I was a parent, it’s definitely not something I’d want to see my kid playing on their Chromebook.”
The main reasoning behind its popularity is its fun, suspenseful gameplay relating to that of the game, “Five Nights at Freddy’s.” This proposes the question, why not just play the original “Five Nights At Freddy’s?”
“Honestly if I knew it was insensitive at all, I’d rather just play the real deal,” an anonymous MCHS sophomore says. “Finding an unblocked platform on the Chromebooks to play it on is enough of a hassle by itself. It’s just not that worth it.”
The game is accessible directly through web browsers, so students can play for free without installations, effectively bypassing some school security filters.
“I like it,” an anonymous MCHS sophomore says. “I think it’s fun. I don’t necessarily pay attention to the actual Epstein idea, more just the game.”
There are multiple guides and reviews of the game with tips and tricks on how to beat it. Additionally, the game has remakes of itself already, due to bans. However the big topic is no laughing matter. While it might be, “fun,” its influence and message overrides the game’s entertainment.