Since its launch in 2014, the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise has grown to include a total of 13 games; nine of which are main series titles, while the remaining four are spin-offs. These games give players an immersive look into the FNAF universe by revealing a wealth of lore that goes beyond the security cameras and animatronics. To help new readers get to grips with the series, this article will provide a summary of the lore.

Players can get some of the earliest glimpses into the history of the pizzeria through the mini-games in each of the main titles. Before it was called Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, the first restaurant was called Fredbear's Family Diner. Two men opened the original restaurant and its various rebrandings as co-owners: William Afton and Henry Emily.

The concept for their restaurant was to create a special place for children's parties. Although they primarily served pizza and pie, what made this restaurant chain special was their "animatronic" wait staff and entertainment. Originally, they were unable to create animatronics. So instead, they created two spring-lock suits that they or their staff could wear to appear as animatronics or put on a stage to perform. They were called Springbonnie and Fredbear. The concept for the business was so successful that they eventually created a second location: Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.

At this new location, four new animatronics were created and worshipped. They were Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, and Foxy. William Afton would use his success and the spring-lock suits to act out his cruel and abusive thoughts towards the children who flocked to his restaurant, specifically the five children at the birthday party who he murdered after luring them into the back rooms with the spring-lock Bonnie suit.