{"id":186155,"date":"2022-03-21T13:24:36","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T12:24:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=186155"},"modified":"2025-07-01T20:52:37","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T03:52:37","slug":"poppy-playtime-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/poppy-playtime-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Poppy Playtime review | Escape the horror"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Poppy Playtime<\/a> <\/strong>is a horror escape room<\/strong> puzzle<\/strong> game developed and published by MOB Games, which was released on October 12, 2021. It places you in a haunted toy factory <\/strong>with very little information. Your mission is to enter the facility and discover what happened<\/strong> to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a certain air of suspense<\/strong> when you play Poppy Playtime<\/a>. As an author of fantasy and horror novels, it\u2019s an element I highly respect, and I love how the developers incorporated it in every aspect of the game. Read more about what I experienced in the review below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poppy Playtime story<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every good horror story should have an enticing plot<\/strong> that draws you in. It doesn\u2019t even have to be a massive one; as long as it\u2019s interesting enough to keep you engaged, it works. Let\u2019s see how it plays out in this Poppy Playtime review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A haunted toy factory<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The introduction scene has enough to send chills down your back<\/strong>. At first, you have no idea what\u2019s going on, except that you\u2019re in an abandoned building<\/strong>. To know more about the story, you need to head in and find some clues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The posters and notes <\/strong>you discover lying around indicate that you\u2019re in a toy factory that closed a few years ago. If you\u2019ve ever been to an abandoned building, you\u2019ll know just how creepy it feels. As you enter each room in the facility, you\u2019ll get some hints about what life was like as a toymaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poppy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Collecting videotapes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More clues to the story lie within five videotapes <\/strong>you\u2019ll find lying around in random locations<\/strong>. The color corresponds to a VCR you\u2019ll discover nearby. When you insert the tape, the television will play a short transcript, sometimes with dialogue between different people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poppy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The writing on the wall<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, you\u2019ll want to pay attention to hand-scribbled words on the walls<\/strong>. It seems like someone else was here before you, trying to escape. There are plenty of warnings informing you of impending doom, but you\u2019ll be left wondering what the danger is until the end. This forecasting<\/strong> is a fantastic element of horror tales that I love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poppy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How long to play Poppy Playtime<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The puzzles<\/strong> were quick for me to solve, so it only took me about 15 minutes<\/strong> to complete Poppy Playtime. There\u2019s one section at the end that may keep you busy for some time, depending on the routes you take through the vents. It all depends on how long it takes for you to solve each room, so it may take you longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poppy Playtime gameplay<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Poppy Playtime\u2019s story is exhilarating, the gameplay<\/strong> is where the game really shines. It features elements of Resident Evil 7<\/a> <\/strong>and Silent Hill P.T<\/strong><\/a>., specifically where the suspense and puzzles are concerned. I\u2019ll address more of these comparisons in the review below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning how to play Poppy Playtime<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, there\u2019s no tutorial for Poppy Playtime<\/strong>. The reason I\u2019m happy about this is that it would ruin the suspense and gameplay. Sure, you may see a message appear on your screen on how to interact with objects, but they\u2019re few and far between. For the most part, you\u2019re left looking around each room, wondering what to do next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Difficulties and puzzles<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are also no difficulty levels<\/strong> like you\u2019d find in most Resident Evil and Silent Hill games. The puzzles remain as easy or difficult as they are, and you can\u2019t change them. It means that all players are on an equal footing from the start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The puzzles change in every room, and you need to use your environment<\/strong> to solve them. With the help of the mechanical hands, you\u2019ll discover you need to push or pull objects, or you\u2019ll have to link electrical pylons and connections with power. While not incredibly challenging, they were entertaining to solve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poppy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Combat mechanics<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You won\u2019t have any shooting or fighting abilities<\/strong> in Poppy Playtime. You\u2019ll spend most of the game moving around, inspecting items<\/strong>, and solving puzzles<\/strong>. There\u2019s only one time you\u2019ll actually need to defend yourself, and it\u2019s to use the environment against the final boss, Huggy Wuggy. That\u2019s all I\u2019m going to say without spoiling the ending for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poppy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Movement abilities<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s more of a focus on movement<\/strong> in Poppy Playtime. With the two mechanical arms, you\u2019ll move and interact with objects<\/strong>. You\u2019ll also need to make use of running and crouching to save your life near the end. There\u2019s also a jump ability, but I found little use for it throughout the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saving points<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike Silent Hill with the Halo of the Sun, there are no visible save points<\/strong> in the game. The first time I died near the end of Poppy Playtime, I feared I would have to start over. However, it does save when you reach critical points<\/strong> or new scenes, for which I\u2019m eternally grateful.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

User interface<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The user interface <\/strong>presents the bare minimum<\/strong> in Poppy Playtime, which is ideal for a horror puzzle game. There are no health icons, but the screen will become blurry and the bass on your speakers will buzz when you\u2019re hurt. Give it a moment, and all will go back to normal. You can press Esc<\/em> to enter the main menu and inventory, but that\u2019s about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Poppy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Gameplay performance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Somehow, Poppy Playtime needs a lot of resources<\/strong>. It\u2019s quite surprising, especially for a game that\u2019s only 15 minutes long. However, when you read more about the visuals and sound later in this review, you may get an idea why. Here are the recommended PC requirements<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n