Why Are Games Like FNAF, Minecraft, and Undertale Considered Cringy by Some Players?

The perception of games like Five Nights at Freddys (FNAF), Minecraft, and Undertale as cringy is a subjective issue that often revolves around fan culture, aesthetic choices, and personal preferences. Each of these games has a passionate fanbase, leading to intense fandom behavior that can vary from enthusiastic support to more controversial fan theories and behavior.

Fan Culture and Intense Fandom Behavior

Each of these games has a passionate fanbase leading to intense fandom behavior, including fan art, memes, and theories that some may find excessive or awkward. For example, FNAF fans produce extensive lore and speculative content, while Minecraft fans revel in the game's enduring blocky charm and improvisational creativity. Undertale fans appreciate its quirky humor and unique characters, but this can also lead to cringe-inducing content as some fans engage in over-the-top theorizing and excessive character shipping.

Aesthetic and Themes

The aesthetics and themes of these games can also contribute to the perception of being cringy:

FNAF features a horror aesthetic with animatronics that can be seen as silly or over-the-top, which some might find cringy. Minecraft with its blocky graphics and simplistic design can be perceived as childish, leading some to dismiss it as not serious or mature. Undertale incorporates quirky humor and unusual characters which may not resonate with everyone and can come off as awkward.

Memes and Internet Culture

The proliferation of memes about these games can further contribute to the cringe perception. While memes are a hallmark of internet culture and often highly entertaining, some may find them overused and lacking in originality. It's crucial to understand the context and the community's engagement with these memes to fully appreciate their significance.

Nostalgia and Generational Differences

The enthusiasm of fans, especially with games like FNAF and Undertale, can sometimes seem out of touch or overly sentimental to those who didn't grow up with them. This generational gap can lead to a perception of cringiness, where the fervor and dedication of fans can seem excessive and out of place to outsiders.

Community Saturation and Fatigue

As these games gained popularity, they also became ubiquitous in online discussions, streaming, and content creation. This saturation can lead to fatigue among some players, who find the repetition and overhyping tiresome. The community's constant emphasis on these games can sometimes lead to a sense of expectation that is never fully met, contributing to the cringe factor.

A Personal Perspective on FNAF

I've been playing these games since they came out, and they were my childhood. The story is amazing and so interesting, and the game is one of a kind. However, the 2020–2021 FNAF Fanbase (mainly gacha community) is predominantly at fault for the cringe factor. Here's a rant on some of the cringey fan behaviors:

Clara

IDK why people all of a sudden believe that Clara is a confirmed character with a confirmed name.
Clara doesn't have a confirmed name and we don't know if Clara is even Ballora or what she even looks like.
Yes, we got the "It's been so long" music video but that was a fan animation.
Besides at the end of that video the lady turns into the puppet and we already know Charlie is the puppet and not the lady.

People also say "Clara is a sweet human being" as far as I remember we've never got to see "Clara" or her personality.

C.C and Nightmare Terror

Next with C.C or as people call him "Chris." Again it was never confirmed that C.C's name was Chris.
People also made him an "UwU help me I'm so scared boy i need protection"
Do you guys not realize this child was getting bullied by his own brother and traumatized every night by this nightmares He has a reason to cry but that doesn't mean his this "UwU soft bean"
Also what the hell is up with people shipping him with his nightmares you know THE NIGHTMARES THAT TRIED TO KILL HIM AND TRAUMATIZED HIM Yeah those nightmares.

Elizabeth and Gabriel

Elizabeth is an entitled child who is in love with a man who hates her and several people justify this with "Elizabeth was just a child, she didn't know better"
Elizabeth also has a weird ship going on Growth (Elizabeth x Cassidy x Charlie).
First of all Charlie is three and Elizabeth's dad had also murdered him.
Second Cassidy was also murdered by Elizabeth’s father and Cassidy HATES William like in Custom Night she stays behind just so he can relive his own creations killing him giving him a fate worse than Hell.
Third just why.

Michael and Ennard

William Oh boy
Why do people make William this "soft uwu" guy when he’s a literal child murderer.
Like he's killed so many kids and his own creations even killed his own children. Just one thing WHY IS WILLIAM X HENRY A THING William literally killed Henry's own child. I’m done with this community it feels sickening.

Reflections on FNAF Fan Culture

I love FNAF with all my heart but its people like this majority of the gacha that ruin it for me.
There are good people in this community but it's so hard to say "I'm a FNAF fan" because the people here are so embarrassing.
Their overzealous fan theories and shipping can be cringey and distasteful, especially when they reference murdered characters in a romantic context.

Lastly, if you have to participate in FNAF fan discourse, please watch this:

Signing off...

- C A S S I D Y