Fan games for Five Nights at Freddy's have existed nearly as long as the series itself. Since FNAF developer Scott Cawthon's debut game was launched in 2014, dozens have sprouted up on Game Jolt and Itch.io. These independent efforts ignited the audience since regular unofficial material kept people interested in between big releases. They developed into their own community over time, assisting the fans in weathering recurrent changes and disputes.