New indie horror game, Finding Frankie, rocks the internet

Four costumed rabbits ready themselves at the starting line; anticipation builds as the buzzer begins to count down. With $5,000,000 on the line, each contestant is determined to win. 3… 2… 1…GO! The costumed figures propel themselves forward, making their way to the now open shutter door. 

But then, before they can reach it, a monstrous figure reveals itself. It grabs the rabbits violently, picking off each of its victims one by one. Even so, a rabbit manages to slip by, running into the adjacent room as the shutter slams shut. Adrenaline still pumping, an overwhelming sense of dread sinks in.

You are the only contestant left. 

This is the beginning of Finding Frankie, the new indie mascot horror game that has recently rocked the internet. Released on Oct. 25 of this year, Finding Frankie already has a plethora of videos all over the internet, and as of currently, has a rating of 9/10 on steam.

In Finding Frankie you play as an anonymous character as you are forced to wear a rabbit costume, concealing the character’s identity to the player. This character has been invited to take part in a game show, hosted by the Finding Frankie Cereal Company in which you need to race three other contestants in a parkour obstacle course. 

However, you soon realize that this game hides a dark secret. As the race begins, your fellow contestants get slaughtered by the main antagonist and the cereal’s animatronic mascot, Frankie, a huge mechanical rabbit with sharp teeth and springy limbs. 

Now, alone, with $5,000,000 and your life on the line, you must skillfully make your way through the parkour course avoiding its animatronic mascots and deadly traps.

Although horror games have been known for their death defying chases, Finding Frankie kicks it up a notch as the player now must platform their way through complex colorful rooms, often chased by deadly animatronic mascots. It gives the game a unique sense of movement as you constantly bounce, run and swing, to advance each room. 

Many also point out its distinctive art style. The character designs of the unpleasant looking animatronics give a good contrast to the otherwise colorful environment making the game eerie and childishly creepy. Its clean, cartoony animations and images, done by a 2D artist the team had hired, make parts of the game pleasant and interesting to look at. Overall, these elements give the game a unique feel, differentiating itself from similar mascot horror games, a horror genre that the Five Nights at Freddy’s series originally popularized.

The game started development in September of 2022. Finding Frankie’s small team of about five didn’t expect its popularity, the game most definitely being a passion project. Although the game is only about one-two hours long, it has been a major hit. The Finding Frankie team, after its boom in popularity has been hinting at more amazing games from their talented team, getting fans excited for the future of this new series.