We’ve seen it all before with the likes of Five Nights at Freddy’s and Bendy and the Ink Machine - certain horror games just seem to have a charm which lures in a younger audience, and 2021’s puzzle horror game, Poppy Playtime, is no different. Given that it’s set in an abandoned toy factory probably doesn’t help matters - some kids are obsessed with the title and its characters, and most notably, Huggy Wuggy.
I’ll be honest, reader, I had no idea what the heck a Huggy Wuggy was before I started writing this, and perhaps you’re equally confused, but this fluffy, blue, monkey-like plush toy is the main antagonist in the first chapter of Poppy Playtime. Its googly eyes, and bright red lips aren’t exactly what I’d call the stuff of nightmares (even with the razor-sharp teeth), but as reported by Manchester Evening News, parents have been warned to stop their kids from watching videos of the character.
Take a look at the trailer for Poppy Playtime below.
The Suicide Awareness and Mental Health Initiative warns: “Parents are being urged not to let their children watch terrifying TikTok and YouTube videos of the killer teddy. The bear sings about ‘hugging and killing’ and asks those watching to ‘take their last breath’. Police have issued a warning over the character after some kids have been seen recreating the bear’s actions on the playground.
“One line says ‘I could hug you here forever, til you breathe your last breath together’. It continues ‘My teeth sharp and ready, in my grasp, yeah they’re deadly’. The blue bear also invites people to ‘lean in for a spine-breaking embrace’.”
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Now, it’s worth noting here that the quotes used as examples are, in fact, lyrics from fan-made songs, not real content from the game. Even so, you can understand why this stuff could scare little kids, or concern parents, for that matter. Safer Schools NI recommends that parents don’t talk about Huggy Wuggy or Poppy Playtime unprompted to their children, so as not to make them curious about it.
Topics: Indie Games, Real Life