In 2021, Steel Wool’s Security Breach received a mixed reception as the first Five Nights at Freddy’s 3D game. It ran with game-breaking bugs, glitches, and poor performance on various platforms. Four years later, Secret of the Mimic has used the feedback to recover what was not implemented in its predecessor. The 11th installment quickly became the new FNAF fans‘ favorite next to Into the Pit, the series’ first pixelated adventure. So, how well did Secret of the Mimic do during its non-VR release?

Better Game Stability

Security Breach left a devastating sight in players’ eyes due to its poor game optimization, especially with its high poly count on numerous assets and models. Load-outs throughout the Pizzaplex would make them wait 2 minutes or surprise them with lag. Players also experienced falling out of maps, multiple animatronics glitches, and dying to the Blob after defeating Burntrap. While the studio captured the spectacle of Freddy’s megamall, they failed to fix the outliers.

Steel Wool recovered some of their mistakes in the DLC, Security Breach Ruin. Assets no longer cause frame drops, and barriers were added to prevent accidental boundary breaks. Most importantly, the DLC added autosaving to replace save stations that frustrated players in the base game. The developers did the same for Secret of the Mimic. There’s faster latency, smooth animations, and no slow area load-outs in Murray’s Costume Manor (MCM).

Gameplay Built for VR First

Steel Wool felt familiar in their element with their VR foundation. They felt confident enough to launch the flatscreen version first for platform accessibility. Unlike Security Breach, the protagonist, Arnold, can’t jump. It fits the VR control scheme and Arnold’s exhaustion from a 36-hour Fazbear Entertainment maintenance shift. His objective is to retrieve Edwin Murray’s endoskeleton blueprints from MCM.

Security Breach Ruin introduced players to maintenance gameplay. The Faz-Wrench granted access to rooms while creating safety protocols against Glitchtrap’s virus. Secret of the Mimic is set at the beginning of the Five Nights at Freddy’s timeline. Arnold is equipped with the Faz-Wrench’s prototype, Data Diver. He must collect different staff access keys to traverse through the workshop. He can track the player’s progress on the H.E.L.P.E.R computer. Using Arnold’s technician skills, he can repair pipelines and operate cranes.

The dispatcher does warn him that something is moving inside the workshop, the Mimic. Steel Wool took inspiration from Five Nights at Freddy’s 3 with a single animatronic hunting the player. They combined creator Scott Cawthon’s description of the Mimic’s costume-wearing ability, creating a terrifying enemy. FNAF fans will be excited to know this game has collectibles. You can store them inside the Inventory Storage in accessible safe zones.

Arnold can use wind-up mice and activate sounds from voice boards and mannequins to distract them. He can hide in lockers and vents to prevent himself from getting captured. In a room with multiple costumes, players must pay attention to which costume comes to life. Until the VR version is released, flatscreen players imitate hand motions by moving with the mouse or joystick. Rotating an object is fine, but pulling on the generators feels awkward.

Supernatural Investigative Horror

Secret of the Mimic moves away from a sci-fi supernatural horror into a paranormal investigation. Without the interruptive bugs and glitches, players had a more pleasant game experience. Five Nights at Freddy’s is widely known for its cryptic yet chilling storytelling. Security Breach’s disastrous launch state made it difficult for theorists to gather its lore. They had an easier time while playing Security Breach Ruin.

In Steel Wool’s soon-to-be VR experience, you explore Edwin Murray’s workshop. Inside, you’ll find audio logs and mail scattered. It shares a similar concept to Otherworld Interactive’s Hello Puppets, where you explore Mortimer’s Handymen Workshop. Listening to and reading them offers insight into Edwin Murray’s family and business life.

Certain audio logs will play in situations, triggering Fiona Murray’s instructions to Arnold for self-repair jobs. Their son, David, is often discussed throughout their records, along with MCM’s road to run. Secret of the Mimic contains three endings that contain clues about the Murray family. As a technician of Fazbear’s Entertainment, you choose whether to do your job or solve the mystery.

Secret of the Mimic’s Reception

Overall, Secret of the Mimic is the most horrific spectacle in the Five Nights at Freddy’s series in a refreshing way. It raises tension whenever entering a new room is crowded with spring lock costumes. The Mimic’s randomized behavior is a fantastic choice to prevent the player from feeling overwhelmed, compared to the Help Wanted and Help Wanted 2 minigames.

The animatronics’ designs are charming and lively compared to William Afton’s bulky, unhinged design. The game showed there was a brighter time before Fazbear’s Entertainment’s ownership. It’s great that Steel Wool studied more into Scott Cawthon’s pizzeria universe and his narrative style. The flatscreen release is a nice gift to fans who do not own a VR set, yet some felt this version isn’t scary enough. If you’re looking for a terrifying experience, the VR version could be for you. Secret of the Mimic is available on PS5, Steam, and Epic Games Store.