History YMMV / PoppyPlaytime

** With ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' due to the similar premise of things made to entertain children suddenly coming to life and seemingly going on a killing spree. Many ''[=FnaF=]'' fans have compared Poppy Playtime rather favorably to the former. [[spoiler:It helps that both ''[=FnaF=]'s'' animatronics and ''PP's'' toys were [[WasOnceAMan originally human children]].]] The similarities increased with [[spoiler:both franchises featuring a gas as a plot point (respectively in ''Tales from the Pizzaplex'' and ''Chapter 3'')]].

* SpiritualSuccessor: To ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'', ''VideoGame/BendyAndTheInkMachine'', and ''VideoGame/AlienIsolation''.

* MisaimedMerchandising: * There was an official collaboration with infamous content farm [=YouTube=] channel [=LankyBox=], with plushies of the [=LankyBox=]'s {{Mascot}}s as various ''Poppy Playtime'' characters. It seems fine at first, until you realize that [=LankyBox=]'s target audience is very young children; and compared to [[WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants other]] [[WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug properties]] [[WesternAnimation/PJMasks that]] [=LankyBox=] has collaborated with, ''Poppy Playtime'' is by far the least child-friendly one due to its NightmareFuel elements and violence, especially with the Hour of Joy.

* PopularWithFurries: The designs of the Smiling Critters (especially [=CatNap=]'s) practically ''exploded'' in attention from the furry fandom due to being, well, much more animalistic and (usually) much less freaky-looking than the likes of Huggy Wuggy and Mommy Long-Legs.

** [=CatNap=] crosses it when he [[spoiler:tortured and killed all his fellow bigger body Smiling Friends for being "heretics" that resisted the control of the Prototype. In particular, he showed immense cruelty to [=DogDay=] by cutting him in half, and [[AndIMustScream leave him hanging in a cell for his minions to feast on]] for an unspecified amount of time]].

* PopularWithFurries: The designs of the Smiling Friends (especially [=CatNap=]'s) practically ''exploded'' in attention from the furry fandom due to being, well, much more animalistic and (usually) much less freaky-looking than the likes of Huggy Wuggy and Mommy Long-Legs.

** The Prototype himself: The [[TheDreaded widely feared]] GreaterScopeVillain who has an unknown endgame and [[spoiler:orchestrated the Hour of Joy]] while still [[PetTheDog not completely heartless]]. Despite the fact we've only seen his hand so far, fans already love him and imagine what his full body could look like.

** The vent chase in chapter 1, ''[[NightmareFuel full stop]]''. The stress of being in essentially a very narrow labyrinth while being chased by a blood-thirsty Huggy Wuggy is easily the highlight of a long, quiet chapter.

* FanartAtFirstSight: The Smiling Critters (especially [=DogDay=] and [=CatNap=]) got tons of fan art just after their designs were revealed on Twitter/X.

** Chapter 3 has the encounter with [=DogDay=], which has been praised not only for being extremely disturbing, but also for the large amounts of {{Foreshadowing}} and RewatchBonus scattered throughout the game (and its promotional material) that lead up to it. Even people who've disliked the series for limiting the horror factor in favor of marketable characters have praised the scene, due to it suggesting the following titles will also put mote focus on the horror.

* SignatureScene: The vent chase in chapter 1, ''[[NightmareFuel full stop]]''. The stress of being in essentially a very narrow labyrinth while being chased by a blood-thirsty Huggy Wuggy is easily the highlight of a long, quiet chapter.

** Huggy Wuggy, the ''Series/SesameStreet''-esque, 9-foot tall living plushie that acts as TheHeavy throughout chapter 1. His design manages to turn from dopey to creepy in a second with its NestedMouths, SlasherSmile and those BlackEyesOfEvil. Add to that that he's implied to be [[ItCanThink actually intelligent]] and is a SuperPersistentPredator with a terrifying JumpScare, and you've got an amazing and memorable horror-game villain.

** Mommy Long Legs, the ArcVillain of chapter two. She is a big, creepy stretch-toy resembling a spider and has gone through a major SanitySlippage due to the years of isolation underneath the factory, turning her from the caring mother figure she once was to a [[PsychopathicManchild Psychopathic Womanchild]] who won't hesitate to maul the player if they break her rules.
** [[spoiler:The Prototype, the presumed GreaterScopeVillain, whose metal hand with its long spindly fingers is the only part we've seen of him thus far, yet he is described as being easily the most intelligent and dangerous specimen of them all, able to create his very own laser pointer and take out security cameras. He also displays an understanding of human psychology in his ability to manipulate others, shown by his almost successful attempt at a FakeoutEscape. Not to mention the unsettling way in which his hand appears at the end of chapter two can leave chills down your spine...]]

** It should not be funny that the [=GrabPack=] is strong enough to decapitate a person. In fact, that's nightmarish. But the demonstration video shows an employee using the pack on another coworker's head, and holding it like a trophy as the headless body falls to the floor in a sea of blood. The caption says that using it this way can [[{{Understatement}} cause serious injuries]], and you can't help but chuckle.
** [[spoiler:Huggy's DisneyVillainDeath has this. Yes, you finally got the bastard and sent him falling. Sure, the blood is nightmarish. Then he keeps banging into practically every pipe and railing on the way down. It gets to the point of an OverlyLongGag if you keep looking down.]]

* EpilepticTree: It's been often speculated that the enigmatic protagonist is the unnamed Head of Security at Playtime Co. who was mentioned in some reports. Many fans pointed out how unlike the other higher ups such as Harley Sawyer, Leith Pierre and Elliot Ludwig, The Head Of Security is never given a proper name or gender, nor any lines or anything about them, making it possible that they are the player.

** [=CatNap=] is the Prototype's [[TheDragon Dragon]] who kills and tortures numerous toys in his name, but there is definitely something badass about how terrifying he is.
** The Prototype himself: The [[TheDreaded widely feared]] GreaterScopeVillain who has an unknown endgame and [[spoiler:orchestrated the Hour of Joy]] while still [[PetTheDog not completely heartless]]. Despite the fact we've only seen his hand, fans already love him and imagine what his full body could look like.

* HilariousInHindsight: Chapter 2 is about the Villain who is based on the Betty Spaghetty dolls that is trying to take advantage of the main characters and tries to stop a little doll like girl with large hair named Poppy. This is similar to WesternAnimation/TrollsBandTogether which has Velvet a evil girl based on Betty Spaghetty dolls who plans to drain the main characters and is being stopped by a little girl with large hair named Poppy.

** [=CatNap=] is an utter monster who's fanatically devoted to the Prototype and murders any toy that resists his control, but he has the tragic backstory of being Theodore Grambell, an orphan at Playtime Co. who befriended the Prototype, was horrifically electrocuted when he tried to help him escape, and then turned into a toy experiment to save his life. He lived in this toy body for at least 4 years and was forced to live in a cell by Leith Pierre.

* MoralEventHorizon

** The Prototype crosses it by orchestrating [[spoiler:the "Hour of Joy" where the sentient toys massacred every employee of Playtime Co. they could find, regardless of how guilty they were (and given how even a high-ranking member like Stella was LockedOutOfTheLoop most weren't). Poppy describes it as senseless slaughter and states that the Prototype must die for what they've done]].

** PJ Pug-A-Pillar also qualifies. He is part ''pug'' after all!

** The ''Smiling Critters'' short is already impressive for pulling of the look and feel of 90s kids' cartoon, but special mention goes to the Red Smoke-induced scene at the end, with [=CraftyCorn=], Bobby [=BearHug=], and [=DogDay=]'s parts being given an AnimationBump to make their movements more fluid, which helps to sell how something has gone '''horribly''' wrong in this supposedly innocent show.

** The Bunzo Bunny that appeared in Bunzo's Eggstravaganza comic (who is different than the one that appeared in ''Chapter 2'') was one of the living toys in Playtime Co who decided to go on an egg hunt. They used a grab-pack to grab an egg, which accidentally broke it exposing a bird fetus. Desperately trying to get help, the fell down a hole where they hopelessly remained for over 15 days despite crying for help, only being able to draw pictures of how they go there. Mob Entertainment ends this showing a 3d model of [[https://twitter.com/mobgamesstudios/status/1649428132661714956 Bunzo's decrepit corpse]].

* CatharsisFactor: After spending all of Chapter 2 being a sadistic bully, watching Mommy Long Legs get agonizingly GroundByGears is quite satisfying.

** After her rather difficult chase scene, smashing Miss Delight via TaeKwonDoor is immensely satisfying.