Here's the reason I didn't enjoy 'Poppy's Playtime' chapter 3

With the new release of Poppy Playtime Chapter 3, I can strongly say that I was let down with the execution of the latest installment.

Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 was released on January 30th, 2024. There is currently no set date for the release of Chapter 4, however, many fans are hoping for a release in 2025 or early 2026. Between Chapter 2: A Fly in a Web and Chapter 3: Deep Sleep there was a 20-month gap, so fans hope there will be a similar wait time until the next installment.

In Poppy Playtime: Deep Sleep, players embark on a journey through Playcare, an underground orphanage hidden away underneath the Playtime Co. toy factory. The game's protagonist is equipped with a "GrabPack," a new flexible hand tool that enables the player to use and manipulate certain objects and hack electrical circuits. Players must navigate the map and unlock secrets while murderous toys are on the hunt and ready to kill.

The developers of Poppy Playtime, Mob Entertainment, have drastically improved the overall graphics, and horror ambiance. Chapter 3 has by far become the most scariest game in the franchise. I constantly felt myself nervous and on edge, while experiencing this game, I highly applaud the developers for this!

My favorite half of the game is most definitely the beginning. The initial area, known as Home Sweet Home, may appear to be a charming suburban home from the outside. However, inside it harbors frightful experiences. While this part of Chapter 3 offers some of the most engaging gameplay, the narrative aspect falls a bit flat in some areas. During a dream sequence in Home Sweet Home, which features a maze-like series of shifting corridors reminiscent of PT, and Outlast 2, a radio broadcasts unsettling news about the founder of Playtime Co. and the finding of a child's corpse in his residence. This information seems rather unexpected and unrelated at this stage in the story. The sight of children's beds stained with blood and photographs of real children seems overly distressing. Up until now, the series has primarily, if not entirely, depicted death concerning adult staff members.

Though this chapter was a major improvement, I still wasn't the biggest fan. I have enjoyed both Chapters 1 & 2, but Chapter 3 felt like kind of a miss for me.

I will say that if you are a huge fan of indie horror puzzles, this is just the game for you! However for me, halfway through the game, the puzzles began to feel drawn out and repetitive. With the repetitive puzzles, the pacing just started to feel incredibly slow which didn't keep my attention during the first play-through.

Despite the journey's generally smooth progression, I found myself longing for a more gradual increase in challenge. Many of the puzzles felt familiar, and a little more complexity coupled with fewer straightforward tasks would have enhanced the game's enjoyment.

The game takes a significant turn when CatNap dies After solving another brief puzzle, you reunite with Poppy for the concluding cutscene. In these final moments, some questions find answers, others arise, and a powerful performance by Poppy's voice actor accompanies a deeply emotional scene between the two characters.

However, I found myself wishing for more consistent character development throughout the game. While I want to write a more positive review for Poppy Playtime Chapter 3, the inconsistent puzzle difficulty and a narrative that felt heavily concentrated towards the end made the experience less enjoyable than anticipated.

Despite its shortcomings, the game was worth the journey. Chapters 1 and 2 may have had fewer issues, but Chapter 3 shows a clear improvement in terms of length, difficulty, and story development. Thus, like many, I still eagerly await Poppy Playtime Chapter 4.