Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 Review – (Not So) Safe Haven

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 Review

The newest and fourth entry in the mainline Poppy Playtime series has finally made its way to consoles. Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 continues the story that has been plugging away since the release of Poppy Playtime back in 2021. Each chapter pushes the narrative a little further, bringing along existing characters while also introducing brand new ones. The dark and bizarre history of Playtime Co. is about to take the player much deeper than ever before.

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 is a direct sequel and picks up directly after the third chapter. If you haven’t played the first three Poppy Playtime games, stop reading and go play them first. The story is more than just some horror game fluff. The lore and characters are all meticulously designed to keep the player intrigued. Understanding what happened previously and the various characters will make chapter 4 feel even more rewarding.

Familiar Faces and New Faces

Players will continue to assume the role of “the employee”, the silent protagonist that’s been around since the beginning. Guided by Poppy, you’ll continue your journey deeper into the Playtime Co. facility, learning more about the bizarre and crazy experimentations. This time around, you’ll be working your way through a mass graveyard of Smiling Critters and into a massive prison complex where Playtime Co.’s victims were held captive during their brutal transformation processes. It is here that you’ll meet the newest addition to the Poppy Playtime franchise, Doey, a colourful dough creature with a loving personality and a dark secret or two…

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 plays much like the previous games. A first person horror game where players use a grab pack with extendable hands, with each hand featuring a different ability. Abilities include a flare gun that shoots balls of light and a hand that’ll bounce you high into the air on specific bounce pads. You’ll use these abilities to solve puzzles and navigate the mostly linear underground structures.

At times, your survival will be tested by menacing creatures of all shapes and sizes, including the latest beast, Yarnaby. The pressure will be on and you’ll need to run, outmaneuver, and hide to survive. It can get pretty tense and when the tension is high, it can get pretty confusing figuring out your next move. Sometimes it’s not clear what item you need or where to find it. You will get caught and die often. But with enough trial and error, most players should figure things out. There are some frustrating moments, but given some persistence, the challenges can be overcome. The game’s auto-save system is pretty generous.

The Dark Below

The game is largely on par with the previous games visually. Chapter 4 definitely seemed a lot darker, as you’ll be navigating more underground areas. These areas are no longer the happy face of Playtime Co., as now we’ve descended into the ugly depths where the real horrors took place. Some of the new additions to Poppy Playtime, such as the previously mentioned Doey and Yarnaby, bring bright and vibrant colours to an otherwise gloomy atmosphere. Of course, it’s hard to appreciate Yarnaby when he’s constantly chasing you. The audio is consistent with previous chapters as well, with some solid voice acting work. The actor who portrayed Doey did a fantastic job – but I won’t say much more to avoid any spoilers.

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 continues where the previous three chapters left off. The story continues to get deeper and darker into the sordid past of Playtime Co. The franchise is known for some tense moments and creepy atmospheres – and Chapter 4 continues that tradition. The remaining Poppy Playtime crew, such as Poppy and Kissy Missy, are all there along with some new faces like the Playdoh-inspired Doey. The game will take most users no more than 4 hours to complete, but completionists will take much longer to find all the various collectibles and nail all the Achievements. If you’ve enjoyed the Poppy Playtime adventure so far, there is no doubt you’ll already have this one on your wishlist. If you’re new to the franchise, go back to the beginning and start with the first chapter.

***Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 review code for Xbox Series X provided by the publisher.***