Five Nights at Epstein’s video game, a horror franchise parody, is alarming parents, schools

April 3, 2026 - 20:28

A new video game, drawing direct inspiration from the notorious crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, is causing significant alarm in communities and school districts across the country. Titled Five Nights at Epstein’s, the game is a direct parody of the popular Five Nights at Freddy’s horror franchise, but swaps the setting from a haunted pizzeria to Epstein’s private Caribbean island.

The game's premise, which involves players navigating a sinister estate, has been met with widespread condemnation. Parents and child safety advocates argue that it trivializes a very real and horrific series of crimes involving the sexual abuse of minors. They express deep concern that the game, often discovered by younger teens through online platforms, desensitizes players to a serious subject matter and exploits trauma for entertainment.

School administrators have also taken note, with some issuing warnings to parents about the game's existence and its disturbing content. The core criticism centers on the game's use of a real-life tragedy as a backdrop for jump-scares and gameplay, blurring lines between fictional horror and documented criminal horror. Many feel the subject is entirely inappropriate for a game format, regardless of its intended satirical or parody label. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions within gaming culture about the boundaries of taste and the ethical responsibilities of creators when dealing with sensitive, real-world events.