Poppy Playtime was released for both PC and mobile, but one release remains superior compared to the other when it comes to atmosphere.
Poppy Playtime is a horror game released for the PC and mobile, and the differences show between both versions when feeling the atmosphere of the game. The PC version and iOS and Android mobile versions of Poppy Playtime attempt to help the player experience the true unnerving sensation of being in an abandoned factory and not knowing what will jump out at them next. This is accentuated by tight turns around corners, graffiti covering old walls, and broken stands littering the floor. But are there substantive differences in how each version captures the atmosphere?
The game itself consists of a former employee being sent a VHS tape in their mail from their former job at the toy company Playtime Co. During the game, the player must explore through the abandoned factory that they return to, pursued by a malicious humanoid toy by the name of Huggy Wuggy. The tension of the audiovisual experience is a large part of what makes the game so compelling, which makes the mobile version feel potentially weaker.
The decrepit aspects of the environment stand out prominently in the PC version, detailing the little crevices and rust upon stained walls, while the mobile version falls shorter due to technical limitations. This results in textures on the PC showing a smoother experience than the sometimes-blurry, sometimes-rugged textures of the environment and items in the mobile. Horror games like Poppy Playtime are better for parents than children because they’re so immersive, which is what helps create that scare factor. The PC version creates a seamless adventure without load times, where the mobile version breaks immersion via loading screens between designated zones. The sudden transition from a fast-paced terrifying chase in the maintenance shafts from Huggy Wuggy can quickly lose its desired effect with the abrupt transition of a loading screen.
But outside of graphical differences, the games do not cause the players to lose out on anything in between. Both games still provide the player with the same Poppy Playtime Huggy Wuggy lore and story to experience despite the graphical differences. The main disparity between the two games seems to come only from the graphical limitations and loading screens more inherent to gaming on a mobile device. However, the mobile version allows for the game to be portable and doesn’t require a PC, making it a great alternative for those who mostly game on the go or who don’t have a decent gaming PC.
Poppy Playtime’s PC version is clearly the superior of the two for those that can play it, but the mobile version, despite not having quite the same technical prowess, is still a worthwhile version of the game for those who want it. Like Five Nights At Freddy’s, Poppy Playtime is scarier at home in the dark, but the story is still enjoyable no matter which version of the game a player chooses. It’s ultimately up to players to decide whether convenience or graphical fidelity (and the scares that come with it) are the most important to their Poppy Playtime experience.
Mai Vu is a hardcore gamer, tabletop player, and RPG enthusiast who enjoys spreading her knowledge, care and fun to others all around. She is an only child with a close relationship with her family and engages in new types of games all of the time to build her own beautiful worlds. Based in Tennessee, she strives to make a change and effort by reaching out to others and encouraging many to enjoy the world of tabletop gaming, PC gaming, and come together as a virtual family.
