The Five Nights at Freddy's game timeline isn't exactly straightforward, and the latest addition to the main series only makes things more complicated. There are now seven games that are canon to the main series timeline. However, the order of release is certainly not the same as the games' chronological order, especially after the release of Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach.
There are several spin-off games in the Five Nights at Freddy's franchise, and those spark constant debate in the fanbase about each side game's place in the timeline. Some fans have formed detailed timelines, mapping out every piece of lore and when it originated. So, while many fans don't agree on the true Fazbear Pizza timeline, the main series games are the only ones considered canon by creator Scott Cawthon and other developers, and these games have fairly straightforward time stamps.
Five Nights at Freddy's 4
The fourth installment in the series is actually the first to take place chronologically; in 1983. Unlike other games in the franchise, the player character is not a security guard at a pizzeria, but instead a child in their own bedroom. This child stays in their bed for the entirety of the game and is armed with a flashlight. As the child sits in the dark, they're visited by nightmare versions of common FNAF animatronics Chica, Bonnie, Freddy, and Foxie.
They use a flashlight and strategic closing of closet doors to make it through the terrifying night. Through minigames during Five Nights at Freddy's 4, players learn that the child was the victim of the "Bite of '83," when bullies at a party placed their head inside Fredbear's mouth at Fredbear's Family Diner. This incident ultimately led to the closure of Fredbear's Family Diner and the events of later games.
Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location
It's not exactly clear when the events of Five Nights at Freddy's: Sister Location take place, but fans generally agree that it is the second chronological game; happening shortly after FNAF4, and before the events of FNAF2. This game introduces a lot of series lore surrounding the creator of the animatronics, William Afton, and his children.
Players play as Michael Afton, who finds himself at Circus Baby's Entertainment and Rental, an underground warehouse that stores animatronics that can be rented for parties. These robots come from a now-closed sister location to Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, and animatronics like Circus Baby and Ballora are unique to this game. Other Fazbear animatronics like Bonnie, Freddy, and Foxie also appear in circus-themed "Funtime" variations. Through Sister Location, Circus Baby earns the trust of Michael and eventually lures him to his death, allowing the endoskeleton of animatronic Ennard to use Michael's flesh as a disguise to leave the premises.
Five Nights at Freddy's 2
Players take on the role of Jeremy Fitzgerald, the newest Freddy Fazbear's Pizza security guard, in Five Nights at Freddy's 2. The paycheck players receive at the end of the game confirms that the events of FNAF2 take place in November of 1987. The second game in the series features the same format as the original game, with players remaining stationary in a security office, attempting to keep deadly animatronics at bay.
A nameless employee on the phone speaks to Jeremy each night and reveals information about the location and the job. Players learn that the animatronics roam freely around the building and are programmed to seek out noise, even at night. It's also revealed that old animatronics are kept in storage in the building to be used for spare parts. Eventually, Jeremy learns that there is an ongoing police investigation surrounding the restaurant, mostly like the "Bite of '87" mentioned in the first game. FNAF2 introduced post-death Atar-style minigames and "The Purple Man," whom many fans believe killed several children at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.
Five Nights at Freddy's
The series namesake, Five Nights at Freddy's, has no confirmed date in the timeline, but fans widely agree that it likely takes place in 1993. Players find themselves in the shoes of Mike Schmidt, yet another nighttime security guard for Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. The game takes place at a different location than that of FNAF2, and the unnamed recorded voice informs players of the animatronics habit of mistaking humans for endoskeletons, leading them to "forcefully stuff" people inside of animatronic suits.
The main series' lore found in the original 2014 game comes from newspaper clippings and some stories told in recordings. The player learns of a man hiding in an animatronic suit to lure five children to their murders. Later complaints came from guests that the animatronics smelled foul and were leaking mysterious fluids, leading fans to the speculation that the children's corpses may have been hidden inside the animatronics.
Five Nights at Freddy's 3
The series' third installment takes a slight turn from the previous games. Set approximately 30 years after the events of the original FNAF (around 2023), players are tasked with a security job at horror attraction "Fazbear's Fright," and keep watch during the night shift. The staff at Fazbear's Fright learn how to operate animatronic suits as costumes, but later cassette tapes discourage employees from using the suits after an "unfortunate incident at a sister location."
This game also makes use of post-death minigames, eventually depicting the group of murdered children seemingly getting revenge on their killer by cornering him and forcing him to hide in an animatronic where he is crushed and killed. FNAF3 only features one physical animatronic, Springtrap, who is believed to be possessed by the late William Afton, and several apparitions of previous animatronics that cannot physically harm the player.
Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator
Fans find themselves as new franchise owners of a Fazbear Entertainment restaurant in Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator, tasked with furnishing and preparing the restaurant for a big party on the upcoming Saturday. Players can salvage animatronics and rearrange their restaurant layout before tackling the nights from the security office in traditional FNAF fashion.
After the last night, the voice on the cassette recordings reveals that this location was created in an attempt to lure the existing Fazbear animatronics into a central location in order to destroy them all. The game plays a cutscene, showing a video of the pizzeria burning down with the animatronics trapped inside and cuts out as the fire consumes the building and its contents.
Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach
It's unclear when the events of the newest installment, Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach, take place besides the fact that one ending confirms that Pizzeria Simulator is prior. It's clear that the events are after 2023, and fans speculate that it happens between 2024 and 2029. Gamers play as Gregory, a young boy who has managed to stay inside of Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex after closing, and is faced with roaming animatronics attempting to capture him. There are several endings to Security Breach, and one leads to players finding the burnt remains of the pizzeria from Pizzeria Simulator, confirming the timeline of events surrounding the two games.
Since the original Five Nights at Freddy's in 2014, the timeline and lore have grown exponentially. Fans speculate and have come up with hundreds of versions of the timeline that include side games, fan games, and more. However, for now, only the seven main games and a few side materials (including novels) are certified canon by the developers.