Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to star in a high-stakes parkour game show? Not like Takeshi’s Castle or Ninja Warrior—think of one you uncover through a mysterious tape hidden in a cereal box, with a $5 million cash prize waiting at the finish line. And who doesn’t love making new friends, right? This game show is to die for—literally. The only question is, are you fast, strong, and agile enough to survive the intense parkour...and your new "friends," including the relentless, hippity-hoppity mascot, Frankie the Magician Rabbit?
Think of it as a life-or-death challenge, like a twisted game of hide and seek—only this time, the rabbit isn’t the prey… you are!
Hello, gaming enthusiasts! I’m back with another pulse-pounding review of the latest mascot horror game! If you’re a fan of franchises like Five Nights at Freddy's, Poppy Playtime, or Bendy, this one’s sure to be on your radar. Announced in 2023 and released on Steam on October 25, 2024, this title brings something new and refreshing to the mascot horror scene. Developed by the talented team at SUPERLOU, they knew exactly what they were doing when it came to reinventing the genre with an extra dose of suspense and excitement!
Release Date :
PC - October 25th, 2024
Expectations & Context
I have to admit, after watching the trailers over the past year, my expectations were sky-high—as high as a rabbit on springs could jump! Was I disappointed? Impressed? Did Finding Frankie manage to create a franchise that would live on in my heart and the hearts of horror fans worldwide? Let’s discover if Finding Frankie has earned its place among the greatest mascot horror games ever!
Story and Setting
Plot Summary
How could something so secretive and sketchy make anyone want to take part in Finding Frankie? The plot starts with a seemingly innocent box of Frankie’s Fruit Flakes, but hidden inside is a mysterious tape offering a life-changing opportunity: $5 million if you’re brave enough. All it takes is surviving a deadly parkour gauntlet against four other contestants, set in a colourful world straight out of childhood dreams. But Finding Frankie is quick to remind us—just because it looks nice doesn’t make it safe. This is no ordinary game show; it’s a place where the stakes are as high as they are lethal.
But the real question is: can you survive, or will you meet your impending doom?
World Building
The world of Finding Frankie is moderately large, with the game set in a sprawling, three-story location interconnected by tunnels and elevators, allowing access to various areas. The lore revolves around an illegal game show privately hosted on the dark web, where over 19,000 viewers tune in to chat, vote, and pay to watch a deadly competition unfold in Frankie’s Parkour Palace—the world’s largest trampoline, water, and parkour park.
While the first game in the series doesn’t delve too deeply into notes or backstory, it hints at a deeper mystery beneath the surface. The environments are undeniably impressive, designed with kid-centric themes typical of mascot horror. From a vibrant water park to a treacherous, obstacle-covered icy mountain, each location feels like a place you’d happily pay to visit—if it weren’t for the deadly stakes. The attention to detail in these settings is remarkable, offering unique, thrilling, and immersive challenges with every new area you explore.
And let’s not even get started on the gore. The level of detail the developers at SUPERLOU poured into every gruesome aspect is nothing short of impressive. Each scene is crafted to heighten the terror, making the game even more horrifying and immersive. The grotesque visuals, combined with the game’s vibrant yet eerie environments, ensure that every moment feels unnervingly real. It’s clear that SUPERLOU went all out to create an experience that sticks with you long after you’ve finished playing.
It also leaves a lingering question in the back of your mind: how did a place built for fun, and adventure turn into something so gruesome and sinister? This contrast between the cheerful setting and the horrifying events adds an extra layer of unease, pulling you deeper into the mystery of Finding Frankie.
Character Development
The protagonist in Finding Frankie is intentionally a blank slate, with little information provided about their identity or background beyond being a contestant desperate for money. This anonymity helps players step into their shoes, but it’s the mascots that truly steal the show with their larger-than-life personalities.
Take Frankie, the magician rabbit, for instance—he could give Watership Down a run for its money when it comes to terrifying rabbits. His menacing demeanour and sheer brutality are enough to send chills down your spine, especially after seeing trailers where Frankie literally tears a contestant in half. Then there’s Henry Hotline, a nightmarishly creepy phone that somehow manages to make the concept of a killer phone utterly unsettling. Finally, there’s Deputy Duck, but… let’s just say some things are better left unsaid.
The game’s journey through diverse areas works perfectly thanks to these characters, whose unique and horrifying traits bring each setting to life in a way that’s as thrilling as it is unsettling.
Gameplay
Core Mechanics
The core mechanics of Finding Frankie are designed for mouse and keyboard, though you can connect a controller if you prefer. Getting the hang of the controls takes some practice, especially with precision-based mechanics like swinging. Miss a swing, and you’re not just falling—you’re likely setting yourself up for an unpleasant encounter with Frankie! Wall jumping is another key mechanic that requires perfect timing; you’ll need to hit the jump button the moment you land on the next trampoline to keep moving.
Unlike most mascot horror games, there’s no combat in Finding Frankie. Instead, the game focuses on intense chase sequences where your speed and agility are your best weapons, particularly when outrunning Frankie himself. The game also introduces unique mechanics like wall riding, rail grinding at high speeds, and swinging from poles, all of which are essential for reaching fuse boxes before time runs out.
Trampolines and a helpful slide mechanic add even more variety to the gameplay, with the slide proving especially useful for quick escapes or faster movement through the levels. Puzzles are straightforward but tense, typically involving timed challenges like activating fuse boxes to unlock new areas. These mechanics blend seamlessly with the parkour gameplay, creating a thrilling and fast-paced experience that keeps you on your toes.
Difficulty & Balance
I found the difficulty in Finding Frankie to be a bit inconsistent. Some parts were straightforward enough, but the final level proved to be especially difficult. Without giving away spoilers, let’s just say Frankie’s persistence can make things frustrating! That said, death isn’t the end—you’ll respawn, and success often comes down to recognizing patterns, staying focused, and having patience. Of course, some players might find this easier than others.
The A.I. of the mascots deserves praise, as they’re genuinely challenging and will push your parkour skills to the limit. Their unpredictability adds an extra layer of tension, making each encounter feel like a true test of your abilities.
Progression Systems
Finding Frankie doesn’t include upgrades or unlockable skills like a traditional skill tree. However, there are hidden collectible plushies of Frankie scattered throughout the levels. Finding them isn’t as easy as it sounds, so it’s worth keeping a sharp eye out as you explore.
There’s also a unique mechanic introduced midway through the game, but I’ll avoid spoilers and let you discover that surprise for yourself!
Variety & Replayability
When it comes to replayability, Finding Frankie doesn’t offer much beyond going back to find any hidden Frankie bot-plushes you may have missed or aiming for a higher score in the speedrun mode. Outside of these, there isn’t a lot to encourage multiple playthroughs.
Graphics & Visuals
Art Direction
Mascot horror games often showcase a variety of art styles—some lean toward hyper-realism, while others adopt a pen-and-ink aesthetic. Finding Frankie strikes a balance between the two, blending cartoonish character designs with detailed, realistic environments. The art direction chosen by SUPERLOU is nothing short of brilliant, perfectly complementing the game’s tone and story to create a visually cohesive and immersive experience.
Technical Performance
The performance in Finding Frankie was exceptional, running smoothly without any bugs or glitches that could disrupt the experience. It’s clear that the game is well-optimized, maintaining a steady 60FPS throughout my playthrough.
Cinematic Moments
Cutscenes in Finding Frankie are fairly limited, with only a few moments scattered throughout. However, the game shines in how it blends gameplay with cinematic moments. Encounters with mascots, for instance, transition seamlessly from gameplay to a brief cutscene and then back into gameplay, creating an immersive and dynamic experience.
Sound & Music
Sound Design
The sound design in Finding Frankie is absolutely superb, pulling you deeper into the experience with its rich and varied effects. There are countless sounds that bring the world to life, from the horrifyingly visceral tearing of a human to pieces to the blaring warning alarms that heighten the tension. Frankie’s pursuit is a standout example—the pounding of his footsteps, his unsettling voice, and the chaos of objects crashing around you during high-speed chases create an atmosphere of pure panic.
Voice Acting
Voice acting in Finding Frankie is minimal but highly impactful. Take Henry Hotline, for example—the panic and personality in his voice truly bring the character to life, showcasing the actor's talent and dedication. Throughout the game, you’ll also hear an announcer providing commentary, adding an extra layer of immersion as they address you directly. The protagonist, however, remains silent, allowing you to step into their shoes and feel like you’re part of the action.
Music & Score
The music in Finding Frankie is the heart and soul of the game, with a diverse range of themes that perfectly match the atmosphere, emotions, and actions taking place. The soundtrack shifts seamlessly depending on the situation, capturing both the playful, childlike vibe of Frankie’s Parkour Palace and the more intense, suspenseful moments. It reinforces the idea that this otherwise twisted world is meant to be a safe, enjoyable place for kids, contrasting the cheerful tunes with the dark and dangerous events unfolding around you.
User Experience & Accessibility
Interface
The interface is clean and straightforward, avoiding unnecessary clutter. There’s no map or health bar crowding the screen—just a simple reticle, and occasionally a mission prompt or subtitles if enabled during character dialogue. This minimalist approach makes the experience feel highly engaging, keeping your focus on the action and the world around you.
Currently, Finding Frankie doesn’t include dedicated accessibility options, but it does allow you to remap the controls. This feature came in handy for me, as I preferred customising the layout to suit my playstyle.
Load times in Finding Frankie are impressively quick, getting you into the action almost immediately. Performance was equally smooth, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience throughout.
Innovation & Comparisons
Unique Features
One of the standout features in Finding Frankie is its parkour system, a mechanic that feels fresh and unique in the mascot horror genre. While it takes some practice to master, it’s incredibly smooth and satisfying once you get the hang of it. The game also incorporates familiar elements, such as intense chase sequences, but sets itself apart by limiting your tools to just your hands and legs. However, there’s a special feature unlocked later in the game that proves invaluable in a particularly challenging section—though I won’t spoil it for you!
Comparisons to Other Games
When comparing Finding Frankie to similar titles, it stands apart from games like Five Nights at Freddy's with its first-person perspective and dynamic gameplay. It leans closer to Poppy Playtime in terms of style but introduces a completely different scenario and mechanics. What truly sets it apart is its originality—Finding Frankie isn’t just another copy-and-paste mascot horror game. Its unique approach makes it a fresh and exciting experience to explore and play.
Final Thoughts Strengths
The strengths of Finding Frankie lie in its standout features. The parkour system is incredibly fluid, making you feel the rush as you navigate obstacles with speed and precision. The characters are unforgettable, and the environments are equally impressive—some even evoke the playful yet challenging vibe of Fall Guys. The art style is fantastic, perfectly complementing the game’s tone, while the music and story further elevate the overall experience.
Weaknesses
Unfortunately, with the strengths come a few weaknesses. I found the game to be shorter than anticipated—clocking in at just around an hour and a half. While I personally prefer games without a chapter-based system, as they can sometimes drag on, I was hoping for a bit more content considering the price of £12.75. Despite this, the game was still enjoyable. One issue I did encounter was the AI, which felt unbalanced at times. It wasn’t game-breaking, but there were certain sections where it made things more difficult than expected.
I would have loved to discover more lore-related collectibles, like recordings or notes, as there are still many unanswered questions that left me curious. Perhaps these will be explored further in a potential sequel—only time will tell!
Personal Opinion
Now, you might have plenty of questions, but I have a few for you: How ready are you to make new friends? Can you survive and claim the $5 million, or will you become just another unlucky contestant? There’s only one way to find out—on your marks, get set, GO!
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to take a moment to read this review, your support is always appreciated and means the world to me!
So, from all of us and myself thank you! Oh, and guys before you go always remember to… KEEP GAMING!
XPN Rating: 4 out of 5 (Gold)
Finding Frankie is AVAILABLE now on
(Thank you to the team at SUPERLOU for providing the code for this review)
I only managed to catch a little bit of you playing through this game and my heart was RACING, the music adds to the build up too which was incredible. I'm glad I got to experience the thrill as a viewer through you playing it! Thanks ^^