A new indie horror game titled ‘Five Nights at Epstein’s’ is sparking alarm among parents in the US because of its disturbing theme and links to real-world events.
The game has borrowed its name and basic play style from the popular horror franchise ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’, where players survive frightening nights by monitoring cameras and avoiding threats.
In this case, however, the setting is Epstein Island, a reference to the private island owned by late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and children as young as middle schoolers have reportedly been playing it on school Chromebooks, News Minimalist reported.
What is known about the game?
According to parents who shared their concerns on social media, the game’s content is extremely inappropriate for children.
“One of my kids came home from school on Tuesday and mentioned that they know what the Epstein Files are. I could tell they understood it is too mature of a topic for them. I was a bit shocked, but explained that there isn’t anything wrong with knowing of them but that the details are too mature for them,” they wrote on Facebook.
In the game, players are apparently cast in the role of a victim trapped on Epstein Island, having to use tactics like diverting attention and manipulating environments to survive the night without being “discovered” by Epstein.
The parent expressed shock that such a game, which explicitly places children in a scenario involving a convicted paedophile, was circulating among young students. The content left their child feeling uncomfortable, leading the parent to contact school authorities and warn other families,
They urged other parents to be vigilant, check their children’s devices, and “get loud until this is blocked.” Others reported hearing similar stories from multiple schools in their area.
Another parent described seeing a group of boys laughing and joking about the game in class, adding that there were reportedly options in the game such as making a baby or little girl cry to lure predators, a detail that many find deeply unsettling.
What is the latest update on the Epstein files?
The US Department of Justice has already released more than 3 million pages of records, including documents, images and videos, after an extensive review and redaction process to protect victims’ identities. Additional materials, reportedly numbering over a million more documents discovered by the FBI and prosecutors, are still being reviewed and prepared for release, a process officials say could take more weeks due to the volume and legal requirements.