FIVE NIGHTS AT EPSTEINS
Strategy Guide
- Listen for a banging sound from the vent. Close it immediately if heard.
- If the banging happens again shortly after, open the vent. Don't leave it closed.
- Turn up your volume to hear the banging clearly. Headphones are recommended.
Strategy Guide
- When you hear banging, go to the control panel and close the vent.
- When you hear the banging a second time, open the vent immediately.
Strategy Guide
- After he leaves Camera 11, switch back to Camera 11 and play audio to lure him back.
- You can only lure him to the same camera twice. Rotate your lure spots.
Strategy Guide
- Don't lure to the same camera continuously. He has a limit on returning to the same spot.
- Use another camera as a lure (e.g., rotate between 11 and 9).
Strategy Guide
- Vent banging is a forced event. Close the vent first.
- Otherwise, prioritize stalling Epstein. The author states he has higher priority.
Strategy Guide
- From Night 3, you must shock Stephen Hawking periodically. The interval increased in updates.
- Set a rhythm: Listen for vent, check Epstein, then always shock Camera 6.
Strategy Guide
- Go to the control panel and reboot the camera immediately.
- Reduce audio lure frequency. Spamming it in one spot breaks the camera.
Strategy Guide
- Use a 3-step loop: Listen for vent, check Epstein (lure if needed), then Camera 6 shock.
- Don't try to "watch everything". Scan quickly in a fixed order.
Strategy Guide
- Use Custom Night. (v1.2 replaced Ultimate Night with Custom Night 20/20/2020).
- Practice vent reaction first, then Camera 6 shock rhythm, then add Epstein.
0.5s Reaction Time required.
Press E to survive.
Play Five Nights at Epsteins online free — no download required. Works on desktop and mobile browsers.
About Five Nights at Epsteins
Five Nights at Epsteins is a free-to-play survival horror game inspired by the legendary Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF) series. Developed by EvanProductions and released on itch.io to overwhelming community praise (rated 4.9 out of 5), Five Nights at Epsteins drops you into the role of a victim trapped on a remote, abandoned island with one goal: survive five harrowing nights until rescue arrives.
In Five Nights at Epsteins, you are confined to a small storage room with nothing but a flickering security system standing between you and four distinct threats. You must monitor 11 distorted camera feeds across the island, deploy audio lures to redirect stalkers, manage ventilation systems to block vent attacks, and administer periodic electrocutions to keep one particularly stubborn enemy at bay — all while your oxygen slowly depletes.
What sets Five Nights at Epsteins apart from other FNAF-style games is its multi-layered threat management. Each enemy in Five Nights at Epsteins requires a completely different counter-strategy: some respond to sound, others attack through air ducts, and one is entirely immune to audio lures. Balancing these systems under extreme time pressure — each in-game hour lasts only 30 real-world seconds — creates the kind of white-knuckle tension that has made this game a standout in the indie horror community.
How to Play Five Nights at Epsteins
Master these six core systems to survive the night. Every mechanic matters — neglect one and it will cost you.
Controls
Five Nights at Epsteins uses simple mouse-based controls. Click cameras to switch views, click the speaker icon to deploy audio lures, and use the Control Panel to restart broken cameras or toggle vent covers. When an enemy appears at your window, press the 'E' key within 0.5 seconds to survive.
Camera System
Monitor enemy positions across 11 distinct camera zones in Five Nights at Epsteins. Cameras can malfunction due to overuse of audio lures — when a camera goes dark, immediately visit the Control Panel to restart it. Losing camera vision at critical moments is one of the most common causes of death.
Audio Lure
The audio lure is your primary tool for redirecting enemies in Five Nights at Epsteins. Activate it on a camera near the target's current position to draw them away. However, using the lure 3 times consecutively on the same camera will cause a Camera Error. Rotate between 2-3 different cameras to avoid overloading the system.
Vent Management
Trump is the only enemy who attacks through the ventilation system. When you hear a distinct banging sound, immediately close the vent via the Control Panel. After a second round of banging signals his departure, reopen the vent right away — keeping it closed too long depletes your oxygen supply.
Electrocution
Stephen Hawking sits at Camera 6 and is completely immune to audio lures. The only way to keep him contained is to periodically electrocute him through the camera interface. If you forget, he will leave Camera 6 and eliminate you with zero warning. Build it into your check routine.
Oxygen Management
Your oxygen depletes faster when vents are closed and when you spend excessive time on the camera system. Balance your monitoring time carefully — check cameras in quick sweeps instead of lingering, and never keep vents sealed longer than necessary.
Survive All Nights in Five Nights at Epsteins
Each night introduces new enemies and escalating difficulty. Study the progression before you play.
Facing Epstein
Learn cameras and audio lures. Your only enemy is Epstein — practice redirecting him before he reaches your window.
Trump Enters the Vents
A new threat emerges from the ventilation system. Master the listen-close-reopen rhythm while keeping Epstein at bay.
Hawking Joins
Stephen Hawking at Camera 6 is immune to all audio. Periodic electrocution is your only option — forget and you die.
Full Chaos
All enemies at maximum aggression. System failures are constant. Only a disciplined check routine will save you.
The Encore
A bonus night with decodable audio clues. Can you uncover the hidden message before dawn?
20/20/20/20 Mode
Set enemy difficulty individually. Beat maximum difficulty to earn the 3rd completion star and discover the secret ending.
Enemy Roster
Four unique threats in Five Nights at Epsteins — each demands a different counter-strategy.
Epstein
ExtremeAudio lure him to nearby cameras. 0.5s reaction at window. Rotate lure positions — same camera max 2 times.
FC
MediumFollows audio cues. Use lures to keep him in the back rooms. Easy to manage alone, dangerous when combined.
Trump
HighHear knocking → close vent. Second knock → reopen immediately. Never keep vents sealed or you suffocate.
Stephen Hawking
MediumFixed at Camera 6. Immune to audio. Electrocute him every 15-20 seconds. The 'must-do task' of every check cycle.
Latest Updates
Custom Night & More!
- —New Custom Night Mode (Replaces Ultimate Night)
- —Decodable Audio added to Night 6 Ending
- —Secret Ending added to Custom Night
- —Full macOS & Linux Support with installation guide
- —Unlock 3rd Completion Star by beating 20/20/20/20 mode
Secret Character & Improvements
- —Added Secret Character
- —Improved Tutorial visibility
- —Balance: Cameras break less often in later nights
- —Balance: Enemy movement speed reduced slightly
- —Fix: Ultra-wide resolution bugs squashed
Game Launch on itch.io
- —Official release
- —Rated 4.9/5 by community
- —Initial 5 Night Campaign
Community Gameplay & Reviews
See how players react to Five Nights at Epsteins — from first-time terror to 20/20/20/20 mastery.
New Player Starter & First Impressions
See what players think of Five Nights at Epsteins
Advanced Strategy & Max Difficulty
Watch top players conquer 20/20/20/20 in Five Nights at Epsteins
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my cameras keep going black or showing Camera Error in Five Nights at Epsteins?
Camera errors happen when you overuse the audio lure on the same camera. Every time you play audio on a camera, it adds stress to the system. Using it 3 times consecutively on the same camera will cause it to go dark and display a Camera Error. When this happens, go to the Control Panel immediately and restart the camera. The best prevention is to rotate your audio lure across 2-3 different cameras instead of spamming the same one. On Nights 4 and 5, cameras are more fragile, so use audio even more sparingly.
How do I survive Night 3 with Stephen Hawking in Five Nights at Epsteins?
Stephen Hawking is stationed at Camera 6 and is completely immune to audio lures — this catches many players off guard. You must periodically switch to Camera 6 and administer an electrocution to keep him in place. If you forget, he will leave Camera 6 and come for you with no warning. The best habit is: every time you finish dealing with Epstein or Trump, immediately check Camera 6 and shock Hawking. Make it part of your rotation cycle. He doesn't need constant attention, just regular check-ins every 15-20 seconds.
When exactly should I close and reopen the vents for Trump?
Trump is the only enemy in Five Nights at Epsteins who attacks through the ventilation system. Listen carefully with headphones — you'll hear a distinct banging or knocking sound when he enters the vents. The moment you hear it, go to the Control Panel and close the vent immediately. After a few seconds, you'll hear a second round of banging — that means he has left the vents. Reopen them right away. The critical mistake is keeping vents closed too long: your oxygen depletes rapidly, and you will suffocate. Think of it as a quick close-reopen rhythm, not a permanent seal.
Is Five Nights at Epsteins free to play? Can I play on mobile?
Yes, Five Nights at Epsteins is completely free to play in your browser — no download or installation required. Just visit the game page and start playing instantly. The game also works on mobile devices; the mouse-driven interface translates well to touchscreen taps for selecting cameras and activating controls. For the best experience, headphones are strongly recommended since audio cues (especially Trump's vent knocking) are essential for survival. A desktop version is also available for Windows, macOS, and Linux if you prefer offline play.
What is Custom Night and how do I unlock the secret ending?
Custom Night was added in the v1.2 update of Five Nights at Epsteins, replacing the original Ultimate Night mode. It lets you set the difficulty level for each enemy individually, which is perfect for practice. The 20/20/20/20 mode — all enemies at maximum difficulty — is the hardest challenge, and beating it unlocks the 3rd completion star. There is also a secret ending tied to Night 6: the ending audio contains a decodable message. Players in the community have been working on cracking it. To access Custom Night, you need to complete the main 5-night campaign first.