Toytopia: Everything We Know

Heads up, Poppy Playtime — there's a new fish in town, and it's looking to be as plush-filled and as mechanically twisted as Huggy Wuggy, Kissy Wissy, and all the other folks of the Playtime Co. troupe. That's right, there's another survival-horror IP on the horizon, and it promises to bring a vast new collection of vibrant yet seemingly haunted locations, as well as an entire band of sadistic companions and contraptions. That's Toytopia, in a nutshell, and it's currently due to launch in Q1 2024 on PC.

If you're keen to scratch that post-Five Nights at Freddy's or Poppy Playtime itch, then be sure to read on for all the latest details on the upcoming plush-centric horror. Here's everything we can currently tell you about Toytopia based on the information that’s been provided to date.

What Is Toytopia?

To put you in the picture, Toytopia is a first-person survival-horror game, and one that just so happens to take place in a “whimsical toy store turned nightmarish playground.” Again, think Poppy Playtime, but rather than it utilizing an old disused toy factory, the game will transport its players to the root of all evil—a shadowy realm within the confines of an amusement park and plushie haven for children.

Given its blatant inspiration and spiritual connection to both Poppy Playtime and Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach, fans of the genre can expect to shovel through copious amounts of environmental puzzles, themed rooms, and emotionally bankrupt toys from childhood franchises. And yes, there will be jump scares.

Story

From what we’ve gathered so far, the story will revolve around one person’s desperate attempts to unravel the secrets of Toytopia—a beloved toy store “turned nightmarish playground” that reportedly houses “haunted mascots brought to life.” Filling the boots of this daring explorer, you will step foot into the pits of the nightmare and confront the mascots — even if it means destroying a slew of childhood memories along the way.

“Embark on a twisted journey through a whimsical toy store turned nightmarish playground,” the game's description reads in part. “Face off against a legion of haunted mascots brought to life, each with their own demented personality and nightmarish abilities. Every step forward brings you closer to the heart of darkness and to uncover the secrets that lies in Toytopia.”

According to a post made by the devs on their streaming handle back in 2023, the story will take roughly an hour to complete. Does this mean there’ll be another follow-up chapter in the future, or will it be more of a standalone, one-and-done sort of deal? It’s hard to say. Apparently, though, there’ll be plenty of bits and pieces to sift through in the base campaign — so expect to get your hands dirty.

“Explore the abandoned ruins of Toytopia [and] experience the wonders that were once seen at this once-amusing attraction,” the description elaborates. “Always check behind your back because something is always lurking near you.” A harrowing thought, that.

Gameplay

For those who’ve ever so much as stepped foot into a toy store, entering the world of Toytopia will be the equivalent of unlocking a core memory — or something like that. Clearly, its every crag and crevice will house something that’ll get the inner adolescent teeming with nostalgia. In other words, there’ll be a treasure trove of bouncy obstacle courses to tackle, aisles to meander through, and malevolent mascots to touch gloves with.

“Meet the varying cast members of Toytopia and try your best to survive,” the description adds. “Use your puppet to feed through pipes, solve clues, and find the missing staff.” Puppet? What puppet? The jury’s currently out on that one.

Development

The veil hanging over Toytopia was officially removed by Combo Bomb Games and its publisher Mascot Bro Studio back in September of 2023, at which point the two teams posted a couple of sneak previews of the game and its core gameplay features. According to the studio, the upcoming project will be shaping up for a release on PC via Steam. A release date has not been announced.

Prior to the initial announcement surrounding Toytopia, indie developer Combo Bomb Games had previously worked on several other independent titles, including Happy Place, The Fear Time, and Cookie Man Theater. You can get a deeper insight into Combo Bomb Games’ projects over on its site here.

Trailer

Fortunately for us, we do have a bit of footage to share of the upcoming indie horror. But don’t let us spoil it for you. If you’re interested in seeing a snippet or two of Toytopia in the virtual flesh, then be sure to check out the initial announcement trailer embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Toytopia will be heading to PC via Steam on January 29, 2024. As for whether or not it’ll be shaping up for a release on consoles is still something of a mystery. Here’s hoping, then, that if the initial debut on PC ships as well as its creators are hoping, then it’ll port its way over to Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch at some point in the not-so-distant future. Fingers crossed.

Planning to stick around for Combo Bomb Games' latest release and post-launch updates? If so, then be sure to check in with the team over on their joint social handle for all the latest developments here. If anything does change ahead of its 2024 debut, then we'll be sure to fill you in on all the key details right here on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Toytopia when it arrives on its chosen platforms? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.