Bad Parenting Game Online

Bad Parenting is an indie horror game where the graphics and apartment setting mirror a dark, doll-like environment. Players take on the role of a young boy, who is initially excited to meet his mother returning from work on his birthday. However, the mood shifts drastically when he discovers she has forgotten not only his gift but also the significance of the day. This neglect sets the stage for a deeper narrative as the evening progresses, tensions escalate at home leading to a quarrel between his parents, and the boy is sent to his room, isolated from the conflict.

The Tale of Mr. Red Face

In his room, the boy’s mother shares a story to calm him—a story about Mr. Red Face, a mysterious figure who visits well-behaved children at night, leaving them toys. This story, meant to be comforting, takes on a sinister tone as the night unfolds. That very evening, the boy is awakened by strange noises and sees a shadowy figure in his room. The next morning, he finds a new doll next to his bed, strangely resembling him but with a noticeable imperfection—a crooked head, which the doll claims was a design by Mr. Red Face.

Mysterious Interactions and Revelations

The doll invites the boy to the kitchen, promising to show him something interesting. Despite its inability to eat, the doll can interact with the physical world, magically refilling an empty plate and making objects float. During these demonstrations, the doll reveals a disturbing detail about the boy’s father, claiming his disappearance is due to his bad actions, supposedly judged by Mr. Red Face. This revelation hints at a deeper, more ominous influence of Mr. Red Face on the boy’s family, suggesting that the mythical stories told by the mother might be more real and threatening than ever imagined.

Venture into Another Realm

Distressed by the notion that his father might be gone forever, the boy rejects the doll’s assertion that his disappearance is for the best. Insisting that his father needs to be rescued, the boy is informed by the doll of a secret passage located in his wardrobe that leads to another world where his father might be found. Unable to open his own wardrobe, the boy ventures into his parents’ bedroom and through their closet, stepping into a surreal, otherworldly domain.

Encounter with the Secretary Cat

As he navigates this strange new world, the boy soon encounters a cat sitting at a desk, acting as a secretary. The cat inquires about whom the boy is searching for, to which he responds he is looking for his father. The secretary cat explains that this place is a realm where only “bad” parents end up, suggesting that perhaps his father should remain there. Undeterred, the boy insists on retrieving his father. The cat, needing more information to help, prompts the boy for details. Reluctantly, the boy reveals his father’s name, Bruce, and admits the harsher truths of his father’s abusive behavior.

Guidance and Temptation

Guided by the secretary cat, the boy is directed towards a path that would lead him to his father. Along the way, he meets other children who share similar stories of parental abuse and who have chosen to remain in this liminal space as a refuge from their tormentors. They suggest the boy do the same, but he resolutely decides to continue his quest to confront and possibly rescue his father. Eventually, he finds his father trembling on a bed, overwhelmed with fear and mumbling for solitude in his delirious state of Bad Parenting.

This section of the story amplifies the psychological complexity of the game, merging the real with the surreal, and challenges the player to navigate physical obstacles and confront difficult emotional truths. The decision points in the game, such as choosing to stay with the other children or continue to find Bruce, play a crucial role in defining the outcome of the narrative and the moral quandaries faced by the young protagonist.

Unexpected Revelation and Twist

The story takes an abrupt turn when the mother finds her son in the closet of their bedroom. Concerned, she questions him about his unusual behavior. The boy explains that he was searching for his father with the help of his doll, leading his mother to realize that he had not been taking his prescribed medication. This revelation adds another layer to the narrative, intertwining the boy’s adventures with his mental health, which the mother perceives as concerning. That night, as he returns to his room, the boy witnesses his doll floating in the darkness and catches a glimpse of Mr. Red Face holding it. His mother rushes into the room upon hearing the commotion, promising to stay home the next day to care for him.

A Mysterious Disappearance and a Cycle Repeats

The following morning, the boy wakes to find his mother missing. Distressed, he asks the doll if it has seen her. Chillingly, the doll responds that Mr. Red Face took her away. This twist propels the narrative deeper into the surreal, suggesting that the supernatural elements the boy experiences might be more than just hallucinations or products of his imagination.

Conclusion and a New Beginning

The narrative in Bad Parenting concludes with the mother being interrogated by the police, who are searching for the whereabouts of the boy’s father. This scene shifts the perspective to the outside world, where the consequences of the family’s supernatural entanglements are beginning to manifest in reality. The doll, attempting to show the boy that he had already passed away, fails to deliver this revelation gently, leading to a restart of the story. However, in this new cycle, the boy decides to remain in the otherworldly realm with his new friends, choosing a life detached from the earthly troubles that plagued his family.

This ending serves as a poignant closure to the game’s narrative and opens up philosophical questions about reality, perception, and the thin veil between life and the afterlife. The cyclical nature of the story suggests themes of reincarnation or endless loops, where characters are destined to repeat their actions with varying outcomes based on their choices.