Among the Sleep - The Story Explained

Among the Sleep tells the story of a two year old child and his teddy bear 'Teddy' who go searching for their mother and enter a nightmarish dream dimension made up from fragmented memories. But what does all of this mean? What secrets and symbolism tell the real story behind the events of Among the Sleep? Watch on to find out in this story explained video, where we also take a look at the original ending for the game, a secret ending which is very different and turns the entire story on it's head.
Check out Among the Sleep here: store.steampowered.com/app/25...
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Music by Kevin MacLeod: incompetech.com/

[@SuperHorrorBro]

I've had to delete a few comments due to them leading to a cess pool of toxicity. Please keep the comments section clean! The main point of contention I have seen comes from a line in the video where I mention how the father appears to have acted violently toward his wife. Some people have argued he was taking a bottle from her. There is no evidence of this, we see no bottle, the man's hand is palm open (impossible to hold something like that) which suggests a strike pose, and most importantly this outburst led to his wife leaving. I doubt removing a bottle from her hand would cause that. That said it is never stated in the video that the father struck the mother, we don't know this. He simply raised his hand to her. The developers themselves stated the DLC was made to show the father was also flawed and they do this both by portraying his aggressive outburst and by revealing his neglectful work practices. All leading to a failed realtionship. Both parties are to blame, but neither one are bad people - they are simply human and flawed. I hope this helps people understand a little better.

[@jaxxlmao_]

Well said. I agree.

[@apriljohnson4606]

Well said. I agree

[@CrunchyLemonade7]

Love these videos

[@SuperHorrorBro]

@@PhazonEnder I don’t delete comments just because I dislike them. But I will remove comments where users attack one another and try to promote bigotry and hate. There is no place for that on my channel and i have a zero toleration policy. This is a safe place for people and no one should feel marginalised here.

[@jonettheonly]

there's a typo in the description. year, not eyar.

[@rdfjfgjyfdhfghy67456]

"A teddy bear inventively named: Teddy" 😭

[@charlesjakesamadan4008]

Naming 100

[@estaticethan1752]

Fun Fact: the word Teddy came from Teddy Roosevelt, who have a knack on bear

[@noodlemaster4997]

I will name my teddy bear.. *teddy* Me: *BISH CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE*

[@CorneliusCob]

Fun fact 2: Teddy is has the same VA as Mr. Hippo from FNAF UCN

[@brxndon5843]

How creative

[@PinkWytchBytch]

The pink elephant is symbolic of the mother’s alcoholism. A “pink elephant” is a very old term for a habitual drunk. I’m talking like 1800s lingo for a drunk. It was a phrase the “finer members of society” would use to describe the drunk of the town and such

[@briandaaranda9735]

Wait, is that why Dumbo sees pink elephants in the original movie?

[@wutsam4329]

@@briandaaranda9735 maaaaybe

[@shannonmartin1247]

@@briandaaranda9735 Yes, yes it is.

[@liker-qd4fz]

@@briandaaranda9735 Probably. It was kind of outdated , but then again only a bit more than the jump jim crow things. While the ,,Pink Elephant" mostly remained the same stereotype for its entire existance , American Rac... you know what , i don't want to get removed for political reasons , so let's just say that if a 1870's Jim Crow supporter and a 1960's Jim crow supporter met , they would have only understood eachother if they basicly spoke caveman style ,,Ooga booga , segragutin good , black equal bad".

[@azadalamiq]

@@briandaaranda9735 yes. looney tunes use the same joke as well. When you see a drunk character they talk of seeing pink elephants. Pretty much their vision is so impaired ppl look like elephants.

[@Ellastein]

It's heartbreaking how the toddler sees his mother as an entirely different creature when she's angry and abusive. He loves his mom so much that they are not one of the same (monster and mother).

[@eleanorcooke7136]

It's probably because the two are so different that aside from the looks, he doesn't recognise them as the same person.

[@kamiliajohnson7430]

I remember hearing a story growing up of a family my parents knew. The mom would come home drunk and the little girl would cry but later when the mom would sober up the kid would say "Mommas home".

[@PeelyMcPeel]

@@kamiliajohnson7430 that's honestly horrifying to think about.

[@bumbabees]

​@@kamiliajohnson7430id believe that. i saw my parents drunk more often than i should and although i was old enough to understand they were the same person, it scared me because they didnt _act_ like the same person. i can see a very young child genuinely thinking they arent the same.

[@AnOptimisticNihilist]

Something in the game I like is that instead of having the father be abusive and neglectful to the kid like most would show, they had it be the mother. Shows that fathers aren’t the only ones who can be abusive.

[@allabouttruth4547]

Yea I agree

[@k4rec4]

Actually, the prologue implies the father was aggressive with the mother when they were living together, so...

[@akari707bangtan]

Both parents are unfit on taking care of the child. Father was abusive towards the mother, what's stopping him from doing it to his son?

[@SirDankleberry]

@@k4rec4 He probably got angry at her drinking around their baby.

[@k4rec4]

@@SirDankleberry He's still wrong anyways. 😒

[@potatoman1966]

It feels refreshing of both parents being wrong in a way rather than usually one

[@liverworts]

Yes I like how it is very human how both of them contributed in ways and the game shows that.

[@ebensennett3095]

Yeah, but it's even more sad since the kids got two bad parents.

[@nananom_]

@@ebensennett3095 I don’t think they’re bad parents just flawed, the mom clearly loves her son but has a problem and so does the dad

[@andrewturner4375]

it's the same with The Binding of Isaac

[@demonheart13]

@@nananom_ yeah but I'm gonna need another dlc to come out stating the dad has reduced his work hours or something that shows he's not also neglecting his son. I can't see a workaholic becoming a single parent and suddenly having more time. Also the concept that the teddy was originally going to be the villain doesn't help

[@katievillarreal1738]

Something interesting I discovered while replaying this game; before you answer the door, walk over to your sobbing more and a interact sign should appear. When you do, you can comfort her by giving her a pat on the head. A very small detail not many know, but I thought it was a sweet touch.

[@me_loved_coffee_period1646]

I thought I was the only one who noticed that detail.

[@inanimatesum4945]

I thought it was scripted cause the one gameplay I saw, they guy had done it almost immediately.

[@guygamer3dplayz]

Also, there are 2 versions of the pats.

[@me_loved_coffee_period1646]

@@guygamer3dplayz Really!?

[@zaddyfaye6880]

oh, i just started hurling dishes at her

[@lain.of.the.wired1]

I honestly thought this game was about a child going through some inter-dimensional void with monsters, but turns out it was the traumatic representation of toxic parent relationships.

[@multinogaming07]

Wow the game designer is very skilled and experienced

[@GoofyGoooberGang]

I was 5 when i first played this game and i just assumed the mom turned evil but didnt understand the drinking part

[@SuperWiiBros08]

I played this game so many years ago But there's a detail I never see mentioned, there's a moment in the abandoned park where the player gets locked inside a small wooden cabin looking place for a few minutes, and I wonder if that was a real even that the child experience which might've even affected the parent's marriage in some way

[@clairechinkymerioles191]

Amogus

[@ozlemali6317]

Interesting.

[@pesplay7475]

@@clairechinkymerioles191 bruh

[@uh4055]

@@pesplay7475 amogus

[@cottagecreeche8852]

@@uh4055 :/

[@bromodragone8405]

The other characters apparently have names too. The toddler is David, the mother is Zoey, the father is Justin, the monster in the house is Harald, the swamp woman is Hyda, the trench coat monster is Heap and the furnace is Honz. Also, the game is set in Norway. Makes sense, since the game studio is Norwegian.

[@zocritter]

My names Zoey- 0-0

[@Meralace]

@@zocritter heya, why did you hurt your child

[@UndiagnosedGarbage]

Honz get ze flammenwhefer

[@soniahernandez8902]

every monster name starts with h except zoey

[@Rydrslydr715]

@@UndiagnosedGarbage honz get ze flamethrower we need to kill these god forsaken demons

[@squeaktheswan2007]

I'm still thinking about how the ending was foreshadowed from the very beginning. Not just the alcoholism, but the custody. The dad shows up at the beginning, the mom gets stressed out by the phone call, and *the fact that Teddy says that after all this is over they can play together all the time especially since he represents the dad.* It's almost like the kid knew he was going to leave his mom and was collecting the memories to take with him when he left. I mean, the boy is really young. If the mom doesn't get some custody, she will never see him again. Not to mention that he's so young that if she doesn't visit, he'll never remember her.

[@marcellompekas4050]

Greatly underrated comment !!

[@squeaktheswan2007]

@@marcellompekas4050 Thanks.

[@squeaktheswan2007]

@@marcellompekas4050 Thanks.

[@k4rec4]

I think you've nailed it! Let's say it was set in court that the father would pick up the toddler for good when the child completes 2 years old... So, the father appeared exactly in the kid's birthday. That's why the mother gets so upset, leading up to her breakdown at the ending: it was her last day with the kid under the same roof.

[@Kajiukiller]

Oh he will remember it this is traumatizing for a child and if he doesn’t get the help he will have ptsd

[@bethanyhaffey975]

You forgot to add the sister. In the prolong, there is a room that belonged to a little girl who could have been his big sister that used to play with him with those other little dolls, which he has to find. The very last doll fulls out the window implies that his sister fell out the window in the adic. I love how you told the story, but I have seen the game prolong and didn't know about the sister or about how the poor baby's family began to full apart.

[@k4rec4]

That's your imagination, Bethany.

[@amanekaze]

@@k4rec4 LMAO

[@SkiftyKitty]

I still remember the mom saying "Whoa, how many pieces of cake did you have" as she picks us up... She only gave us 1 spoon worth of cake XD

[@IAmOnFireLol]

Maybe we're really small

[@afshanzareen7858]

@@IAmOnFireLol I mean, yeah, that was our second bday, but still, *I WANT MORE CAAAAKKEEE-*

[@IAmOnFireLol]

@@afshanzareen7858 lol yes But what if the cake is a lie? (Sry bad Portal reference)

[@Abyssaracnis]

@@IAmOnFireLol my man, no need to be sorry for a nostalgic meme

[@cloud9692]

@@IAmOnFireLol I love Portal

[@charliedoesgames169]

Can we just talk about how terrifying the mom is in this game.

[@vaskebjorn_]

Yes I would like to talk about this… I thought she was gonna be the villain or something.

[@tentedkarma7465]

I mean she thiccccccc

[@vaskebjorn_]

@@tentedkarma7465 bro lol

[@amirhaikal8304]

@@vaskebjorn_ I mean he's not wrong

[@RaraZeCat]

Idk but she gives off Ice age baby vibes...

[@CinfulArts]

Something I definitely loved about among the sleep was it’s take on horrors that happen in real life (alcoholism, abuse and divorce) then mixed it with fiction so we can see what kids go through in their heads when dealing with these types of things

[@justsomerandombirdwithinte5896]

Btw the dad never actually hit the mom, the image shows the dad taking a bottle away from the mom

[@CinfulArts]

@@justsomerandombirdwithinte5896 I know, I was talking about how the mom more than likely abused the kid while she was drunk

[@justsomerandombirdwithinte5896]

@@teapots1236 Well anyways hes still a better person than the mother

[@sara4024]

@@justsomerandombirdwithinte5896 Abusers are abusers, both are shit

[@justsomerandombirdwithinte5896]

@@sara4024 Theres always two sides to an arguement. I 100% agree with the father, he is justified. if i was in that situation i would do it too

[@GalileoGuy175]

I love how comforting teddy was with his voice and how your character would pet him from time to time. I think the ending where teddy turns out to be the bad guy would just be weak and typical.

[@toptiger7069]

It makes sense that in the new ending Teddy remains a friendly since he’s a representation of the boy’s father who is shown to be nice

[@awe_brey_n_hd1266]

This is all a family argument thing but from a child’s vision The “monster” is his/her mother- Gosh this game is dark and has a sad lore

[@Gabija-tz6gv]

The baby is a boy, from what I know his name is supposed to be David.

[@tentedkarma7465]

The baby is a boy

[@thatoneguy6145]

Among the cleep

[@nicopappan8404]

@Gilda cuz he can

[@Pinkdisaster0]

@Gilda for fun

[@AmenKing1999]

I like that Teddy's meta knowledge makes him rather a complicated character. He doesn't seem to care whenever he's an accomplice or a villain.

[@pleasestandby666]

He is cute tho that’s for sure

[@Random_Wanker]

@@pleasestandby666 We all agree on that.

[@patrickn.4113]

The dad never hit her. He took away a bottle from her whitch probably means she was drinking at the time already. This seems to be one of the incredibly rare cases of a family drama where the dad is actually not the bad guy.

[@neovagras980]

Exactly just because someone takes a a very addictive substance from you doesn’t mean they’re hurting you they just want to help you

[@Rmsdxdkskxelfm]

No he did hit her

[@noname-gh1vr]

​@ake0100 no, he didn't.

[@Rmsdxdkskxelfm]

@@noname-gh1vr he did the extra content was made to show how both sides were bad

[@SinanVidin]

in one scene our father hits our mother

[@juzoinui4627]

This game is pretty sad when you know the context

[@me_loved_coffee_period1646]

It is...

[@felicedt4912]

Yea

[@mycatateit284]

what context?

[@ninajavan2124]

@@mycatateit284 the one that your cat ate

[@mammon5312]

@@ninajavan2124 lmao

[@cezorsomething3278]

imagine being a two year old, can't talk, only listen, and go to a nightmare fuel place, and encounter some monsters and your mom has actually turned into one. and she also neglects you after you return. wouldn't that be traumatizing

[@kaylawoodbury2308]

I think you're missing the point, he didn't actually go to another world and his mother didn't neglect him "when he returned". The entire game was centered on the kids imagination going wild as a coping mechanism for the abuse and neglect he experienced until the end when he realized the monster that was after him WAS his mother the entire time. The neglect and abuse started after that phone call, which was most likely a lawyer talking about how she violated the visitation agreement with the father. Thats how a lot of childhood trauma presents itself an one of the reasons so few young children come forward. They idolize their parents so much they literally view the parents abuse as its own separate entity that comes out when something bad happens. This was meant to be apparent when the "monster" started talking like the mother and the mom having Teddy after the "monster" broke him. It's all allegory and symbolism, nothing but the beginning and end were meant to be literal.

[@raccooninnitorwillow4152]

Is no one Talking about how Brave this child is

[@raccooninnitorwillow4152]

@Gilda You shut up

[@SmoothSleek]

@@raccooninnitorwillow4152 why though? I enjoyed his explanation

[@randomgrmlin]

@@raccooninnitorwillow4152 Not the cookie run fan 💀

[@MistyBlahbull]

this was the game i thought of when i heard "among" back then.

[@endeavor3406]

For me this is still that game

[@LoverOfManTits]

Amogus

[@saragulyas3695]

What's really sad about this is the fact that the mom is a monster but not really. She seems like she fell into darkness but she really just needed help. It makes me think about CPS. So many kids are taken from addicts, and yes sometimes it works, but sometimes taking the kid away causes the parent to go even deeper into drugs because they feel they have nothing to live for.

[@gilbertotabares8196]

All things considered I'm glad they went with what they released. The demon Teddy thing woulda been too obvious. And yeah, I guess they coulda named Teddy literally anything else.

[@corruptedplayer]

The name is supposed to sound like it was named by the child, what was the name of your stuffed toy?

[@gilbertotabares8196]

@@corruptedplayer Pancho. He was a bear. But my dad named him. I had a lion that I named Radar after Big Bird's teddy. And a frog puppet named frogger. After the video game. Yeah. I'm old.

[@iamsherlocked7448]

@Gilberto Tabares I agree with you I'm not really a fan of the secret ending I like the actual ending

[@madammonarch1]

I'm with you on the secret ending. markiplier kept refusing to trust teddy, although his VA gave an absolutely CHILLING performance.

[@sapphirestar3978]

Julia Sidel I can already see mark’s reaction if teddy turned evil like in the secret ending funny enough mark wasn’t the only one to distrust teddy Cory at one point was uneasy about teddy odd even with the old idea scrapped people seem to still distrust teddy I guess it was because teddy was just so innocent and life like that people wouldn’t of trusted it, it also makes me think that the ending we got totally changed the meaning and story of the game from what it was to be

[@mcstabbins4501]

Im thinking at the end of the main game, the dad probably is trying to fix everything and realized what he was doing and picked up his kid to take them to a place that feels far more safer than with the mother who is a drunken wreck

[@tentedkarma7465]

Then again the mom will get the kid in court because the lady always gets the kid

[@KingMJAH]

But in the prologue we learn that one of the reasons for the divorce was that he hit the mom, he doesn’t sound like the best person ether.

[@dramaticstupidity9881]

@@KingMJAH But he never hit her, he just simply took away the bottle from the mother

[@theslendynet404]

@@tentedkarma7465 Not always. If the mother cant take care of the child the father will get custody

[@theslendynet404]

@@tentedkarma7465 I guess its diffrent in all countries.

[@F_I_S_H]

I love how the child gives teddy a pat every time he picks him up

[@unincrediblepolo9710]

"A teddy bear inventively named Teddy." The guy who made the name: No need to thank me.

[@juliangandara9552]

I like how the game is play from the perspective of a toddler, it's a pretty original idea

[@kerryannbrady1860]

if ur playing ad a child shouldn't u be crying from the first thing u see of being scared-

[@applepie8308]

@Kerryann Brady, No

[@k4rec4]

@@kerryannbrady1860 You bet. If I was that kid, the moment teddy bear started to talk, I would've sh*tted my pajamas.

[@trialerrorsharer9398]

@@kerryannbrady1860 Hey, late reply but it's actually very accurate that the baby cries so little because abused children often make themselves smaller, especially around their abusers. They can do this to avoid triggering an outburst and since we know the mother shoves her kid when she's drunk and he hides from her he's trying to stay out of her way. He views her as a threat instinctually and so like a threat he's avoiding them. And abused children tend to bottle up their emotions because they are usually never validated by their abusers and all the boy has is his abuser. It definitely correlates why he's not talking at all even at something that should excite him. He should be at least babbling but he's very silent. It's haunting to know this because I was a "quiet baby". I really just learned how to avoid being hit.

[@Messimaker420]

@@trialerrorsharer9398 Same as a kid my mom used to beat me skinless and sometimes still does so really just stay silent when I'm around her especially when she's drunk or drinking and especially pain. pain just makes me angry more than sad

[@user-fj7gi7lr2i]

Poor child he was just trying to enjoy his birthday

[@chrispambo1539]

Evan ''Crying Child'' Afton : First time ?

[@opposite2715]

@@chrispambo1539 the child in this game: Yes

[@tentedkarma7465]

His*

[@user-fj7gi7lr2i]

@@tentedkarma7465 sorry

[@kingraplhmativo5178]

@@tentedkarma7465 Cut the crap will you?

[@NaughtsThoughts]

I actually quite like that Teddy is called Teddy. Its usually how young children name their plushies, for example i had a horse Teddy cleverly named "Horsey" and a dolphin just called "dolphin". Just reminds me that young kids never go too creative with names lmao

[@memaymoo8088]

This game is so unique and heartbreaking. I never played it, but I used to watch play throughs all the time back when it came out

[@biancascream4745]

I’m glad that they went with the ending that they did. It’s a lot more realistic and a very artistic way of representing the trials of a toddler thru the eyes of one.

[@DeathnoteBB]

Would have been cool to have a straight-up horror narrative through the eyes of a kid though

[@gasterthemaster6490]

@@DeathnoteBB FNAF: SB kinda did that. But Gregory is, like, 12, so he's not a little kid.

[@iikoifishii7893]

⁠@@gasterthemaster6490not really? gregory doesn't really get SCARED and there's not emotional attachment to his surroundings so.

[@soontherewillbesnow]

mmmm, thats some nice childhood trauma.

[@annabiyandasrafwasfriend5612]

VRasraf

[@TJ-1606]

Yes

[@crunchycrusader5931]

Your pfp😭😭😭

[@marieisthebestsquidsister]

love that stuff

[@ieatshortpeople8032]

Mmmmm... Traaaumaaa

[@mr.guakacado970]

I play this game a long time ago and I eventually played the DLC. I loved the DLC and it's engraved in my memory because of one part of it that drives me crazy. There is something in the DLC that I have literally never seen anyone talk about. Even here I didn't see any mention of it. In Among the sleep you play as a male toddler and in the DLC you play as the same kid. Something I want to point out is that in the DLC your room looks like it was set up for a baby girl and not a baby boy. Where the parents expecting a girl? Maybe the amount of work and money they prepared for you was somewhat wasted because they were mistaken and that could have led to them fighting. Something that adds to this theory? DLC characters. Every single one of your toys in the DLC are feminine and the talking ones are female as well suggesting that the parents did infact plan for a girl. This isn't ground breaking but it's eating away at me that nobody talks about this.

[@k4rec4]

You have a point 🤔... I'll play again to see it better.

[@bec3581]

I honestly feel really close to the story in this game, I grew up with an alcoholic parent and I can relate to seeing the “monster” vs the parent… it’s really scary.

[@dcry1003]

man this is such a good game i remember back then watching mark's play through hope they would make a sequel where the toddler *now a 10 year old* would tackle the trauma he had with his mother as a toddler with his father having remarried and dealing with trusting someone other than his father *aka step mother*

[@pansexualpixels1910]

Is this a reference I'm not getting?

[@walterhartwellwhite872]

@@pansexualpixels1910 wait you're a pansexul, sO yOu LiKe PaNs

[@pansexualpixels1910]

@@walterhartwellwhite872 hehe, not really lmao-

[@cdrlynn]

I thought there was a dlc of this or maybe im just seeing things :'D

[@Dori6584]

I love this idea!!

[@sapphirewingthefurrycritic985]

I like that they just went for a more realistic story instead of the generic supernatural ending.

[@DeathnoteBB]

Honestly at this point a realistic “it was all a metaphor!” ending is more generic. Gimme horror again!!! I’m sick of metaphors. Let me enjoy some fantasy, dammit

[@sneakysneakyraccoon8538]

@@DeathnoteBB nah

[@Subby1807]

@@DeathnoteBB I agree in most cases but in this case a realistic one fit better we have fantasy elements as it's a toddler's perspective but we can see thought the tinted lenses of the child making it very interesting

[@UnBesoDeCristal]

​@@DeathnoteBBhorror has always had its fair share of metaphors imo

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@UnBesoDeCristal I mean sure but _in fiction_ it was still real. Nowadays nothing happens anymore that isn’t actually fake in the story itself. It’s always a nightmare or a dream or a memory of a traumatic experience.

[@bloopingbubbler5653]

Among the sleep was one of the things that made me realise my life wasn't the normality as my mother was also an alcoholic and abused me and my sibling since before I was born so I didn't realise it wasn't normal until I saw things like this, so this game holds a special place in my heart.

[@octaviusroosevelt7355]

I hope both you and your sibling got the help you needed eventually.

[@wofitysgalaxy7317]

Wow. This child really understands the concepts of violence, neglect, and drinking, all which lead to a break up, at a very very young age. No one's gonna have to explain it to him.

[@saehtnyS]

i do love how the teddy's voice is the dads, to show that the son thinks of the dad as his friend and as a comfort :))

[@mortmartle]

I haven't heard of this game in like, 2 years

[@weirdmalaysianthing5755]

I know right

[@deanxile]

i think its more than 2 year, this is when pewdiepie still a full gaming channel XD

[@weirdmalaysianthing5755]

Lol

[@arandomcooler9546]

Same

[@liviwaslost]

Same

[@reddishcarrot6777]

The dad neglected but realized his mistakes and attempted to help his wife, who was in a dark place. Instead of letting her husband help she lashed out against his nature of positive confrontation and kindness. The father WAS in the wrong, but the mother is now wrong. She neglected what was left of her relationship between her husband and son.

[@eleanorcooke7136]

They are both wrong, in my opinion. I believe that the father did hit the mother in an argument, in a bout of anger and stress from work. It was probably an argument about her drinking as shown by her position in the memory as it is the same as the last scene where she pushes the kid. The mother was also certainly in the wrong as alcohol is never the answer, especially around young children as you lose control to your core emotions. The mother seems to be a sad drunk, indicating that she probably started drinking as a mixture of the father's neglect and even possibly post-partem depression (speculation, no supporting evidence, just a theory). The father should have prioritized a good work-life balance to deal with this mounting stress as it presents sometimes in violence. The mother should've never started drinking or nipped the habit in the bud to stop it from getting out of control or seeking help when it became self-medication. The toddler focuses on the drinking mother as she is more present in his life and her alcoholism affects his own life.

[@user-ju5gx8up6s]

​@@eleanorcooke7136 I'm late but the father never hit the mother only took the bottle because he was mad that she was drinking around the baby

[@blueshock4969]

I feel like the game isn't scary in like a traditional horror game sense. It's like the story and bit of realism. When we see the mom at the spotlight area. Fear just comes in you

[@k4rec4]

That's called psychological horror

[@Skemati]

Something to also mention is the fact that. In one of the levels and if you break a bottle. It will summon the monster to come after you. and since the monster is the mother and the bottles are suppose to be alcohol. I'm guessing when you break the bottles she gets mad at you and come after you. Because you broke the alcohol bottle so she has less of them.

[@randomaccount4950]

He mentions that

[@darlacartwright129]

It was more like it was shattered and now a mess that had to be cleaned up, and it made noise. In the game, it seems to hint at the mother being overwhelmed with the relationship with her ex-husband and being a single mother dealing with a two-year-old, that anytime the child was being noisy and an "energetic toddler" she would become the monster. I experienced some abuse when I was young and "not listening to adults", "do what you are told","be quiet" and "leave me alone" was what I got a lot, and more than not what followed after those words would be a belt to my rear end and or yelling.

[@piranhapout]

It seemed like Hyda (drinking mom) came for the sound; idk about you, but in my experience, a heavy drinker suffers terrible hangovers and the sharp sound of glass breaking can be like nails on a chalkboard.

[@mysticaldaydream5946]

I remember watching people playing the game when I was a kid and I loved it so much EDIT: just an unnecessary fun fact I got sad after the ending and couldn't sleep for two weeks

[@angelaplays]

Same I was obsessed with this game

[@admiralhill2091]

Facts

[@bludraws094]

Same, although I probably shouldn’t have watched it… not exactly kid friendly, is it?

[@null_duck]

Same bro it was so cool

[@leontaysadler7702]

Same

[@Nicooriia]

I always thought the bear was sent by CPS, and that the person at the ending was a CPS agent, given how "distant" his greeting is, rather than referring to the toddler as their kid, but as "a" kid. Maybe they did send teddy with the dad so the mother wouldn't be suspicious of a toy with a possible recording device. CPS most likely did have a conversation with the toddler through the teddy bear and pretended to be in a game with the toddler, gathering evidence against the mother.

[@entransnake]

That makes total sense, it explains why they made the Teddy sound like their father, as they know the Toddler would not talk to a stranger, but if it sounds like someone the Toddler trusts, like let's say...their father.

[@siennamosqueda628]

i rlly like this theory it makes sense

[@onyxth3ripper]

I like how ATS portrayed both parents as flawed. Yes, the father did hit the mother. Yes, the mother was an alcoholic. Neither were good.

[@JarodFarrant]

Actually no the dad just took the booze away from the mom. He’s a severe alcoholic.

[@DoveCalderwood]

I had a feeling the bear was intended to be a villain at some point when I watched Let's Plays of this game years ago! Both versions of the game are fascinating, I like both stories. The more grounded and real one, and the more "traditional horror" one

[@DeathnoteBB]

Learning the bear is meant to represent the dad is so funny to me, cause let’s players I’ve watched joke about how he seems to be acting like your father. Cute in context, creepy when this strange living teddy bear is meeting you for the first time

[@note5068]

The ritual in the game: Summon the enemy, I will talk to her, I the baby will solve the problem The ritual in real life: UWA UWA UWA UWA UWA UWA!!!!!

[@hgsseifersgaming9311]

This is so underrated

[@ShinAk1raSama]

Let's think about this logically. The mum felt unloved because the dad was focusing more on work. > Why was the dad focusing more on work? Most likely reason can be due to his role in the family-- the breadwinner. If he stops working or slashes his hours, that leads to a lower income for the family and a lower quality of life. The mum turned to alcoholism as a coping mechanism for her loneliness. > She has her son to use as an emotional battery for her. Maternal instincts would usually kick in more often than not. She felt lonely, but what was stopping her from voicing that to her husband? Communication is important in a relationship, and both parties seemed to have failed that; however, I'm more putting the blame on the mum, because people are not mind-readers. The dad struck the mum. > While I don't condone violence in the family, assuming the dad is a good man, he wouldn't have a reason to strike her unless she went too far with something. Think about it: he's the one who approached her concerning her alcoholism, but he's also the one to strike her? There is missing context between the two. Whether the missing context is something emotionally hurtful or a physical assault against him, we won't know. The fact of the matter is that there isn't enough information to know the "why", we just know the result. Why I think the father is a good man: > Despite everything going through between him and the mum, he still sets aside time to visit and give his son a gift on the latter's birthday. He even fights for custody of his son, despite not even needing to. In the game without the DLC, he's even portrayed as calming and in a very good light-- even speaking softly and kindly to his son, not even assuming any fault in his son for Teddy's missing arm. He gave his son the benefit of the doubt, despite our knowing that toddlers can have a tendency to break toys either to know how they work, know what happens, or other possible reasons. Issues with the mum. > Shes's shown to be selfish, emotionally abusive, and emotionally manipulative in the game prior to the DLC. As stated in the video, she takes away Teddy from the son, due to her jealousy that her son is having fun with a gift from the dad. The intro scene also shows that she actively tries to prevent the dad from visiting and giving the present to the son. In addition, she does not even mention who the gift is from. The implication would be that the gift was from her, not someone else. Are her insecurities so high that she's willing to harm her son's happiness and his relationship with his dad to feel better about herself? Apparently, yes. People seem to think that the dad should have reduced hours or something after taking custody of the son. Yeah, that's completely stupid. Money, remember? Of course, with the mum not in the picture, that is technically an increase in money saved...which can be used for daycare or a nanny. The dad, or any other parent for that matter, is not Superman-- that is to say he cannot do everything at once. Marriage is a contract-- an agreement. Typically, one becomes the breadwinner, and the other the homemaker. Frankly, I believe the mum had far too much free time, if she has time to pity herself for her husband not being around for her. The DLC, according to the devs, was meant to show that neither parents were perfect and that even the dad had issues. However, I believe, for a logical thinker, that didn't work as well as they would have hoped. In fact, I would argue that it makes the dad seem even better with the context. More context would be appreciated, though. A dad works himself for passion and for his family, yet the mum is upset that she isn't getting enough attention from her husband? She resorts to alcoholism...because that's smart and friends, family, and hobbies apparently don't exist...and snaps at her husband when he approaches her about the alcoholism? Something occurs that results in the dad most likely striking her with an open palm, and she leaves with the son? > Wait, what? Why bring the son with her? I can't speak for everyone; however, I know that, according to my own mother, whenever she got into an argument with my father, she'd take infant me and walk out. From what I understand, it was to have some form of leverage against him. This is a possibility for why she took the son. While separated, the mum tries to keep the dad away from the son's life, and eventually becomes jealous when the son plays with something from the dad. Who is worse here? I'm not asking for opinions. I'm asking based on what is observed and presented.

[@amanekaze]

As someone with an emotionally deranged, narcissistic, helicopter, and abusive mother, I relate to how I've been treated. Sure, she could've had someone to vent out her frustrations but onto the family? Absolutely not. I was emotionally abused by her, my life turn to white and black after experiencing her hatred, and I shouldn't be spoiled. Even though I was just a child back then.... I wish people stop thinking men is all the same, what about the woman? Some of them are not fit to take care of their children, well you might have hatred for someone else and then passes it to the child just because they look like that "someone", tbh that someone is my stepsister, who marries illegally her distant brother. My mom says that she is lazy, always angry, etc, and after having me, she sees me as her stepdaughter, and I hated being similar to the person who has nothing to do with me just because she's a family now. Though my stepsister is the first person who ruined the family in the first place. My mom became abusive after I was born, she didn't show her true colors, she only did her job and once I'm 7-8 years old, she is freely abusing me for years. Comparing, favoritism of other children, thinking she's the victim and the fact that I'm the abuser and so on that I can ramble on to remember them all. This game made me feel the emotional drive, I wish there are video games about mothers being imperfect, I'm tired of men being associated with evil, abusive and villain. Not all men are like that especially if they live in a horrible household

[@saturday1841]

you never realize how sometimes having a boring forgetful childhood results in great memory's.

[@eefahthefennecfox8056]

Teddy is such a G, I loved him sm when I played. Broke my damn heart tho when he got snatched towards the end and his arm got torn off 🥺 he only wanted to protecc 💖

[@bubble_edits4815]

Im crying 😭

[@imafly5394]

The child is lucky because now he can’t get scared easily.

[@juliangandara9552]

That child is pretty tough, i wonder what kind of person he'll become

[@dayanashariman6755]

@@juliangandara9552 he would be a night guard in a pizzeria with haunted animatronics ;)

[@julekhaparween1830]

@@dayanashariman6755 Mike Afton?

[@hxspitall6557]

@@juliangandara9552 he'll probably have some ptsd from the things he had witnessed-

[@minty9565]

I think that is called trauma also he is a toddler so probably gonna either block it out or just not remember

[@PK-Radio]

I like how just before showing the scrapped ending Teddy was like “don’t worry kid none of this is canon”

[@heyitzbabygurl4025]

I'm glad there's no villain in this story. I love the more grounded ending. It shows the parents have flaws, but aren't evil per say.

[@malikai1802]

After learning of the story and all of the things that are symbolized throughout the game, I've got to say, it is very sad, especially since I can relate very much to the overall story. Having to grow up with a neglectful parent and another practically absent parent is very traumatizing and I feel so bad for the children who are going through what I and many other children went through.

[@HeaOw]

Your not alone and remember that ☺️

[@canned_corn1234]

Ngl after learning the whole story I cried 4 like 30 minutes

[@jacechretin4597]

You should do “moons of madness.”

[@elaxerblaxer]

Yeah

[@elaxerblaxer]

I thought your profile picture was hello neighbour’s face

[@Coca1ne._bear]

ya do moons of madness

[@Iblamethebarrels]

@@elaxerblaxer I did too 🤣

[@arkakiano8273]

What is moons of madness?

[@foxxst3rr]

i love how the game has such a dark, depressing and sensitive story but it is made in such a way that you may not easily catch on to it, but still enough for you to catch on to it. it is a really clever way of displaying the ideas. lovely

[@azukazu]

This game is more sad than scary when you know what’s behind it. It really horrifies me, looking back at it now. So glad I’ve never gone through this.

[@loboandthedog]

Something always seemed off about the bear, it makes sense now that he was meant to be the bad guy in the beginning. I'm glad that they went along with the grounded ending, it's still sad, but not toddler devouring sad. The monster itself looks like Jack skellington on steroids and doesn't seem very original. If you guys have the opportunity to play this game you should I think it's only 10 bucks on steam.

[@johnlawful2272]

A fusion of jack skellington and grim reaper from final fantasy x

[@catchyname1081]

I remember years ago watching people play this game and I loved it, but never really got the symbolism. Now I do, and man, its amazing. (Not the fact that the mother is an alcoholic) The fact that its showing these messages to young children in the form of a game, its just an amazing game.

[@blinkxero6756]

Couldn't a said it better myself

[@zeldagamelover24]

Would be actually insanely cool to have a part 2 to this game (not a prequel) but that focuses on the child's story after maybe either becoming a parent himself or going back to his mom's custody or something

[@cierajane6270]

i remember when markiplier did a playthrough of this years ago i really enjoyed the story and how it was from the toddlers perspective

[@novastarzs]

I remember I loved this game so much even though I couldn't play it

[@P.hroggo]

Lol Same

[@thekingofhorrorgameaquare1789]

Great game hey did the creators of this game ever made other games?

[@dreavius1704]

been watching gameplay since I cant play

[@me_loved_coffee_period1646]

I remember when I was watching the playthroughs, this game would scared the heck of me lol.

[@Viva_Cynefin]

samee

[@taiya001]

Glad they went with the official end. If they'd gone with the OG it would have come off really dumb. I assumed looking through the game that she was suffering from postpartum depression and the stress of being a mom made her drink. The dad did not get her help and exasperated the problem until she left with the son. It was then he tried reaching out to get her help.

[@foongern1071]

I assumed the same too, but I feel there may have been some other issues complicating the matter: an unwanted pregnancy, maybe, or a traumatic birth which could damage both mother and child. Either way not fun.

[@originalname5598]

Fun fact in which you probably seen before: the dad is actually taking alcohol from the mom because she has been neglecting the child he was not hitting her he was just taking the alcohol from her

[@johnlawful2272]

@@originalname5598 yet she has custody right is it full

[@afshanzareen7858]

I don't think that the OG would be dumb, in fact, I think that it would also be a good game, and I do wish we could have both, but the final game is amazing itself and hey, you do you.

[@Shyhalu]

No, she went nuts because she was an adult toddler that doesn't understand how bills get paid. She is the kind of ****** that whines you never have any money or aren't ambitious enough, but then gets mad when you don't have time because you're working too hard.

[@vinsplayer2634]

When I first saw the game being played and Teddy losing his other arm I thought his other arm would've been the last memory-item needed.

[@mrklcr4511]

this is actually pretty wholesome knowing the character isnt alone

[@juanisol8275]

Basically the secret ending show us how the boogieman make a children stew

[@JMB_Knight]

For some reason I thought the boogie man was a man who danced in my bedroom at night

[@juanisol8275]

@@JMB_Knight xD NICE!

[@afshanzareen7858]

@@JMB_Knight omg lmfao

[@krakenmaster2743]

@@JMB_Knight Let’s boogie

[@avessstella]

teddy and dad have the same voice, which means that the toddler finds comfort within their father and imagine teddy having his voice!

[@DrinkGameRepeat]

I love the subtle detail of the father and Teddy having the same voice actor.

[@sapphirestar3978]

I just came back from watching a KZbinr play the game and he thought teddy was kinda creepy and didn’t trust him from the beginning ironic considering what teddy was going to be but actually became. I like the realistic ending we got as well lore was much deeper and less morbid than the old ending that we were to get

[@poopDW]

Wow that was quick , Props to the artists of the game , the drawings add the atmosphere really well

[@angelaplays]

So basically this story is my childhood in a nutshell

[@peanutdrip1107]

U Ok my guy

[@rawcookiedough7518]

@@peanutdrip1107 probably not

[@nikkid3516]

Are you okay?

[@deanxile]

you have a creepy living walking bear when you're a child? not fair why can't o have one

[@zer0watch454]

Oh geez

[@belle4774]

I watched someone do a play-through of this game a few years back with a friend, and I swear I almost cried at the end. At the time, my dad was an alcoholic, and I was just realizing it. He’d been one for a lot of my life, so it hit so close to home when it’s revealed the monsters are just the alcoholic mom, because I saw my dad as a scary monster when he was drunk too. And I also had an easier time understanding the story at first than my friend because I’d been in the kids place myself.

[@yayothejowen2541]

Playing this as a kid I never really understood it. Watching you recap the whole game made me realize how much of the narrative I was missing on a few years ago.

[@zer0watch454]

I doubt the dad was being the abusive one. I think that he was either trying to get his ex-wife to stop drinking or she was about to harm their son and he had to do something about it

[@YourFeelingsSucks]

I read that she harmed her son already and the father tried to make her stop with her addiction to wine, but she either refused or couldn’t, I don’t know how he was abusive.. At some points in the kitchen, when the child approached her, she pushed him.

[@chicade4810]

It's common in family dynamics like this (two disfunctional parents who don't kow how to properly cope with their feelings and instead avoid them through work/alcohol) to have reciprocal violence-- ie where both partners amp one another up into violence and destruction. Both partners are abusive to each other, though one may be more 'functional' like the dad was and be able to hold a job and keep the house relatively well. It's not talked about as often since the "abuser/abused" narrative is a lot easier for people to swallow (anything more nuanced than good/evil is often difficult to discuss) but tbh it doesn't help anyone to play blame-games in these situations. They're both bad, they both need to change if they want to do what's right by their child.

[@unknowngod8221]

@@chicade4810 oh really both because i find that is untrue dad is not hit mom or mother for one of coment in comment section

[@crypt5129]

She probably started drinking because of his abuse

[@YourFeelingsSucks]

@@crypt5129 She started drinking because she felt neglected by her husband who worked a lot, to the point he was absent for a long period, he got visibly paid enough for having a good home and not a crappy place. The marriage fell apart due to her alcoholism, he tried to protect the toddler from being harmed, the father may have used some force in the process, his ex-wife can be enraged when drunk, she knocked over the crib. When she lose custody of her son, she ripped the arm of Teddy, who appeared, in the eyes of the child, a monster. Then when he opened the door, the father is represented as being surrounded by light, greeting him and proposing to fix the arm of Teddy.

[@eeveelutiongaming1122]

The scariest part of the game is the teddy

[@raptorjesus2516]

Indeed that thing is terrifying

[@gemrock]

I feel like he could have been the true monster all along. Like he was something that possessed the teddy bear. He could have been feeding off both parents during everything and in the end when one of them broke he left having his fill. He could have pitted both parents against each other and use the boy to protect him from the mother who was becoming aware that something isn't right so she kept stealing teddy because in her drunken mind it's the only way to save her son. While teddy mocking using the dad's voice to trick the kid into caring for him.

[@dianamarcekova9615]

I also had a Teddy bear and I was having nightmares about him in 2017-2018.

[@cecile5422]

The nostalgia from this is insane

[@jemman2906]

The fact that I found your channel only a little bit ago and am now binging says something about either I'm too easily entertained or just how good your content is.

[@pundertalefan4391]

While I'd love to see the original game, I'm so glad they changed the ending. The baby deserves good things.

[@OmniSpiritAura]

I oddly felt, since adding the prologue info, that true, the mother felt a lil lonely due to the father probably being busy more than planned, but when seeing her drinking too much, he probably slapped her to try and bring some sense back to her, since they have a child and probably her forgetting her passions like music and/or art that she's also had trouble getting motivation, but she wouldn't listen and so packed up and left w/ child in tow, thus leading to the game we play.

[@eleanorcooke7136]

I think that they are both wrong. The mother should've never touched alcohol to cope and the father should've cut down his work. In my opinion, the father did slap the mother but as part of an argument about her alcoholism where the stress of his work built up and he snapped. He is no better because especially when young children are around, it is essential to maintain a healthy work-life balance when the work is piling on so much stress. That is his responsibility. The mother's drinking also heavily affected him but a man with rational thought would not hit a person with a substance abuse to "bring some sense" back, which I believe could be further evidence of his stress leading to violent tendancies or irrationality. The mother's drinking is the main antagonist in this game as the toddler lives with her so he is exposed to it regularly. I believe that the shove that the mother gives the toddler is accidental, or at least not meant to shove him. She seems very negative so it is most likely that she is in a state mentally where she is picturing being with her ex-husband and is blaming herself for everything falling apart and believes that when the toddler touches her, it is actually her ex-husband and pushes him away as she seems distraught when she realises that she pushed her child. I also think that the drink has tainted the mother's memories of the ex-husband and so while logically, when sober, she can realise that he's not bad and should be able to see his son, when face to face with him, she loses that thought completely and shuts him out. If she truly hated her ex, she would've thrown away the gift so that she wouldn't have to think about it. Of course, this is all speculation and I haven't played the game, I've only seen this video. Also, sorry for the essay.

[@user-ju5gx8up6s]

​@@eleanorcooke7136 you do realize that the father can't choose if he works more hours or not? We don't even know what his job is. The only reason why the family was living in a house was because of him working. Yes he was neglecting them. But you can't say it's his fault

[@shanealiyahtablizo9013]

why the father's voice sounds so nice and calming it's almost making me cry T-T

[@yourmother1522]

okay but like- Teddy is adorable, he helps the child out the entire time :O and the fact that he's sorta fashioned after davids father in his imagination, awwww

[@minerwars7977]

Now hold up, Some people have spectulated that the Father was either Taking the Mother's Alchahol, or hitting Her by Accident when she was going to harm the Toddler.

[@marley7868]

and a drunk attacking him isn't that unplausible in short him striking her to the ground with open hand could be completely justified and given what we see I have very little reason to doubt the father

[@dustymcwari4468]

@@marley7868 yeah, she could’ve lashed out at the father because she was being confronted for her alcoholic problem, and he retaliated in self defense, keeping that raised hand posture so she doesn’t try it again, like those scenes where the attacker gets repelled by the victim, but when everyone arrives, it looks like the victim IS the attacker and viceversa

[@eleanorcooke7136]

@@dustymcwari4468 that would be plausible but games like this make their lore easy to understand if they serve it. Also the mother is hunched over on the ground, sat on the floor. Either she attacked him and he pushed her and she hit her head and now he has his open palm raised to slap her or she stayed sat on the ground and he slapped her. In games like these, because they want the shown characteristics to be totally transparent with no risk of misunderstanding, they use clear symbols. Tbh, I didn't see a snatched bottle at all in that scene. The open hand means slap not punch and the two positions mean that he is the aggressor. I'm not saying that the mother is innocent, in fact, she probably provoked him or they had an argument about her drinking or his work. I'm just saying that the father's issue seems to be that he is so strung up because of work that he snaps and becomes aggressive. What I do like though is that neither parent is demonized, neither issue is shown to be world ending and the reason that the mother is the demon is because the toddler lives with her and so is exposed to it more often. Also, I doubt the father intentionally hit the mother Infront of the kid. The kid probably just happened to wander in and see it which is why it's not as big, because in the 2 year Old's mind, it doesn't affect him. This is pure speculation though, I haven't played the game, I'm just forming my opinion based on the shots in the game.

[@cookielordplays9933]

The ending of the main campaign had me crying a bit- Very wholesome and adorable

[@i_killed_ian353]

Hello you are the newest comment and now I will subscribe to you

[@cookielordplays9933]

Thank you :D I’m trying to get the bronze play button :D

[@kaylawoodbury2308]

You really shouldn't use fake accounts to promote yourself. It's painfully obvious and doesn't make other people want to subscribe to you. Literally, no one is going to go " wow a random stranger subscribed to another random stranger! I better do that too!"

[@i_killed_ian353]

@@kaylawoodbury2308 hey I'm sorry but I'm really a different person I try to be nice and this is what people think I do this for small accounts so they can have more subscribers so how about you try and be quiet ok

[@i_killed_ian353]

@@cookielordplays9933 can you please confirm that I'm a different person so this person will stop judging us

[@mizomid_simp]

I guess the ending of 'teddy being the antagonist all along' is scrapped out due to the game being meant to symbolize child neglect through the eyes of a 2 year old.

[@pepijn23]

Looking at this game gives also memories on how I looked at this game at first. Just another horrorgame with a witch like monster, but now I appreciate its symbolism off how domestic violence is seen through the eyes off a child and it’s really sad cause it’s one off the most common things that cause children to be diagnosed with traumatic disorders at an older age.

[@fyichuchan5408]

ye😊

[@maxhuber2561]

among the sleep teaches a life lesson its not to drink the mother is the monster when she drinks and gets drunk she becomes violent and the kid is imagining that shes a monster not drunk and thinks eddy will protect him from mom

[@liviwaslost]

I think he sees Teddy as his father

[@maxhuber2561]

@@liviwaslost maybe but the monster being his mother is unavoidable the opening cutscene black shadow behind mom is evidence also that theirs a lot of acholic around the house but and the ending has the mom crying on the couch surrounded by acholic and the dad is talking in the ending so that can be no but kids always believe their plushie protects them from evil

[@dayhuerta8100]

Sinester Teddy: come in and see KZbin: two comercials

[@flumefen]

Oh, it's been so long since I've heard or seen of this game! Thank you for giving it the recognition it deserves!

[@sosansational]

the fact this entire game was a metaphor for abuse hit me so hard as a victim of child abuse. no, my mother wasn't an alcoholic, but she was physical and emotional as well as neglectful. it almost made me cry.

[@iwanmilner1080]

Well explained Mike, you did a good job piecing together all the story points and the symbolism, well done and I wish we did have the scrapped game rather than the original but hey what can you do?!

[@eleanorcooke7136]

The scrapped game would've been far more satisfying as it is what you'd expect from a horror game. However, I like the final game because of the different portrayal of the classic slender monster and unique style of the game.

[@ricardoamon3233]

I think I remember loving to watch gameplay of this game. I was so young yet I can remember this.

[@RaptorTJC_001]

Since I played the game, it is so sad that his mother is an alcoholic and neglected this poor kid. In the end of the game, A voice of dad will give him a better future and won the custody

[@Rosee7273]

The comforting voice of his father and happy music at the end made me cry 😭

[@williamwhite5183]

He is fairly late with this game but I'm very happy to see a video on it non the less

[@kevinhixson1586]

It was always my head cannon that the overgrown house was him remembering his grandmother's mansion, hence why it's so grand.

[@zedelstein2826]

hearing the arguments stresses me out SO much, i grew up in a household with a lot of fights, and the voice acting in this game is so good that it sometimes triggers my anxiety attacks

[@SuperLovelessgirl]

I love it when horror games have stories that are scary dye to their relevance. The story here was very sad and the developers handled it very well. And once again Superhorrorbro explained it all beautifully. Thanks for being awesome 🖤