Bad Parenting

In the unsettling game Bad Parenting, players are thrust into the life of a young boy whose anticipation for his birthday quickly turns bleak. The game begins as he awaits his mother’s return from work, hoping to celebrate. However, his excitement dissipates when he realizes she has forgotten his gift and the significance of the day itself. This moment of neglect sets off a series of events that deepen the narrative, as familial tensions escalate into an argument that results in the boy being sent to his room, isolated from the conflict and left to cope alone.

The Tale of Mr. Red Face

While in his room, the boy’s mother attempts to comfort him with a bedtime story about Mr. Red Face, a figure who supposedly rewards well-behaved children with toys at night. This story, meant to soothe, instead introduces an element of fear when the boy later hears disturbances at night and discovers a new, eerie doll beside his bed the next morning. The doll, resembling the boy but with a distorted feature—a crooked head—claims to have been a creation of Mr. Red Face. This revelation marks the beginning of a harrowing adventure that blurs the lines between reality and nightmare.

Driven by the unsettling events, the boy follows the doll’s guidance to the kitchen where he witnesses the doll’s mysterious ability to manipulate physical objects and even refill an empty plate. The doll then reveals chilling information about the boy’s father, suggesting that his absence might be a punishment enacted by Mr. Red Face for unknown misdeeds. This revelation hints at a deeper, more menacing influence of Mr. Red Face on the boy’s family.

The boy learns of a secret passage hidden in his wardrobe that leads to another realm where he might find his father. Venturing through his parents’ closet, he steps into a surreal world, a stark contrast to his own reality. This new world challenges his perceptions and confronts him with a series of moral and existential dilemmas.

Confrontation and Choice

The game reaches a climactic confrontation when the boy finally finds his father in a state of fear and confusion. Here, players must navigate a complex array of choices that will determine the father’s fate. The boy’s journey through Bad Parenting challenges players to make decisions that affect the outcomes within the game and reflect on deeper themes of family, responsibility, and the consequences of adult actions through the innocent eyes of a child.