In Bad Parenting, a young boy’s birthday excitement is crushed under the weight of stark neglect when his mother returns home, dismissive of the significance of the day. Instead of celebrating, she casually shares a macabre story about Mr. Red Face, a mysterious entity who visits well-behaved children, leaving behind gifts. This story is not a bedtime comfort but a hollow attempt to distract from her forgetfulness.
From Tale to Tragic Reality
The boy’s isolation in his room after the story becomes a prelude to horror. The seemingly innocuous tale of Mr. Red Face morphs into a nightmarish reality when the father, overwhelmed by anger and alcohol, turns violently against his son. This brutal act is not witnessed in the gameplay but is heavily implied through the game’s tense atmosphere and subsequent events. As the night unfolds, the consequences of this act ripple through the family, leaving the player to navigate the aftermath of a fractured home where the lines between neglectful myths and harsh realities are devastatingly blurred.
This setup in Bad Parenting immerses players in a deeply unsettling narrative where a young boy’s birthday is overshadowed by familial dysfunction and ultimately leads to a tragic end. The game challenges players to confront the harsh consequences of family dynamics gone awry, encapsulated in a story that intertwines folklore with fatal outcomes.
