Neglected children's emotional wounds are one of the dark sides of family life that Bad Parenting delves into. The horror game delves deep into its story instead of using jump scares.
The root of Ron's anxiety, a naïve and innocent boy, is not the dark, but rather his loved ones. Starting with a fairly mundane event, the youngster eagerly awaits his mother's return on his birthday, setting the tone for the rest of the game. When he discovers that his mother disregarded the present and the importance of the day, his enthusiasm quickly fades. It all starts with this apathy, which builds tension in the cramped flat. Ron, shut up in his room and cut off from the rest of the world, sees the rift in his family grow wider. You might as well be living in a warped dollhouse with this apartment's dreary decor. Each area is haunted by a sense of unease, while everything else feels familiar yet chilly.
By relating the story of the mysterious Mr. Red Face, the mother hopes to allay her son's anxieties. Who, at night, visits good children and bestows gifts upon them? At first glance, the image resembles an awkward fairy tale; but, as the story progresses, the atmosphere turns terrifying. Ron is startled awake that night by some strange noises in his apartment. A spectral figure materializes, and he finds a fresh doll resting next to his bed the following morning. A bizarre and terrifying chain reaction ensues when the doll asserts that it is Mr. Red Face's creation.
