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The first two Little Nightmares, developed by Tarsier Studios, are standouts in the horror genre as they offered a unique perspective of tiny characters in a large and disturbing world. Both were great in their own way, offering solid scares and engaging puzzles throughout their short journeys.
A couple of years ago in 2023, it was announced that Tarsier Studios and Bandai Namco, the publisher of the first two games, would be handing over the franchise rights to Supermassive Games, a developer known for their Until Dawn, The Quarry, and The Dark Pictures Anthology series.
Plenty of players were worried about Little Nightmares being put in the hands of Supermassive Games due to their track record of hit-or-miss games, but some found comfort in the fact that the developer had helped with Little Nightmares 2: Enhanced Edition. In other words, they have some experience with the franchise.
Still, Little Nightmares 2: Enhanced Edition was only an upgraded version of the base game, and Supermassive Games didn’t have to create their own world, story, and gameplay mechanics. This left me and other fans worried that the third entry in the franchise wouldn’t live up to its namesake.
Now that Little Nightmares 3 is finally out, the question remains: Did it live up to its potential? Find out my thoughts on Little Nightmares 3 in this review.
Join Low and Alone on Their Journey to Freedom
Little Nightmares 3 follows two protagonists, named Low and Alone. Similar to the first two games, the game gives almost zero explanation of what’s happening and why our protagonists are on their journey to begin with. However, as you explore the game’s various areas, you slowly begin to uncover what’s happening in this world.
Just like other Little Nightmares games, though, you never fully uncover the answers, and a lot of the story is up to interpretation. This interpretation stems from environmental clues, the locations of each chapter, and the interactions between Low and Alone.
Little Nightmares 3 even has occasional flashbacks that appear as you progress further in the game, which helps the player understand the background of the game’s characters.
I found myself wondering from the very start why these two characters are on their journey and what they are running from, or running to. It’s the feeling of the unknown that drives the player forward, as it’s hard not to want to search for answers and learn what’s at stake. The game drip feeds clues as to what the bigger picture is of the story, and that was very refreshing, since most games tend to be right on the nose.
When I reached the credits for Little Nightmares 3 after 4 hours, I couldn’t help but be sad about what I learned, especially when it pertains to one character. While I still have questions that most likely won’t be answered until the expansion releases next year, I could easily understand that this game deals with some real-world trauma surrounding children.
If you’re anything like me, who likes to dive deep into the deeper meaning in video games, be prepared to have this one pull at your heartstrings.
Atmosphere Done Right, But Not Scary Enough
The atmosphere in Little Nightmares 3 is superb and is most definitely its biggest asset. While not really scary throughout the entire playthrough, Supermassive did a phenomenal job at creating a sense of dread through its lighting, sound, and environments.
Each new room is expertly handcrafted, aiming to tell a story and deepen the lore of the world in which Alone and Low are trapped. If environments are able to expand on a story without any dialogue at all, then that’s a sign that they were done well.
The locations in Little Nightmares 3 get better with each passing screen, and I couldn’t help but want to constantly push forward to see what’s next. One moment you’ll be hiding from a spider-like lady with multiple arms, and the next you’ll be trekking through a deadly carnival, with lightning striking in the background. Each area is unique, but they come together exceptionally well, where it feels like you’re descending into darker territories the further you progress.
If you’re someone who goes to video games for the atmosphere, you won’t be disappointed with Little Nightmares 3. It’s a beauty to look at and has its own identity, while keeping the spirit of the first two games alive. However, I never really felt any fear while exploring the game’s levels, and I wish Supermassive had made it scarier.
Little Nightmares 3 does incite feelings of uneasiness and dread, but rarely the feeling of fear. I’d say the only scary part of the entire experience was running away from one specific monster, which I won’t name to avoid spoilers, that actually made me pause the game to take a breather. Horror is subjective, though, so what you find scary may be different, so that’s something to keep in mind.
The Simplistic Gameplay May Not Be For Everyone
Little Nightmares 3 gameplay is fairly basic, even more so than the first two in the franchise. It follows a structure that involves simple puzzle solving, sneaking around monstrous creatures, and completing intense chase sequences to reach the next checkpoint. There’s nothing unique here in its gameplay, except for the weapons that Low and Alone wield, which make each character have their own purpose.
Low uses a bow to shoot high buttons and ropes, while Alone can smash walls and objects with his massive wrench. While this is a great idea in theory, Supermassive dropped the ball on the importance of each, considering Low is used way more often than his ally. In other words, Alone is clearly the support character of the game, which doesn’t do the game any favors when it comes to co-op.
The player who chooses Alone will take the backseat throughout most of the game. I see this as a huge issue not only in co-op, but also in single-player, since the game asks you to pick a character from the start and provides zero warning that Alone has less involvement in progressing. Luckily, I decided to choose Low as my character, which made me have a more pleasant time than if I were to choose Alone, I could imagine.
However, there are some really great combat encounters that shine in co-op mode for both players. One example is where Low needs to use his bow to knock off the enemies’ heads, and Alone needs to rush in and smash the head to prevent the enemy from picking it up, officially killing it.
This moment was where teamwork truly shone, and I had a blast completing this encounter with an online friend. These moments are rare, though, so it would have been nice if there were more encounters like this to make Alone feel more important to the journey.
Speaking of multiplayer, the game doesn’t allow for couch co-op. I would have loved to play the game with my fiancé, but the game only allows you to play with a friend online. Personally, I think this is a huge mistake on Supermassive Games’ part and reduces the quality of the product tenfold.
Still, it was nice enough for the developers to offer a friend-pass system, which allows two online friends to play together by purchasing only one copy. This essentially cuts the price of the game by half if you know someone willing to split the price and play with you.
When it comes to puzzles, none really stood out except for the dual-world mechanic introduced in the game’s final chapter. This part was really cool, as players use an item that reveals a second world, changing the surrounding environment. This led to finding secret doors, creating a floor that wasn’t previously there, and finding key items to progress further. This dual-world puzzle was a standout for me, and it’s a shame that it wasn’t applied to other chapters.
Still, even with its basic gameplay and faults, I still found joy in each of the game’s four chapters. There’s something great about “basic” in video games, as it makes for an experience that is easy to pick up and play, without giving it too much thought or effort. The minimal horror and easy-to-understand gameplay made for a relaxing playthrough that I most certainly will be returning to in the future.
Заключительные мысли:
Little Nightmares 3 is a solid addition to the beloved franchise, and Supermassive did a fine job with the project. The atmosphere is on point as it does a great job at telling a story, creating a sense of dread, and is genuinely exciting to venture through. Unfortunately, the game has minimal horror, and I wouldn’t go into it expecting to be scared. As for the gameplay itself, it’s really basic to its benefit and detriment. It’s a great game to pick up and play in a weekend, especially due to its short runtime, but it won’t offer any challenge or thought-provoking puzzles. Still, Little Nightmares 3 feels right at home in the franchise and I wouldn’t mind seeing Supermassive Games take another crack at a sequel, especially if they learn from their mistakes on this one.
Плюсы и минусы
- Great atmosphere that feels alive
- Good world building
- Bow and Wrench weapon system is a nice touch
- Interesting and heartfelt story that’s up for interpretation
- Уютный геймплей
- A good amount of collectibles that encourages exploration
- Not scary enough
- Low feels more important than Alone for puzzles and progression
- No couch co-op
- Действительно короткий
