Little Nightmares is a series that experiments with horror through pure childlike imagination. Themes that always teeter on terrifying and disgusting but hold back just enough to leave the mature nature for other developers who thrived on gore and shock. Now developed by Supermassive (one of said developers), Little Nightmares 3 finds a way to deliver almost the same kind of game with a fresh lick of paint. Whether you want more of what made the first two so beloved or not, it’s hard to argue little has changed.
While it does feel similar, that’s not to say it isn’t filled with some utterly gorgeous visuals. Little Nightmares 3 delivers on some spectacular level design, especially later. You play as two characters: Low and Alone. Low utilises his bow to shoot buttons and frayed rope, wearing a birds’ skull on his head. Alone is a sturdier companion who can break through glass and turn screws with her faithful wrench. This leads to some interconnecting environmental puzzles that don’t exactly mess with the formula.
Often, you’ll run past each area’s grim antagonist in the shadows to avoid detection. Other times you’ll find items like lightbulbs that need plugging in to power a door. It feels like you’ve played it before, and that’s probably because you have. I rarely found myself feeling as though this was a brand-new game, but in no way was I disappointed. Mainly because I adored the ideas and creativity in making these new locations feel uncomfortable and creepy. Puzzles may share old habits, but the world of Little Nightmares 3 is utterly compelling.
There are plenty of times I got frustrated with some slim timing windows, since if the thing you’re trying to avoid turns around and sees the smallest sight of you, it’s instant death. Running away from someone can also lead to repeating an area, though it’s an experience that rarely causes you to actually fail. Little Nightmares 3 is liberal when it comes to forgiveness, you see. Still, it is this tension and pressure that makes some of those set pieces actually retain a nerve-wracking feel. The fairground level is superb, and when you do reach it, you’ll be grateful for overcoming some of the tougher sections.
What this series has always done is tell its story through the scenery. Little Nightmares manages to pull on those emotions that leave you uneasy. It’s different for everyone. Each of us have different triggers when it comes to being scared, and while at no point was I particularly affected by this particular brand of horror, I would always try and get past the giant baby section the quickest. There is something in every area that will leave you a bit sweaty palmed. Nothing gives any kind of comfort, and it’s something Supermassive has managed to keep going.
Much of Little Nightmares 3 re-treads old ground. Many of its puzzles have been done before in some capacity, but the lighting, attention to detail, and subtleties in the way the characters react to one another offer a strange kind of warmth. I would always hold my breath in the hopes that Low and Alone made it out alive. It’s a different story than before yet no less moving.
Little Nightmares 3, perhaps unsurprisingly being the third game in the series, very much feels like “more Little Nightmares”. The environmental puzzles, the creepy atmosphere, and the slow start are all mainstays of these games. But it does pick up speed, delivering some of the most creative and well-realised levels the series has seen, especially towards the end. I would have preferred local co-op to enjoy with a friend or family member, but having the option to play online is still a cool feature. It’s a good sequel, but there’s little here to make it feel like it’s breaking new ground.
