Little Nightmares 3 Review – Recurring Dreams

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While anticipating the release of Little Nightmares 3, I revisited the first two games and was struck by how much scarier the original is. The Janitor in the first game was truly terrifying, with his long, reaching arms always threatening the main character, Six. The chefs were unsettling too, their masks hinting at a disturbing truth the game never fully reveals, leaving a lot to my imagination. I enjoyed the second game, but it didn’t feel as genuinely creepy as the first, and the villains weren’t as memorable. Now, with Little Nightmares 3 developed by Supermassive Games, it feels like they took more inspiration from the second game than the first. While the addition of co-op is welcome, the game sometimes feels a bit too safe and predictable.

Little Nightmares 3 continues the series’ tradition of cinematic horror-platforming, but now offers the option for two-player gameplay or a single-player experience with an AI partner. The game is incredibly immersive, throwing you into a nightmarish world without interruptions like loading screens or on-screen instructions. Like previous entries, the story and overall universe are intentionally ambiguous, which is one of the series’ greatest strengths. As you navigate creepy locations like dilapidated apartments, schools, foggy beaches, and haunted libraries, you’ll feel a constant sense of dread. The game is scary not just because of its visuals and sound, but because it effectively creates a world that feels like a persistent, looming threat, constantly forcing you to run from monsters.

Honestly, the world in this game is just…weird. It doesn’t make any sense, like it’s built from the stuff of bad dreams, you know? Every time I run into one of the monsters – and there are so many different kinds! – I’m not just scared, I’m completely confused. What *is* this thing, and how do I even survive? The rules seem to change on a dime, and that uncertainty is honestly the scariest part.

The monsters in this game tap into those childhood fears that creep in when you’re trying to fall asleep – the worry that something *is* hiding in your closet, that a pile of clothes *might* be a person, or that strange noises *aren’t* just the house settling. Little Nightmares 3 is stunning both visually and aurally, and it’s best experienced with headphones. The sound design is incredibly detailed, with ghostly echoes and unsettling creaks that make you question what’s real and what’s not – is it just the building, or is a monster nearby?

Compared to previous installments, this third game features a noticeably smaller soundtrack, which was a letdown considering how well the series used eerie, childlike melodies before. While you can still hear a tune on the main menu, music is mostly limited to intense chase sequences throughout the game.

Little Nightmares has always let you move in all directions – not just side to side, but also closer and further away. This gives each area a sense of depth, encouraging you to explore and use the environment to solve puzzles. Often, you’ll be running towards or away from the screen, instead of simply running left or right to escape danger. While this isn’t a new trick for the series, it continues to keep you feeling tense and engaged, just like previous Little Nightmares games.

Despite the beautiful backgrounds, the game still occasionally makes platforming tricky. Judging distances for jumps or even stepping on unstable surfaces can be difficult due to the camera angle. Thankfully, like Little Nightmares 2, the game usually keeps you safely on narrow platforms if you initiate the movement correctly. Unlike the first game, and thanks to an improvement in the second, this installment is more forgiving and less likely to result in frustrating falls.

A common problem throughout this game, and the *Little Nightmares* series in general, is its insistence on flawless performance during chase sequences. When a monster is pursuing you – which happens often – you’re frequently required to navigate complex areas perfectly, making every jump, maintaining speed, and solving puzzles quickly. This is especially true in *Little Nightmares 3*’s co-op mode, where it can be even more frustrating. Because the two characters, Low and Alone, each have specific roles, you depend on your partner to perform their part correctly, or you’ll both suffer.

Low uses a bow and arrow to hit distant buttons, break weak ropes, and sometimes target enemy vulnerabilities. Alone carries a heavy wrench for turning gears, breaking obstacles, and attacking enemies. However, Little Nightmares 3 isn’t a traditional survival-horror game where you fight often. Combat is rare and usually solves a puzzle – for example, when chased by scary puppets in a dark carnival, Low can shoot their heads off, and Alone can smash them to pieces, though the bodies will still pursue you.

The game creates moments of intense panic, similar to what fans expect, but a single mistake forces you to start over. While save points are usually forgiving, some challenges can feel frustrating as you and a teammate try to find the right approach. Playing alone is actually easier, because the AI companion is smart and helpful – it often figures things out on its own, even solving puzzles before you do, like spotting and activating hidden mechanisms.

While playing with another person can sometimes be a little frustrating, it ultimately makes the game more enjoyable. Little Nightmares 3 successfully builds on the promising co-op elements introduced in Little Nightmares 2, where an AI partner assisted with puzzles. Surprisingly, co-op doesn’t diminish the horror; in fact, needing to rely on your partner adds to the tension. The series is known for creating incredibly suspenseful moments, and sharing those experiences with a friend – like navigating a scary environment together – can actually make them even more impactful.

One of the things that makes the co-op mode work well is that the core gameplay—how you explore and solve puzzles—feels familiar. The puzzles have been slightly adjusted, but most experiences in Little Nightmares 3 could easily fit into the previous games. Combined with a lack of truly standout monsters, this makes the new game feel similar to its predecessor, both of which are a step behind the first Little Nightmares. Fans of the series will likely enjoy this installment, as it delivers what they expect. However, it doesn’t introduce many new or particularly impressive elements.

This game feels much faster-paced than previous entries, which often slowed down during lengthy, multi-part puzzles. Supermassive clearly wants to showcase more of the game’s world, and I really appreciated this change, even though it’s not a huge one.

What ultimately holds this game back is its focus on enemies like wooden dolls and plastic dummies – it feels much less disturbing than the first game, which was filled with unsettling, fleshy creatures. While the studio change might seem like a reason, the previous game already hinted at this shift in tone. It’s strange to see the series shy away from the truly frightening imagery of the original in favor of a more toned-down approach, and it feels deliberate. That said, this isn’t a gentle introduction to horror. There are still genuinely scary moments, as there should be. However, if you were hoping for a slow burn, saving the most terrifying encounters for last, this isn’t the place to start.

Little Nightmares 3 successfully continues the series’ style under its new developer, Supermassive Games. Known for their own horror games, the team does a good job of honoring what came before, but sometimes relies *too* heavily on previous games, and doesn’t quite push the boundaries with its puzzles or creature designs. It’s a worthwhile sequel that I enjoyed playing, but future installments will need some fresh, inventive ideas to truly stand out.

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2025-10-08 16:10