The flies circling rotting pans of food are startled as childlike figures dash past, desperate to escape an immeasurable giant. Little Nightmares is back! Creeping closer, like the monsters it so loves to conjure.
We’ve been fans of the series since the first game’s protagonist, Six, whose bright yellow raincoat became an icon of innocence in a world of monsters, and the second’s fragile yet determined Mono, forever remembered by the eerie paper bag mask that shielded him from the horrors around him. With these characters etched into horror gaming history, the question becomes: can the nightmares still hold up?
I tried the PS5 demo, and from what I’ve seen so far, Supermassive Games seems to be firing on all cylinders. This could very well be the strongest entry in the series yet.
Familiar Horrors, Fresh Atmosphere
Death is never far away in the world of Little Nightmares. Early on, the demo shows glimpses of animal remains and unsettling interiors, paired with haunting melodies. Moving from desert to corridor, every setting drips with the oppressive, foreboding atmosphere that has defined the franchise.
Dual Protagonists
Unlike its predecessors, Little Nightmares 3 opens with a character select screen. You can choose between Low and Alone. a boy and girl, each with unique abilities. Low carries a bow, solving environmental puzzles by shooting switches, cutting ropes, or fending off enemies. Alone wields a trusty wrench, smashing through walls, manipulating gears, and no doubt more as the journey unfolds.
The Co-Op Twist
The most striking addition is cooperative play. You can experience the story with another player, but only online. There’s no local couch co-op. It’s a controversial choice, but one that makes sense: certain sequences force characters to split up, navigating different routes or solving puzzles independently. By avoiding split-screen, the developers heighten the sense of isolation, keeping with the series’ unsettling tone.
For solo players, AI steps in. A dedicated call button prompts your partner to assist, turning gears, pushing doors, and responding intuitively. At times, it worked seamlessly; at others, the AI was a little too helpful, even giving away solutions and, once, leading us to a grim demise.
A Taste of Combat
The demo closes with a frantic combat sequence: Low firing arrows at swarms of flying bugs, while Alone finishes them off with her wrench. It’s tense, chaotic, and hints at how combat may play a larger role this time around.
Final Thoughts
From this short glimpse, Little Nightmares 3 feels like a natural evolution of the series, blending its signature atmosphere with bold new ideas. We’re eager to see where Low and Alone’s harrowing adventure will take us when the game launches on October 10.
The only question is: Who will you be playing as?
