When Little Nightmares first released in 2017, I was immediately captivated. The journey of Six, the little yellow-raincoat wearing guy, going through an eerie and infinite ship was something new that was introduced in the horror genre of video games. Tarsier Studios followed with Little Nightmares 2 in 2021, which followed Mono, the paper bag boy, with Six once again. Both games lean into the unimaginable, with every little noise and creature designed to make you uncomfortable.

Tarsier Studios followed it up with Little Nightmares 2 in 2021, which followed Mono, a boy in a trenchcoat with a paper bag over his head, accompanied by Six once more. Both games lean heavily into the inexplicable, with every little noise, scene, moment, and creature designed to make you more uncomfortable than the last, all while you’re small and vulnerable to the world around you, forced to stay hidden or use your wits to survive.

This was then followed by Little Nightmares 3, and with the ownership of Supermassive Games, the fans were a bit concerned.

The Shift in Little Nightmares 3

The shift from solo adventures to co-op gameplay in Little Nightmares 3 felt like a bold choice. While the first two games immersed you in isolating dread, the new installment introduces a duo dynamic—Low and Alone—forcing players to rely on somebody else to solve the puzzles. The environmental design seems different, too. Grander, swapping tight fit corridors for very open deserts and bright, neon factories. Visually, it’s still the feel of Little Nightmares, of course, since Bandai Namco since owns the assests and engine that has been created.

However, the threats felt more varied and very different from each other. Instead of only escaping the grotesque and dollhouse-like chefs or viewers in the previous games, you’re dealing with mechanical monsters and sand-dwelling ghouls. It felt crowded. It’s like the developers knew the fans were concerned and fit everything they wanted to create into one game, for fear of not being able to make a fourth game.

More Differences in Little Nightmares 3

Bandai Namco’s trailers hint at a big change in tone. It’s less grim and eerie than the last games and almost adventurous. The vacuum kids have distinct personalities, which is new for the series. Previous protagonists were blank slates, letting players project their fear onto them. Now, there’s dialogue, which is hard to grasp, and even humor. A big difference in Little Nightmares 3 is how the game reinterprets survival. Earlier games were about helplessness—hiding under tables, barely outrunning enemies, always escaping from something. In Little Nightmares 3, you fight back. Low’s wrench and Alone’s bow introduce combat-like elements, a first for the series. It risks losing that vulnerability that many fans loved, but there is creativity and a little more skill involved.

All three games are very linear, but Little Nightmares 3 had no real memorable on-rail scenes. It heavily relies on co-op combat at times. Low and Alone’s “weapons” were mostly used in the environment for hitting buttons, cutting ropes, or smashing through glass or walls. There were some moments when they were used in combat. However, it still felt out of place, as the series always gave you no choice but to stay vulnerable and rely on the environment to overcome the challenges the first games presented. Little Nightmares 3 was a good time to experience, but as someone who was way to into the first games, it did not meet my high and very picky expectations.

What do you think about Little Nightmares 3? Let us know below!