Little Nightmares 3, A Humble Review

Here comes October, and the spooky season is ringing at full volume. Even here, this month has gained a modern connotation that has long carried a specific dose of popularity and stereotypes worldwide. What could be better than a creepy, atmospheric horror game played in the dark, with the curtains drawn and strange shadows dancing on the wall? Bandai Namco knows this, which is why they served us a new installment in the beloved series of small but highly effective nightmares, Little Nightmares 3.

New characters, new locations, and, get this, an entirely new development team! Supermassive Games, known for their interactive horror stories like Until Dawn and The Quarry, was given the task of resurrecting the strange world of Nowhere that has long filled our dreams (or nightmares).

On paper, all of this sounds like every fan's dream, but in practice, that dream sometimes turns into an absolute nightmare—the perfect scenario for this month.

In the mood for something completely different, check out our Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 review!

The long-awaited Little Nightmares 3 co-op mode is finally here.

Tarsier Studios, creators of the first two games, abandoned ship and handed the helm over to the Supermassive team. Given the new team's reputation, expectations were that Little Nightmares 3 would be full of cinematic shots, tense scenes, and clever narrative tricks like those used in their previous titles. They have a well-known pedigree, and you can sense that... at least at times. However, the game can also throw the player straight into a wall of frustration full of rusty spikes without any warning.

What immediately stands out to anyone who loved the previous two games is the long-awaited co-op mode. We have to point that out as the change that was supposed to revolutionize the series. Yes, you can finally play with a friend! Two characters, Low and Alone, are trying to escape the twisted world called The Spiral. 

It's hard to say whether the name is creative or not, but it doesn't evoke a sense of dread when introduced in the opening narrative. One character uses a bow and arrow (like a mini Link who stumbled into hell), while the other swings a broken wrench that looks more like a weapon from a garage than a fairytale. 

Playing together, feeling less

It's a charming approach but somewhat familiar, and from the start, you can already guess what kind of puzzles await. Supermassive made sure both have unique mechanics: Low hits unreachable levers, while Alone breaks obstacles and presses buttons.

In theory, great. In practice, it definitely depends on how competent your partner is, that is, whether you're dealing with a dumb AI or a person who struggles to grasp reality, in other words, someone cognitively challenged. Translation: God help you if your online partner is as dumb as a rock, because you'll want to eat your controller out of frustration. Only play this with a trusted friend, and you might find enough enjoyment in it.

To prevent frustration from boiling over like an overfilled pressure cooker, there's also a Friend Pass option, so even your buddy who didn't buy the game can join in. A very commendable gesture, but also a slightly suspicious sign that the developers are aware you'll need emotional support to survive certain moments. Although the two-player idea is interesting, true fans of the series will immediately notice a big problem: Little Nightmares has always been a game about loneliness. 

The silence, the tension, the cold breath on your neck as a small figure runs from an even smaller light that was the series' DNA. When you have a friend next to you asking, "Hey, should I pull this?" or "Wait, where am I?", that feeling disappears. The atmosphere suffers, and the eerie charm gets diluted by headset chatter. The isolation that was once the core is now ripped apart by companionship. There was something powerful in being alone against everything, and LN1 and LN2 nailed that, but here, too much freedom was taken.

Playing solo in Little Nightmares 3

On the other hand, the campaign can still be played solo, in which case the AI takes over the second character, just like Six in the previous game. Those of us with some experience know how that usually goes: the AI knows everything, but you wish it didn't exist. Sometimes it just stands there like a statue. At the same time, a deformed three-meter baby chases you, and other times it runs headfirst through a door before you even realize what's happening, triggering a sequence or moving a screen tile before you've even had a chance to soak in the atmosphere of the room.

One thing that deserves serious praise is that Supermassive has put all its visual cards on the table, and the presentation is stunning. Little Nightmares 3 looks phenomenal, from grimy amusement parks full of melted visitors to abandoned cities haunted by a gigantic baby (a creature that would be a boss in any other game, but here it's just "another day in hell's playground").

Every frame looks like an illustration from a disturbing picture book. The details are exquisite, the light and shadow dance perfectly for October vibes, and the character animations are sometimes so unnerving that you don't know whether to laugh or turn off your console. Visually, it hits every mark perfectly.

What's missing, however, is the emotional weight that the first two games carried so effortlessly. Tarsier had that "invisible touch," a way of making you question everything through wordless scenes. Supermassive tries the same here, but the result feels more like "a horror adventure for two" than a deep emotional introspection. 

A great idea trapped in poor design

They lack that old-school sensitivity. They did try, to be fair, and attempted to weave a familiar Little Nightmares narrative through their own lens of slasher-style horror and subgenres, resulting in a mishmash that even Stephen King's top interpreter couldn't untangle. Honestly, it feels like reheated rice pudding without cinnamon. 

Now, let's address the main problem: Little Nightmares 3 has a brilliant idea but poor execution, especially outside the narrative, where the game truly fails. Players often don't know what to do because the visual and design cues are entirely unclear. Sometimes you need to jump, sometimes hide, but the game doesn't communicate that until you've died several times in a row. The trial-and-error approach is part of the series' DNA, but here it crosses the line between challenge and pure negligent frustration.

Add to that occasional bugs in enemy animations, such as stupid hitboxes where enemies grab you before they even appear or miss you while you're standing still right in front of them. The issue isn't difficulty; it's unpredictability and lack of polish. Even veteran players will swear at their TV (and maybe at their co-op partner).

Controls are generally better than before, but the problem with depth perception still hasn't been fixed. Three-dimensional environments and a tight camera are a guaranteed recipe for falling into the abyss at least once, even when you're sure the ground is right beneath you. It increasingly seems like that was a deliberate design choice. 

Atmosphere still shines where the narrative stumbles in Little Nightmares 3

Narratively, Little Nightmares 3 tries to tell a story about friendship, loneliness, and survival. Low and Alone are an interesting duo, but their connection never develops deeply enough, partly because of the wordless storytelling, and partly because the game's structure leaves no room for emotional moments. The player constantly wrestles with controls, scripted scenes, and enemies that act like they just finished a bad improv class.

What remains striking, however, is the atmosphere; it's still there. Creepy and uncomfortable, like dreaming you're trapped inside a breathing digital box. The sound design is solid, from distant footsteps to metallic creaks. Every room has its rhythm, every location its identity, and that's where Supermassive's effort shines through. If only the gameplay and narrative had been polished, this would have been a true gem.

The game lasts about one afternoon, just long enough to draw you in, shake you up, and send you off, but also sufficient to exhaust you. Here and there, you'll stumble upon moments of genius: a perfectly lit scene, a clever puzzle, or a chilling enemy that makes your heart race. Unfortunately, each of those moments quickly gets drowned in a sea of technical issues and confusing situations.

In Conclusion

Supermassive took on a heavy task. It's no small thing to inherit a studio that practically defined visual horror minimalism. And while they tried to steer the series into a co-op direction, somewhere along the way, they lost what made Little Nightmares special, the feeling of terror through isolation. That's where most well-written horror stories and games draw their strength from the primal human fear. If you manage to tap into that, you get an emotional response from the player. Sadly, those moments are missing here.

If it weren't for all those frustrations, Little Nightmares 3 would have been a great sequel, just new enough to refresh the formula and familiar enough to retain the spirit of the series. Supermassive Games brought bold ideas and kept the visual identity, but the gameplay and story rhythm often buckle under their own ambition.

For fans of the series, this is still an experience worth your time. Grotesque, eerie, and sometimes beautiful. Let's be honest, not every nightmare is unforgettable. Little Nightmares 3 is more like that dream that doesn't scare you but wakes you up, letting you go back to sleep with relief.

🎮 Game Rating: 7.2/10

Because, despite its stunning visuals and atmosphere, Little Nightmares 3 fails to fully capture the emotional depth and tension that made the earlier games masterpieces. It's good but not haunting.

👶 Recommended Age: 15+

Due to its dark themes, grotesque imagery, and occasional jump scares, the game is best suited for teens and adults. Children under 15 may find certain scenes too disturbing.

🌌 Gemini AI Summary:

Little Nightmares 3 blends stunning visuals, eerie environments, and co-op gameplay, but loses its core sense of isolation that defined the series. Supermassive Games delivers atmosphere and creativity, yet inconsistent AI, unclear design cues, and a lack of emotional depth prevent it from reaching the haunting brilliance of its predecessors. A visually captivating but flawed horror adventure best experienced with patience—and a trusted friend.