Eerie and unsettling are just two of the words you can use to describe the Little Nightmares series. While the next instalment might have been delayed until next year, I have to say the developers at Supermassive Games are definitely using that extra time to cook up something just as macabre. Little Nightmares 3 is very much in line with the series, but this time you can team up with a friend for moral support!
We were able to play a co-op and a solo demo of Little Nightmares 3 from Gamescom 2024 thanks to Bandai Namco Australia.
Little Nightmares 3 follows Low & Alone, the game’s co-protagonists as they seek a way out of the Nowhere. Unlike the last two games in the series, the third instalment is a standalone sequel. This is also the first time in the series we’ve been able to embark on a Little Nightmares adventure with a second player and it’s surprising how natural it feels. The franchise has garnered much praise for how it builds out game secrets through the world players explore. Little Nightmares is a feast for the senses, often allowing the player to tell their own story. Each area comes alive, like some sort of masterclass in environmental storytelling, all building into the game’s mythos. Players feel the tension build as they edge closer to the creatures that haunt each level, yet it all feels as intended like a forgotten fairytale that is a bit too dark to tell at bedtime. Little Nightmares is for the player to experience, and the addition of cooperative play melds with the experience with ease.
“Each area comes alive, like some sort of masterclass in environmental storytelling, all building into the game’s mythos.”
The co-op demo had me pair up with another player to take on an early section of the game. I was playing as Low, while my counterpart played as Alone – the other protagonist in the game. Low has a bow that fires projectiles while Alone has a handy wrench. It was pretty fun getting the hang of Low’s bow, aiming at targets out of Alone’s reach with the auto-target feature was a breeze in the 2.5D environment. It’s a great addition that I feel will be very beneficial to players of all skill levels. Whilst Low takes aim with his bow, Alone’s wrench allows them to slam buttons and twist levers. It did feel a little clean-cut even for a co-op game, but it did mean we had to work together in order to progress rather than one of us doing everything.
As we progressed through the co-op demo, we were reminded of the game’s main elements, such as the stealth and mobility mechanics which now include the ability to offer the other player a boost up. Traversing through an admin area saw us dodging an overbearingly diligent office worker with several extra arms. After barely escaping her grasp, we then had to make it through a dilapidated yet functioning candy factory. As we were playing this section, it was hard not to pick up one of the many lollipops strewn around the area.
In the sections where we had to rely on stealth, the risk of being caught felt even more real. And double that when you realise the stealth sections require the two of you to work together. We had to ensure our timing when moving between hiding spots – which is so much more stressful when there are two of you! While it does feel different playing with someone else, it’s impossible to deny how the tension is still there. Feeling the adrenalin set in as you and another player race through the world with some nightmare at your heels feels more rewarding given the increased challenge. The only downside was replaying some sections really took the wind out of their sails in terms of the horror experience. The imprecise platforming adds an extra layer of terror, especially when each misstep could mean the difference between life and death. This imbalanced feel adds to the overall tension across levels, showing how even the easiest sections can suddenly become your undoing. Navigating tricky jumps in eerie settings builds a sense of dread that feels core to Little Nightmares‘ unsettling experience.
“Navigating tricky jumps in eerie settings builds a sense of dread that feels core to Little Nightmares’ unsettling experience.”
During our time with the demo, I did opt to play a little more on the wild side. Playing as Low meant I was able to fire projectiles. For one puzzle as Low, I had to turn off an electrical switch that was electrifying water below a door. As I did so, the player I was playing with raced forward and I thought, what if I fired another projectile at the switch? So I did. My partner realised what was happening right as he got to the door but before he could turn around – ZAP! I got him good. While it was a little on the childish side, the player I was with did get me back later. I really enjoyed that this game feels really good to play with someone else, even if they are up to shenanigans or maybe not as adept at games.
Thankfully, you can still play solo if you wish but fundamentally Little Nightmares 3 remains a co-op game. Players still choose to play as either Low or Alone while the game AI will take control of the other. In the solo demo, this felt fairly similar to the gameplay in Little Nightmares 2 with Mono and Six. It almost does feel like the last game might’ve possibly been a co-op experience in one iteration.
In the Solo demo, I played as Alone, which after playing with Low for the co-op demo felt strange but it was during this demo that I was finally able to appreciate the nuance of having another player experiencing the game. Alone and Low barely make any noises let alone speak so it was really interesting seeing how their characters interact. They had many small mannerisms like holding hands as they moved through the levels. I could feel my care for the pair growing as we ventured to the ruins of a dusty whispering city.
“They had small mannerisms like holding hands as they moved through the levels.”
It was entirely strange seeing this area so bright compared to the other areas we’ve seen in the series. The very fact that it was ominous proved again that so much of what this series is, grounds itself in what the player senses. The city is quite an interesting area. We have no idea what happened here, and yet we are shown so much. Stiff bodies lie strewn through the buildings, and that’s before we see possibly the biggest creature yet moving across the city. Again, so much of this game calls to the other instalments like a sibling or the next generation in the series. It’s really clear that Little Nightmares 3 while still a sequel, has its own legs to stand on as a story in the games universe.
Playing solo, I felt more responsible for every move in the world, especially during the more difficult platforming sections. Without someone playing co-op to rely on, the imprecise controls felt even more nerve-wracking, as every mistimed jump could lead to a quick demise. It does also feel strange to rely on the character AI, though is it any weirder to rely on another player who could let go of a lever that could kill you at any moment? I do like how even trust becomes a mechanic in the game’s underlying design. Suddenly, electrocuting my co-op partner in the other demo seems even more heinous given the game positioning and the character’s relationship.
It’s hard to say if I’d rather play the full game in co-op or solo mode. Playing with someone else did make me notice the relationship between Alone and Low a lot less, but it also invited some opportunities for shenanigans. Playing solo would make it much more tense, and I feel it might also be easier to connect with the characters but maybe that experience is a little too good for an atmospheric horror game. My point here is that neither solo or co-op are the best way to enjoy this universe because truly, it feels like they each have their own advantages.
“Little Nightmares 3 feels like a natural progression in the franchise’s evolution…”
Knowing that Little Nightmares 3 isn’t being made by the same studio feels strange given how on point everything in my time previewing the game has been. Had I not known prior, I doubt I would’ve even picked up on it either. Even the addition of the cooperative mode felt like it had been signalled in the last game, so really, Little Nightmares 3 feels like a natural progression in the franchise’s evolution. While we won’t truly know until the entire game is released, I do feel as though my love for the series has definitely been appeased in each demo. I do find this co-op angle exciting for the series but as long as they continue to provide an experience for solo players, there’s really nobody missing out.
I really have to say, jumping into Little Nightmares 3 was a lot of fun and while I don’t know if I’ll be playing it with a partner or solo, I do believe the final game will be just as good as the others. While navigating alone in solo makes the game feel more personal, that awkward platforming adds a layer of challenge that might make you wish for a partner at times. Given how vivid and eclectic the worlds in the games are, I definitely look forward to seeing how Supermassive Games carries the torch for the series in the full release.
Little Nightmares 3 is currently set to release in 2025 on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One & Nintendo Switch. We can’t wait to see what new horrors Little Nightmares 3 will unleash when it finally arrives!
The journalist was flown to Sydney courtesy of Bandai Namco Australia for this hands-on preview.
About the Author
Alex Beaty
They/Them
Alex gets FOMO for game DLC more than they should ever admit. On the run for being too good at Fortnite, they now work in game development.
