Little Nightmares
Main game
3.83 average rating based on 1973 ratings
- Developers
- Tarsier Studios
- Publishers
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Series
- Little Nightmares
- Platforms
- Android, Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS
- Genres
- Adventure, Indie, Platform, Puzzle
- Themes
- Action, Fantasy, Horror, Survival, Thriller
- Steam
- View on Steam
Release Dates
User Stats
How Long Is Little Nightmares?
Related Content
Little Nightmares Big Scares
This review is for the Nintendo Switch version
What if you were to take concepts and gameplay mechanics from Limbo and mix them with a Tim Burton like claymation movie? You'd probably end up with something similar to Little Nightmares the 2.5-D puzzle adventure game from Tambier Studios. The game has one monstrosity after another trying to capture Six, the player controlled protagonist, as she tries to escape from the hell she's currently in.
As you start out you know next-to-nothing about the story or Six. Throughout the 4-5 hour experience the grotesque picture starts to become less fuzzy as you make your start through the Maw, the ship on which you are trapped. You'll sneak past the likes of the extra long armed Janitor and the Chef amongst other big bads on your journey to find the light of day. Creeping around trying to solve the simple but effective puzzles never felt safe as I always had the feeling something or someone was near-by looking for me. Each of the five chapters never overstay their welcome while offering you nightmarish tenseness.
While the gameplay is fairly simple, albeit frustrating at moments, it's the aesthetic of the world that kept me going. The lighting, music (especially the last …
What if you were to take concepts and gameplay mechanics from Limbo and mix them with a Tim Burton like claymation movie? You'd probably end up with something similar to Little Nightmares the 2.5-D puzzle adventure game from Tambier Studios. The game has one monstrosity after another trying to capture Six, the player controlled protagonist, as she tries to escape from the hell she's currently in.
As you start out you know next-to-nothing about the story or Six. Throughout the 4-5 hour experience the grotesque picture starts to become less fuzzy as you make your start through the Maw, the ship on which you are trapped. You'll sneak past the likes of the extra long armed Janitor and the Chef amongst other big bads on your journey to find the light of day. Creeping around trying to solve the simple but effective puzzles never felt safe as I always had the feeling something or someone was near-by looking for me. Each of the five chapters never overstay their welcome while offering you nightmarish tenseness.
While the gameplay is fairly simple, albeit frustrating at moments, it's the aesthetic of the world that kept me going. The lighting, music (especially the last chapter), and both level and monster design are phenomenal. I had plenty of moments where I lit up the match Six carries just to be in ah of how everything looked. Shadows of objects are effective in presentation while adding that feeling of dread and darkness. It was maybe a little too dark at moments to where Six might get caught while running away resulting in death, but for the most part it wasn't an issue.
I truly hated and loved my experience with Little Nightmares. Having very recently found out there is a sequel on the way am excited to continue Six's journey through this twisted and bizarre world she inhabits.
kiyohie's review of Little Nightmares
I loved every moment of this game! I really enjoyed walking & sneaking around as a tiny little girl in a giant-like world and interacting with items. The world and characters all were designed wonderfully cute, yet creepy. The only gripe I have about this game is that the ending was very predictable which took away some of the satisfaction of completing it, but despite that, I had a lot of fun playing it up to that point!
Little Nightmares for the Switch
I was really surprised at how much I liked this game. I don't even like puzzle games for the most part. Although, I guess this is more of a problem-solving game, and that difference apparently is huge for me. This is a game that has an atmosphere so enthralling that you feel the emotions and vibes it's giving off. The visuals are so impressive, and they all add to the overall atmosphere of the game. And the story...I'm always impressed by a story that's told without being told...just shown. There's a lot of mystery in the tale, and as you progress it gets darker and darker culminating with a surprising ending. After I finished, I just kind of leaned back in my chair and had to process it. It's that kind of game!
Let me Carry the Toilet Paper!
I couldn't carry the toilet paper throughout the whole game. :(
Krauzer's review of Little Nightmares
The first Little Nightmares entry is a dark and unsettling puzzle-platformer that thrives on atmosphere and environmental storytelling. The MC is called Six, a fragile child in a yellow raincoat, who must escape The Maw, a twisted underwater vessel filled with grotesque, nightmarish inhabitants. The game avoids traditional dialogue and instead builds its narrative through disturbing imagery, haunting sound design, and the oppressive environments you explore.
For those who like interpretative narratives, this is a very good title, it is good to engage with it's community to try and find out what is actually happening in the game's story, not that this is a must in order to enjoy the experience, but it is definitely a plus. The gameplay focuses on stealth, light platforming, and physics-based puzzles. You’ll often need to sneak past monstrous enemies, time your movements carefully, and use the environment to your advantage.
At times, the controls can feel a little imprecise, especially during tense chase sequences, but the sense of vulnerability they create adds to the tension. And this can sometimes feel like a downside, though I consider this a plus, since this makes up for a more immersive gameplay due to the character being a …
The first Little Nightmares entry is a dark and unsettling puzzle-platformer that thrives on atmosphere and environmental storytelling. The MC is called Six, a fragile child in a yellow raincoat, who must escape The Maw, a twisted underwater vessel filled with grotesque, nightmarish inhabitants. The game avoids traditional dialogue and instead builds its narrative through disturbing imagery, haunting sound design, and the oppressive environments you explore.
For those who like interpretative narratives, this is a very good title, it is good to engage with it's community to try and find out what is actually happening in the game's story, not that this is a must in order to enjoy the experience, but it is definitely a plus. The gameplay focuses on stealth, light platforming, and physics-based puzzles. You’ll often need to sneak past monstrous enemies, time your movements carefully, and use the environment to your advantage.
At times, the controls can feel a little imprecise, especially during tense chase sequences, but the sense of vulnerability they create adds to the tension. And this can sometimes feel like a downside, though I consider this a plus, since this makes up for a more immersive gameplay due to the character being a child being stalker by monsters. Visually, Little Nightmares is striking, its exaggerated proportions, gloomy lighting, and grotesque character design create a unique horror aesthetic that lingers long after you’ve stopped playing.
The short runtime (around 4~5 hours) works in its favor, keeping the experience tightly focused and impactful without overstaying its welcome. Overall, this title is a chilling, memorable experience that blends horror and artistry in a way few indie titles manage. It’s not just scary, it’s disturbing in a fairy-tale-gone-wrong way, and that’s what makes it so effective. This is definitely one of the best horror titles that I've ever played, and I highly recommend playing it any way you can.
Why was he so hungry
This review is for the PlayStation 4 version
Bro ate so much. Ate the little troll and everything. This game was actually beautiful for no reason
Little Nightmares was an awesome experience but the ending was superb
This review is for the PC (Microsoft Windows) version
Loved the game the vibe the graphics the sound design it was a cohesive experience. The middle part of the game became a bit dull in my opinion but if you experience the ending the game because awesome in its own right.
Curious about little nightmare II.
Getting By Solely On *Vibes*
This review is for the PlayStation 4 version
This was ... fine. Controls are generally smooth, great spooky atmosphere, and a few very tense moments that I'll remember for a while. But if you're not going to provide any kind of narrative to hook the player then you've got to provide interesting gameplay. There's nothing this game asked me to do that I haven't done hundreds of times elsewhere. While a straightforward platformer is always welcome, the level designs here don't offer much innovation. The whole hook of the game seems to be the lack of a narrative, and that absence isn't a reason to keep me enthralled. Thankfully, the length is perfect; it finishes on a high note right when the simplistic design starts to grow stale. Might be tempted to give the sequels a try at some point, but not rushing to do so like I would have predicted when I first started this entry.
Gave it a shot but just didn't hook me
Played maybe 3 hours. Enough to "get it". I did like the art style... somehow simultaneously charming and unnerving. But I'm not all that into 2D platformer type games, and this one didn't change that about me.
Short but really nice game
This review is for the PC (Microsoft Windows) version
I totally forgot that I had this game in my library until I received my new Steam Deck. Taking a look at what games are compatible, I saw that Little Nightmares is fully compatible. So I decided to try it.
Performance and graphics
The game runs really well on Steam Deck and everything looks really nice. The scenarios make you feel really uncomfortable, that you are in a really sic place but without being scary. I wouldn't say it is a terror game, but it makes you uncomfortable with what you see.
Sound
Music and effects are fantastic and contribute to that uncomfortable sensation I was talking about.
Plot
The game does not say too much about it, you need to find out what through the scenario and things you can see. I like that because you can imagine your own story that fits what you are seeing. Really nice!
Gameplay
There are 5 chapters with a different 'theme' in each one and differentiated from each other. Each chapter works as a puzzle (or multiple puzzles inside). To solve it, you can jump, run, grab, climb, crouch, and 'light' buttons. All in a lateral view. Simple but effective.
Conclusion Maybe …
I totally forgot that I had this game in my library until I received my new Steam Deck. Taking a look at what games are compatible, I saw that Little Nightmares is fully compatible. So I decided to try it.
Performance and graphics
The game runs really well on Steam Deck and everything looks really nice. The scenarios make you feel really uncomfortable, that you are in a really sic place but without being scary. I wouldn't say it is a terror game, but it makes you uncomfortable with what you see.
Sound
Music and effects are fantastic and contribute to that uncomfortable sensation I was talking about.
Plot
The game does not say too much about it, you need to find out what through the scenario and things you can see. I like that because you can imagine your own story that fits what you are seeing. Really nice!
Gameplay
There are 5 chapters with a different 'theme' in each one and differentiated from each other. Each chapter works as a puzzle (or multiple puzzles inside). To solve it, you can jump, run, grab, climb, crouch, and 'light' buttons. All in a lateral view. Simple but effective.
Conclusion Maybe it is a little short in my opinion, but really good game. Wishing to play Little Nightmares II. Even I am thinking of buying the DLC. What do you think? Do you recommend me the DLC and LN2?
Brief Final Thoughts
Where this game ultimately shined best for me was the atmosphere and audio design. The enemy models were also a high point, some so ridiculously grotesque I often just stopped and stared at them, admiring how well they were designed. The art design is visually striking and although the puzzle solving and platforming gave little challenge, I will remember my 4 hour playthrough as one of high tension and atmospheric awe.
Little Nightmares.
This review is for the PlayStation 4 version
A greater platform puzzle game, with a touch of horrific theme and setting to it.
The game makes the player realize they are a little helpless child and you have to play your way safe to avoid all of the dangerous creatures that lurks around every corner. The developers has combined 2D platforming with 3D graphics and looks very beautifully.
killerstar's review of Little Nightmares
The first few levels are completely unpayable in daylight, but after that, when I could actually see what was going on on the screen, the game got much better.
It's 100% atmosphere though. Gameplay is standard platformer with rather bad controls. There are too many cheap deaths and failed jumps due to the bad camera. But it's short enough that I wasn't too bothered by these flaws.
If you want 3 to 4 hours of creepy atmosphere and disgusting sights, Little Nightmares will deliver.
Boil Em Mash Em Stick Em in a Stew
This review is for the PlayStation 4 version
Little Nightmares is a game I knew I was 100% in for from the first moment I saw it. Its got an instantly striking stop-motion horror aesthetic that looks like something from the more disturbing side of Jim Henson's oeuvre with a dash of grimy Terry Gilliam steampunk. Paired with the instantly recognizable yellow-poncho-wearing protagonist, this game is just so immediately visually unique and iconic that's its worth the price of admission for that alone. As you might expect though, Little Nightmares' gameplay, while entertaining and tense, falls ever so short of game's outstanding visual presentation. It's a lot of running away from horrible grabbing hands and sneaking through environments, all of which have an impressive sense of scale, making you truly feel like a small being in a world made for larger creatures. There are some really clever set pieces and sequences scattered throughout, and while it doesn't re-invent the wheel, its certainly got nasty tricks up it's sleeve. If you're not adverse to a bit of trial and error, its a great game for passing the controller upon death, giving you and your partner equal opportunity to play but also to just watch, which is often times …
Read MoreLittle Nightmares is a game I knew I was 100% in for from the first moment I saw it. Its got an instantly striking stop-motion horror aesthetic that looks like something from the more disturbing side of Jim Henson's oeuvre with a dash of grimy Terry Gilliam steampunk. Paired with the instantly recognizable yellow-poncho-wearing protagonist, this game is just so immediately visually unique and iconic that's its worth the price of admission for that alone. As you might expect though, Little Nightmares' gameplay, while entertaining and tense, falls ever so short of game's outstanding visual presentation. It's a lot of running away from horrible grabbing hands and sneaking through environments, all of which have an impressive sense of scale, making you truly feel like a small being in a world made for larger creatures. There are some really clever set pieces and sequences scattered throughout, and while it doesn't re-invent the wheel, its certainly got nasty tricks up it's sleeve. If you're not adverse to a bit of trial and error, its a great game for passing the controller upon death, giving you and your partner equal opportunity to play but also to just watch, which is often times just as entertaining for games like this.
Read Less
A Compact and Atmospheric Experience
This review is for the PC (Microsoft Windows) version
My girlfriend played this not too long ago on her twitch channel, and kept telling me I needed to play it. She said it was so good, she finished it and immediately after her stream ended she went and bought the sequel.
Just beat it after about 4 hours of playtime, and I loved it! The length of the game is a little short, but I think I prefer this kind of game as a short, compact, and tightly woven experience. The game just oozes with atmosphere, and with absolutely no dialogue, it still manages to make the player feel the dread and horror of its universe, without being over the top with scares. It doesn't need to make something jump out at you for you to feel tense and scared.
Games like this sometimes frustrate me when they have puzzles that aren't clear enough to the player what the end goal is, and while that happened once or twice during my playthrough, it was never too frustrating. There were quite a few times I would get stuck in level geometry and just softlock myself, not able to move. It's a little irritating, but a quick "restart from checkpoint" is …
My girlfriend played this not too long ago on her twitch channel, and kept telling me I needed to play it. She said it was so good, she finished it and immediately after her stream ended she went and bought the sequel.
Just beat it after about 4 hours of playtime, and I loved it! The length of the game is a little short, but I think I prefer this kind of game as a short, compact, and tightly woven experience. The game just oozes with atmosphere, and with absolutely no dialogue, it still manages to make the player feel the dread and horror of its universe, without being over the top with scares. It doesn't need to make something jump out at you for you to feel tense and scared.
Games like this sometimes frustrate me when they have puzzles that aren't clear enough to the player what the end goal is, and while that happened once or twice during my playthrough, it was never too frustrating. There were quite a few times I would get stuck in level geometry and just softlock myself, not able to move. It's a little irritating, but a quick "restart from checkpoint" is all you need, considering the setpieces and puzzles in this game don't take too long.
Overall if you like puzzle platformers, give this one a shot. I'm hoping that the second one impresses me just as much when I get around to playing it.
Great time. Need to pick up the DLC when they go on sale.
Historia: 4⭐
Jugabilidad: 3⭐
No se hace pesado: 3⭐
I've been coming back to this for the second time. Sadly, as much as it's been a popular hit among gamers, I still haven't been hooked enough to get myself through 2nd chapter. The mechanics can be a hit-or-miss and I got stuck in an elevator shaft without a clue where to move. So I'm shelving this game until I find my spark again, or someone in my house picks an interest for it.
Played through this with my niece over the past few days, lately she's been really into spooky adventures and puzzle platformers like this, Oxenfree, and Playdead's Inside.
Does anyone have any recommendations for mildly scary, narrative-focused games in this vein? Horror games are a big blind spot for me.
i am LOVING this game but i worry i'm missing things bc i'm leaving rooms so quickly out of fear lol
Complete Edition, along with the 3 DLCs: The Depths, The Hideaway and the Residence
Not a fan so far, glad I got it for free. It's a slow-paced, puzzle-platformer with a horror theme. Yes, the imagery and enemy designs are creepy, but it isn't the kind of game I'm going to be thinking about when I'm not playing it. Really wish the loading and cutscenes were faster because every failure feels really punishing. There's already been a few spots where it feels like it would hard to avoid failure unless you knew what was going to happen ahead of time. HLTB says this game is pretty short and I'm thankful for that.
Don't want to write a traditional review for this one so pros and cons
Pros
- This game is GORGEOUS! Great designs, great conveyance by making the design of Six stand out, incredible use of the camera to show the game's scale and how small Six is in this world, and incredible sound design (except for one con).
- I really like the wordless storytelling in the game. Doesn't work as a plot, but moreso as a conveyance of a theme of gluttony. Especially with how the first enemies that you come across are leeches. Love the gradual buildup with a recurring beat.
The order of what Six eats being based on power. From bread > meat > rat > a Nome > The Lady. It shows how much power Six has gained and how much more gluttonous she has become.
Cons
- This game makes a fart noise whenever you get grabbed and I just keep laughing whenever it happens. I can't take this game as seriously as I wanted to.
- I think the stealth is a real hinderance to the game. It makes the enemy AI really stupid and less of a threat than they should. There are animations for the …
Don't want to write a traditional review for this one so pros and cons
Pros
- This game is GORGEOUS! Great designs, great conveyance by making the design of Six stand out, incredible use of the camera to show the game's scale and how small Six is in this world, and incredible sound design (except for one con).
- I really like the wordless storytelling in the game. Doesn't work as a plot, but moreso as a conveyance of a theme of gluttony. Especially with how the first enemies that you come across are leeches. Love the gradual buildup with a recurring beat.
The order of what Six eats being based on power. From bread > meat > rat > a Nome > The Lady. It shows how much power Six has gained and how much more gluttonous she has become.
Cons
- This game makes a fart noise whenever you get grabbed and I just keep laughing whenever it happens. I can't take this game as seriously as I wanted to.
- I think the stealth is a real hinderance to the game. It makes the enemy AI really stupid and less of a threat than they should. There are animations for the monsters trying to look under hiding spots, but they never reach under. Like bruh, Janitor, you have lanky ass arms. Just use them to search under the table. Hiding spots can sometimes have no other way to go but out and the monsters still can't find Six when she is literally cornered. There are cases where there is only one hiding spot in one situation and I think there could've been more.
All in all, it's OK. I'll play the sequel at some point
How to ruin the horror of a monster: add in a fart sound effect when you get killed. I'm not joking. That's literally what it sounds like whenever you get killed by it.
Ugh...trying to finish this DLC and I'm just so sickened at being reminded how bad it is, holy shit. And like, I'm one of those people who vehemently thinks "this single thing ruined the entire thing" concept is absolutely fucking ludicrous, but this DLC really is making me question my stance because boy howdy it's leaving an awful taste about the entire game in my mouth as a result of its terribleness.
This DLC is honestly...kinda...really really bad? Like, I always had my doubts about ever playing the sequel because to me it worked so well as a single standalone title, and now the DLC is kinda proving those doubts. This honestly kinda sucks.
Six was always somewhat unresponsive - not running when being told to, not grabbing when being instructed - but this new kid is even worse somehow. This whole thing just reeks of "let's make some quick cash to help fund a sequel". Not to mention he can easily get stuck in spots you cannot get out from and instead have to restart the last checkpoint as a result. Once more, simply proving my theory that this thing was not crafted with as much care and finesse as the base game.
Whatever atmosphere there was is now gone, the looming threat no longer feels looming, and overall it feels like a slightly more colorful "Limbo" set in a ship.
I'm never one for the "this new thing ruined the entire previous thing" camp - like the weirdos who insist a series finale somehow ruins an entire 74 episode series that preceded it, nor will I ever be one …
This DLC is honestly...kinda...really really bad? Like, I always had my doubts about ever playing the sequel because to me it worked so well as a single standalone title, and now the DLC is kinda proving those doubts. This honestly kinda sucks.
Six was always somewhat unresponsive - not running when being told to, not grabbing when being instructed - but this new kid is even worse somehow. This whole thing just reeks of "let's make some quick cash to help fund a sequel". Not to mention he can easily get stuck in spots you cannot get out from and instead have to restart the last checkpoint as a result. Once more, simply proving my theory that this thing was not crafted with as much care and finesse as the base game.
Whatever atmosphere there was is now gone, the looming threat no longer feels looming, and overall it feels like a slightly more colorful "Limbo" set in a ship.
I'm never one for the "this new thing ruined the entire previous thing" camp - like the weirdos who insist a series finale somehow ruins an entire 74 episode series that preceded it, nor will I ever be one of those weirdos - but I have to admit, this does make the original base game feel somewhat worse as a result.
I guess my original gut feeling was right.
Should've been a singular standalone title with no DLC and no sequel.
Gameplay a three, aesthetics a five—balanced out somewhere between those two. I was frustrated by the one-hit kills followed by rather long load times on the Switch, but overall I love how fucked up and dark this got and continued to get as it went along. Definitely a pleasant surprise.