Little Nightmares III Review
Little Nightmares has always been a series that lingered under my skin long after the credits rolled. Its mixture of horror, melancholy, and wonder makes it one of my favorite game franchises to return to. When Supermassive Games stepped in to take over for Tarsier Studios, I was genuinely optimistic. Their background in cinematic horror felt like a natural fit. After being impressed by the demo (which I covered in my earlier write-up on A Gaming Network), I was optimistic this new nightmare would take the series to unsettling new heights.
And to be fair, it almost did.
Playing Little Nightmares III with my husband in online co-op was a real highlight. Solving puzzles together brought a quiet tension, and every so often, we’d both panic when something in the shadows moved closer. The eerie stillness, the strange and unsettling creature designs, and the haunting soundscapes are all just as strong as ever. The world still feels like Little Nightmares: distorted, fragile, and emotionally heavy. Still, something feels missing.
Let’s get into the game a bit. There are 4 main chapters: Necroplolis, the Candy Factory, the Carnevale, and lastly the Institute.
The game begins in the Necropolis (Chapter 1), which is a creepy city filled with tombs and crumbling monuments. From the start, you get a taste of the co-op gameplay with its tension-filled puzzles and encounters. In this first chapter, the game does a good job of introducing the new mechanics of the bow and wrench for each character. If you played the demo, you will be familiar with a big chunk of this chapter, as it is one in the same. One of the main threats here is a giant, monstrous baby (They’re calling it Monster Baby go figure), a massive creature whose unpredictable movements keep you on your toes. You’ll need to work closely with your partner to avoid getting caught and to solve the puzzles that litter this eerie environment.
Next, you enter the Candy Factory (Chapter 2). Don’t let the name fool you... This place is riddled with machines, sticky floors, and more than a few surprises. The Supervisor is the big bad in this chapter, a six-armed creature always watching. Stealth plays a key role here as you sneak through conveyor belts and tight corridors. Don’t get spotted.
After that comes the Carnevale (Chapter 3), which felt like a Studio Ghibli circus gone wrong. It’s high up above the clouds, but far more eerie than airy. This level is packed with The Herd, a chaotic crowd that chases you relentlessly, feeling very familiar from earlier games in the series. You’ll have to think a bit more creatively in this chapter, throwing candy and using steam valves, to keep you safe while navigating this chapter's puzzles. At times, this chapter felt a bit unpolished in its gameplay. We found ourselves having to re-do the same game sequence over and over to actually get through it.
Finally, you arrive at the Institute (Chapter 4), a cold and unsettling asylum that tries to test your nerves. Here, you face the Hypnotist (whom I referred to as Bad Grampa), a boss who messes with your perception and plays tricks on your mind. The puzzles get just a touch tougher, and the environment comes to life in a unique way in order to take down this final threat.
Supermassive’s first game in the series is both beautiful and careful. Little Nightmares III keeps its signature atmosphere, with environments full of eerie charm, puzzles that tell stories without words, and a world heavy with mood. Still, it rarely surprises. The new tools, like Low’s bow and Alone’s wrench, sound clever but don’t get used as much as I would of liked, so puzzles mostly stick to the usual box-pulling formula.
For a co-op experience, it is strange that local couch play did not make the cut. My husband and I were looking forward to some spooky couch co-op sitting side by side, but had to pivot as soon as we discovered that it wasn’t even an option. Online functionality works well enough, although when my husband switched over to the ROG Ally handheld during our run, the frame rate couldn't keep up. Something to note for any handheld gamer out there. In a game where pacing and timing are everything, those performance drops chipped away at the tension, making some chasing sequences frustrating.
The story too left me wanting more. It has emotional pockets, especially in its themes of companionship and fear, but lacks the sharp, memorable moments that Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares II excelled at. I appreciated the nods to the previous installments, like The Lady dolls scattered throughout the game. There is brilliance in glimpses, but rarely a scene that genuinely unnerves or astonishes.
The presentation is, as always, stunning. The lighting and design are nearly perfect, the monsters are as imaginative and creepy as ever, and each area still balances wonder and fear. But the gameplay feels repetitive, making this third trip through Nowhere feel less urgent. We did come across a couple of visual glitches and unforgivable body blocking while playing. There were also instances where animation timing got in the way of the flow of sequences. In my brief delve into other first impressions, it does seem that most critics agree: many praised the art direction and co-op idea, but also felt Supermassive played it too safe and didn’t bring enough new ideas for a third game.
At around $50 Canadian for roughly seven hours of gameplay, Little Nightmares III sits in that tricky space between satisfying and brief. Given how much I cherish this franchise, I wanted a reason to dive back in after finishing, but there is not much replay value other than some additional DLC and costumes. Once the story is told, it feels told.
Despite my criticisms, I do want to emphasize that I did enjoy Little Nightmares III. The co-op elements and craftsmanship behind its visuals make it a worthwhile experience, especially for fans of the series’ haunting aesthetic. As the third chapter in a beloved franchise, it just doesn’t reach the chilling heights I was hoping for. It feels safe where it could have been daring, and careful where it could have been bold.
It is a good game, but despite genuinely enjoying some aspects, I was left wanting more.
What this means for you: If you loved the earlier games or want a moody co-op horror experience, this is still worth your time. But if you’re hoping for something new and bold, Little Nightmares III mostly sticks to what’s familiar and might leave you wanting a bit more darkness in Nowhere.