Little Nightmares 3 creates a palpable tension in the air | Hands-on preview

Little Nightmares 3 creates a palpable tension in the air | Hands-on preview

As someone who has been a dedicated follower of the Little Nightmares series since its inception, I must say that Bandai Namco’s latest offering, Little Nightmares 3, is shaping up to be a terrifyingly tense and visually stunning continuation of this dark and dank platformer. The demo I recently had the pleasure of experiencing was nothing short of an immersive journey through the eerie and desolate world of The Necropolis.


After enjoying a wonderful stay courtesy of Bandai Namco, I’m excited to share my thoughts: Little Nightmares 3 seems to be evolving into the haunting, gloomy, and nerve-wracking platformer adventure I had anticipated from Supermassive Games.

For individuals new to the Little Nightmares game series, you’ll navigate through a 2.5D world, tackling challenging puzzles and confronting eerie creatures that loom large compared to your small character. Many of these terrifying entities are grotesque twists on ordinary characters such as a schoolteacher with a serpentine neck or a hunter wearing a sack-cloth mask who seems fond of children’s blood. There’s also a murderous chef and other unsettling characters you’ll encounter. The third installment in the series promises to uphold its tradition of creating a chilling atmosphere.

In Little Nightmares 3, I’ll step into the shoes of characters Low and Alone. Whether I’m teaming up with an AI companion or a real-life friend in co-op mode, we’ll both possess distinct abilities that will be crucial to navigating the obstacles ahead. My mission: escape from the enigmatic realm known as Nowhere. To do so, I’ll need to sneak and climb stealthily through the visually stunning world of The Necropolis.

Little Nightmares 3 creates a palpable tension in the air | Hands-on preview

In a desert resembling an ocean, this old stone citadel stands. Here, every character utilizes their unique skills: the boy with a raven mask and the girl with pigtails lean on each other’s abilities to traverse the collapsing passages, as dust and rubble swirl around you. New tools have been introduced to the story – a bow for ranged attacks and a wrench, useful not only for fixing gears and turnstiles but also for brute force, shattering decayed brickwork.

The bow functions primarily as expected but has additional uses like cutting ropes for solving puzzles or serving as a grip for a zipline. Additionally, other tools are scattered about, such as an old umbrella that enables both of you to momentarily fly and traverse barriers that would otherwise be impassable in your journey.

Moving stealthily along dimly lit halls filled with grimy cages and burlap bags brimming with crow feathers, one can feel an electric sense of anticipation hanging heavy in the air, as if something lurking in the dark corners might emerge at any moment. Along your journey through this abandoned city, you’ll come across rusted keys to discover, critters to contend with, and truly chilling scenes that will catch your eye.

Little Nightmares 3 creates a palpable tension in the air | Hands-on preview

Eventually, this threat pops up momentarily, although for the sake of avoiding spoilers, I won’t go into specifics. Let me just say that it gave me quite a shock (which my editor found entertaining), yet it didn’t deter me, not even someone as timid as myself. In fact, it left me yearning for more once the demo ended.

During my demo experience, what particularly impressed me was the subtly chilling background music and overall superior audio quality. The game’s soundscape was filled with eerie creaks from hidden corners, the soft squeak of a hanging birdcage swaying gently, and the rustle of dust emanating from rocky crevices. This exceptional audio work greatly contributed to the immersive feeling of being transported into the game’s setting.

There’s a significant emphasis on collaboration that brings a fresh, intriguing angle to the gameplay formula, which has never felt outdated to me. I’ve always been an avid fan of this series, and the idea of working side by side with a friend to conquer upcoming challenges feels like a thrilling enhancement that I eagerly look forward to sinking my teeth into as soon as I get the chance.

Little Nightmares 3 is coming to PC and consoles in 2025.

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2024-09-12 13:16