Summary
Little Nightmaresmay not be a huge franchise IP with decades of lore and popularity behind it, and yet its esteemed graces as a unique stamp on the horror genre are loud and clear. Tarsier’s beautifully haunting duology depicts a lot of growth and experimentation between both games;Little Nightmareswas as basic as it was eerie and its runtime was perfect for what it was, for instance, whileLittle Nightmares 2debuted myriad new mechanicsand is much more comprehensive without sacrificing any of the original’s dread as a result.
Strangely,Little Nightmares 3now has Tarsier’s shoes to fill with Supermassive taking over as the developer.Little Nightmares 3ostensibly doesn’t look any different from Tarsier’s work, which is hopefully a good omen if it’s indistinguishable. Likewise, it’ll be interesting to see how the franchise’s gameplay is adapted to an installment that can be played fully in co-op. It’s currently unknown how much of the sequel’s light combat mechanics will be reprised inLittle Nightmares 3, but taking and excelling with them could make the third entry shine even brighter.
Little Nightmares 3’s Gameplay Looks Off to a Familiar Start
Little Nightmares 3was announced last Augustand its trailer ended with a release window of 2024, meaning more news is sure to arrive any day now. An 18-minute gameplay showcase forLittle Nightmares 3was shared the following October, but while these pieces of footage were centered around the beloved, large-scale puzzle platforming thatLittle Nightmaresis known for, it was the co-op gameplay that finally gave a short glimpse at what combat will look like. Alone has a wrench which is primarily used on mechanisms for puzzle-platforming but it is also evidently employed when taking out downed beetles that Low snipes out of the air with a bow and arrow.
Little Nightmares 2 Debuted Tense Survival Horror Combat
Little Nightmares 2didn’t have combat in a traditional sense, but it’s incredibly familiar as combat in the realm of survival or psychological horror. There are various pipes and hammers that Mono can pick up and swing at ceramic children and mannequin hands, giving players a means to defend themselves in certain circumstances even if it’s a bit unwieldy. Therefore, ‘combat’ seems like a loose term to describe what the associated mechanics provide and all the while it’s a wonderful balance—anything more involved could’ve taken a turn toward an emphasis on action and that’d be for the worst.
Little Nightmares 3 Can Push the Envelope with Co-op Combat
Little Nightmares 3is already proving that its implementation of ‘combat’ is excellent because the tools for combatting enemies are primarily used in puzzle platforming and, likeLittle Nightmares 2, resist indulging in anything oriented around action. Combat in co-op could be progressively tense as players defend each other from enemies and it’s brilliant to have each playable character assume a unique role, such asLow having a projectile and Alone having a melee tool. The challenge forLittle Nightmares 3, then, is seeing if there’s anything worthwhile it could add to defensive survival horror combat without getting carried away.
Plus, with Low and Alone seemingly carrying these tools for most of the game, it’ll be a delicate balancing act for Supermassive to not make these mechanics overly repetitive. The same gimmicks and encounters can’t be thrown at players too many times and, evenifLittle Nightmares 3is as short asLittle NightmaresandLittle Nightmares 2, its runtime needs to be packed with meaningful gameplay that hopefully iterates enough on what came before it while Supermassive honors the roots of the IP it’s inhabiting.
Little Nightmares III
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on a new adventure in the unique world of Little Nightmares.In Little Nightmares III, you follow the journey of Low & Alone, as they search for a path that could lead them out of the Nowhere.Trapped within the Spiral, a cluster of disturbing places, the two friends will have to work together to survive in a dangerous world full of delusions and escape the grasp of an even greater threat lurking in the shadows.For the first time in the franchise, face your childhood fears together with a friend using online co-op, or solo with an AI companion.Face your childhood fears togetherChoose from two brand-new characters, each equipped with their own iconic items.Play solo with an AI or with your friend using online co-op and work together to solve intricate puzzles and defend yourself against smaller enemies .Navigate through a brand-new world of delusionsEmbark on an adventure through the Spiral, a cluster of dystopian lands.Discover places as diverse as the mysterious desert of Necropolis, an unsettling fun fair, a gloomy factory, and who knows what else.Run away from a new cast of foes ranging from ominous beetles to a giant baby, and so many more.
