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Little Nightmares

Little Nightmares is a one of a kind horror game that you need to play.
Little Nightmares Game Cover
82%Game Brain Score
story, atmosphere
replayability, stability
94% User Score Based on 33,296 reviews
Critic Score 69%Based on 61 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchGog ComAndroidPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox Cloud GamingXboxSteam DeckiPhoneWindowsPlayStationXbox Series X|SPCTabletXbox Game PassCloudPhoneXbox OneiPadMobile Platform
Little Nightmares Game Cover

About

Little Nightmares is a single player survival platformer game with horror, fantasy and thriller themes. It was developed by Engine Software BV and was released on April 27, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In Little Nightmares, players control Six, a young girl trying to escape "The Maw," a creepy vessel filled with grotesque creatures. The game features a dark, whimsical world filled with puzzles and secrets to discover. With its unique art style and atmospheric gameplay, Little Nightmares encourages players to reconnect with their inner child and unleash their imagination to escape from the horrors that lurk in the shadows.

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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 33,296 reviews
story2.7k positive mentions
replayability50 negative mentions

  • story
    6,257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Little Nightmares" is characterized by its minimalistic and ambiguous narrative, conveyed primarily through environmental storytelling rather than dialogue. Players navigate a dark, surreal world filled with grotesque creatures, piecing together the protagonist's journey and the underlying themes of fear and survival. While the game is praised for its atmospheric design and emotional depth, many reviewers note that the story can feel vague and is often left open to interpretation, with additional context provided through DLCs and external media.

    • “The game itself is in the spirit of the highly successful and outstanding game 'Inside'; a small puzzle platformer that focuses on a horror creepy dystopian vibe where the story unfolds itself by just moving through the levels.”
    • “The story is mysterious but incredibly well done, and you are rewarded for looking around the map and panning to different angles while playing.”
    • “Little Nightmares is a beautifully-crafted horror puzzle-platformer with an immersive atmosphere, well-designed puzzles, and a captivating storyline.”
    • “That said, the story is nearly non-existent and the game is fairly easy.”
    • “The story is minimal and a bit vague.”
    • “Got through it (and over it lol), but by the end of the game, there is no real payoff for the events and it becomes clear that there is no real story.”
  • atmosphere
    4,527 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Little Nightmares" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and unease throughout the game. Reviewers highlight the game's stunning visuals, eerie sound design, and unique art style, which together contribute to a deeply atmospheric experience that captivates players and enhances the horror elements without relying on jump scares. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall consensus is that the game's atmosphere is its standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of atmospheric horror.

    • “The atmosphere is just perfect, and it really intensifies the horror aspects of the gameplay.”
    • “Little Nightmares delivers a hauntingly beautiful and immersive experience, with its eerie atmosphere, clever puzzles, and stunning art style.”
    • “The atmosphere, gameplay, puzzles, visuals, music, and the surprise element were all very good.”
    • “The atmosphere is dark, oppressive and often disturbing, making every moment tense and meaningful.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is thick with dread and unease, immersing you in a world where every shadow hides a lurking threat and every creaking floorboard could spell doom.”
    • “The atmosphere this game manages to create is unlike any other game I have played.”
  • graphics
    4,272 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Little Nightmares" have been widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, often compared to the works of Tim Burton. Players appreciate the game's atmospheric visuals, which effectively create a haunting and immersive experience, complemented by detailed environments and character designs. While some reviews note minor technical issues, the overall aesthetic and visual storytelling are considered standout features that enhance the game's eerie narrative.

    • “The game delivers a captivating horror experience with its stunning visuals and eerie atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are hauntingly beautiful, with a unique and unsettling art style that perfectly complements the dark tone of the game.”
    • “Little nightmares delivers a hauntingly beautiful and immersive experience, with its eerie atmosphere, clever puzzles, and stunning art style.”
    • “So the art style in this is like Tim Burton's worst nightmare.”
    • “The timing, distance and 'hit boxes' felt unpolished unlike the polished visuals.”
    • “As mentioned above, Little Nightmares does suffer from somewhat dated graphics, but it is far from a terrible visual experience.”
  • gameplay
    3,448 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Little Nightmares" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric design and engaging puzzles, while others criticize its clunky mechanics and short playtime. Players appreciate the blend of stealth and puzzle-solving elements, but often find the controls frustrating and the gameplay repetitive, leading to a trial-and-error experience. Overall, while the game offers a unique and immersive experience, its brevity and mechanical issues have left some players wanting more depth and polish.

    • “Great franchise and the gameplay leaves me on the edge of my seat.”
    • “The game is an amazing idea that is executed masterfully, only taken out of immersion by the occasional jank of mechanics.”
    • “With its mesmerizing visuals, tense gameplay, and immersive atmosphere, it's a journey that will linger in your thoughts long after the credits roll.”
    • “Boring and tedious gameplay.”
    • “Horrible mechanics, depth perception, and AI.”
    • “The gameplay is simplistic platforming and overcoming obstacles.”
  • music
    2,028 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Little Nightmares" is widely praised for its ability to enhance the game's eerie atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its haunting and immersive qualities. The soundtrack effectively complements the gameplay, building tension during intense moments while also providing a melancholic backdrop during quieter scenes. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and immersive experience.

    • “It swings masterfully from intense fear and adrenaline, to quiet moments alone, just you and a single lamp with the beautiful soundtrack in the background (yes, the soundtrack is stellar for such a small game).”
    • “The soundtrack is masterful and perfectly complements the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The music is haunting and melancholic, with melodies that add an extra layer of tension and emotion to each scene.”
    • “The soundtrack did not really do anything for me either.”
    • “There is little music in it, the game sometimes feels really dull, again, except for the last level.”
    • “The rest was nothing you're going to be impressed by, bad music, boring levels, not too creative.”
  • replayability
    290 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The replayability of the game is a contentious topic among reviewers, with opinions ranging from high to virtually nonexistent. While some players appreciate the challenge of collecting achievements and hidden items, many criticize the game's linear structure and short playtime, leading to limited replay value. Overall, it appears that replayability is primarily driven by personal interest in collectibles and achievements rather than a compelling reason to revisit the game.

    • “This challenge not only tests the player's skill and perseverance, but also offers significant replay value.”
    • “The achievements and hidden collectibles make this game replayable and still incredibly enjoyable with its atmospheric environment and absolutely incredible sound design!”
    • “The game may be a tad short but it has replay value that is over the roof, and it's just such an eerie game that I can't help but want to go back and replay it just for that alone.”
    • “There is little to no replayability.”
    • “Zero replayability.”
    • “It's good, but buy it at a discount, because it's quite short, and there's basically zero replayability.”
  • character development
    261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is conveyed through unique and unsettling character designs that evoke a strong emotional response, often without the use of dialogue. Players appreciate the depth of the main character's journey, particularly how their growth is reflected in the atmospheric and visually rich environments. The combination of grotesque yet charming designs creates a memorable experience that enhances the overall narrative and emotional impact of the game.

    • “The ending was shocking to say the least, but you can feel the child's character development as the game goes on even though there were no words spoken.”
    • “The music is incredibly well done, and character development is beautifully told through the environment and story.”
    • “I highly recommend this game for any horror/psychological horror genre lover; it has everything you could ask for: great character design, a mysterious plot, gameplay that gets your heart racing, and it makes you question how and why the main character is there to begin with.”
    • “The character designs are creepy and make you easily uncomfortable.”
    • “The character design relies a bit too heavily on the 'fat=ugly&gluttonous'; on the other hand, noodle arms will be featuring prominently in my therapy sessions in the near future.”
    • “The game is mediocre, but the twists in story and character development are very memorable and will stay with me forever.”
  • emotional
    227 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Little Nightmares" is widely praised for its ability to evoke deep feelings through its haunting atmosphere, compelling storytelling, and impactful soundtrack. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from fear and tension to heart-wrenching sadness, particularly during the game's and DLC's climactic moments. The game's minimalist narrative and rich visual storytelling create a profound emotional connection, making it a memorable experience that resonates long after playing.

    • “Overall, Little Nightmares is a visual and emotional masterpiece.”
    • “Without a single word, the game manages to tell a deep and emotional story through its environment and situations.”
    • “The haunting melodies and spine-chilling sound effects further immerse players in the twisted world of Little Nightmares, creating an emotional connection with the game that lasts long after the credits roll.”
  • stability
    208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches that can affect gameplay, particularly in the DLC content. While some users experienced significant issues like crashes and unresponsive controls, others found the game generally playable and enjoyable despite its imperfections. Overall, while the game is praised for its atmosphere and design, the stability concerns may deter some players, especially those sensitive to technical issues.

    • “Fun game which runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “+ Runs great on my 1070, didn't have any stuttering or crashes.”
    • “The achievements are hard but doable; the game has barely any glitches and the gameplay is pretty fun.”
    • “Full of bugs and glitches.”
    • “In terms of game performance, unfortunately, I've encountered 5 random crashes with a fatal error message as well as a few annoying glitches.”
    • “The game is really buggy; I mean really, sometimes you will lose in critical places because of a bug and go all the way back to the checkpoint.”
  • grinding
    195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players expressing that it feels like a long slog requiring excessive time investment. Users frequently mention the need for "a second life" to complete the grinding necessary for achievements, and the clunky controls and poor mechanics contribute to the overall frustration. While some players find enjoyment in the game's atmosphere and puzzles, the consensus leans towards the grinding experience being a significant drawback.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “Boring and tedious gameplay.”
    • “This game, and its DLC, is a tedious slog through an uninteresting world.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but it was way too boring and tedious to be enjoyable.”
  • humor
    160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark and absurd elements, often arising from the grotesque character designs and unexpected situations, such as the amusing deaths of larger characters. Players find themselves laughing at both intentional and unintentional comedic moments, including quirky animations and funny interactions, which help to balance the game's horror aspects. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with its eerie atmosphere, making for a uniquely entertaining experience.

    • “Little Nightmares doesn't take itself too seriously, sprinkling dark humor throughout the gameplay.”
    • “Escaping from giant monsters while being a tiny girl running on tiny legs and pitty-pattering little feet is actually pretty funny.”
    • “I was terrified in places where I should have been, confounded where I should have been, laughing exactly where I should have been.”
    • “Starvation is not funny.”
  • optimization
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that it runs smoothly on high-end systems but experiences janky gameplay and control issues on lower-end setups. While some users report flawless performance and impressive graphics, others encounter bugs and crashes that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is generally well-optimized, but specific aspects, such as controls and menu performance, could benefit from further refinement.

    • “I experienced no issues running Little Nightmares on the deck, and the general performance was well above expectations.”
    • “It plays wonderfully and is very well optimized; I experienced no lag at all.”
    • “The game itself is beautiful; I mean seriously, the graphics are amazing and it seems to be very well optimized to look as good as possible without sacrificing your framerate.”
    • “You try to force your little girl of a character to run/jump/grab/grasp things to get there, only to fail 10 times in a row thanks to the subhuman level of gameplay optimization.”
    • “I paid this game to enjoy the horror and puzzle element, not to play a souls-like game with unresponsive controls and bad optimization.”
    • “The only criticism I have is that the DLC is not as optimized as the main game.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express a strong aversion to advertising in the game, indicating that the monetization strategy may be intrusive or frustrating for players.

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5h Median play time
6h Average play time
4h Main story
8h Completionist
3-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 270 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Little Nightmares is a survival platformer game with horror, fantasy and thriller themes.

Little Nightmares is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 4 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 8 hours to finish. On average players spend around 6 hours playing Little Nightmares.

Little Nightmares was released on April 27, 2017.

Little Nightmares was developed by Engine Software BV.

Little Nightmares has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Little Nightmares is a single player game.

Similar games include Little Nightmares 2, LIMBO, INSIDE, Bramble: The Mountain King, Darq and others.