Little Nightmares

About

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 32,530 reviews

story2.4k positive mentions

grinding119 negative mentions

story
5,629 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The story of *Little Nightmares* is characterized by its atmospheric and immersive narrative, conveyed entirely through environmental storytelling without any dialogue. Players navigate a dark, surreal world filled with grotesque creatures, piecing together the protagonist's journey and the underlying themes of fear, vulnerability, and survival. While the story is often described as vague and open to interpretation, it captivates players with its haunting visuals and emotional depth, leaving them intrigued and eager for more, especially with the additional context provided by the DLC.
- “The story, though mysterious, is deeply immersive, making you feel for the young protagonist as they navigate through dark and dangerous environments.”
- “The way the story is delivered is intriguing, but it leaves me wanting to know more about the setting (mostly in a good way).”
- “The story unfolds in a subtle yet impactful way, relying on environmental storytelling to convey its themes of fear and vulnerability.”
- “The story isn't really there, so if you're looking for a game with storytelling, this won't be the one but it will be a game you can play late at night to relax and solve some puzzles/mysteries.”
- “The lack of story made me feel bored or frustrated to the point where playing was a chore and I had no reason to continue except I've paid for this.”
- “While ambiguity can be a powerful storytelling tool, 'Little Nightmares' leaves too much to the player's interpretation, resulting in a story that feels incomplete and unsatisfying.”
atmosphere
3,958 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
29%
1%
The atmosphere in *Little Nightmares* is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively blending eerie visuals, unsettling sound design, and a unique art style to create a deeply engaging experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and curiosity without relying on jump scares, instead focusing on a sense of vulnerability and tension as they navigate through its dark, whimsical world. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest asset, making it a standout title in the atmospheric horror genre.
- “Little Nightmares is a hauntingly atmospheric puzzle-platformer that combines eerie visuals with gripping suspense.”
- “The art direction, music, atmosphere, and sound design are all fantastic!”
- “The atmosphere, the gameplay, the sound design, the story, pretty much everything is good or great.”
- “The game tries to create a horror atmosphere, but it’s ruined by forcing you to spend ages retrying a simple jump due to poor movement mechanics.”
- “The atmosphere completely falls apart because of this.”
- “Unfortunately, while this game nails a huge score for its atmosphere and character design, the same cannot be said for a handful of things.”
graphics
3,852 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The graphics of "Little Nightmares" have been widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, often compared to the works of Tim Burton, which effectively creates a haunting atmosphere. Players appreciate the intricate details, eerie character designs, and the overall visual storytelling that immerses them in a dark, twisted world. However, some critiques mention that the visuals can occasionally hinder gameplay due to depth perception issues and clunky controls, detracting from the overall experience.
- “Little Nightmares is a beautifully crafted, atmospheric game that blends horror, puzzle-solving, and a unique art style.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the music is awesome, and the story is fun.”
- “The game's visuals are stunning, featuring a meticulously crafted environment that evokes a sense of dread and curiosity.”
- “I found the visuals too hazy for my liking.”
- “Often, I didn't know where to go because of the visuals.”
- “The controls are floaty and the 2.5D graphics are often confusing.”
gameplay
3,151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The gameplay of "Little Nightmares" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric design and engaging puzzles, while others criticize its simplicity and occasional clunkiness. Players appreciate the blend of stealth, exploration, and puzzle-solving, but some find the trial-and-error mechanics frustrating, particularly due to inconsistent controls and camera angles. Overall, while the game offers a captivating experience, its short length (approximately 3-5 hours) and gameplay limitations have led to concerns about its value for the price.
- “Its chilling world and clever gameplay make for a captivating and unsettling experience.”
- “The gameplay is a perfect blend of stealth, exploration, and puzzle-solving, keeping players engaged and challenged throughout.”
- “The gameplay consists mainly of exploring the environment, interacting with objects, and trying to avoid confrontations with the terrifying inhabitants of the maw.”
- “20€ for 2.5 hours of gameplay?!”
- “The game tries to create a horror atmosphere, but it’s ruined by forcing you to spend ages retrying a simple jump due to poor movement mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is simplistic but takes a degree of mastery if playing with keyboard and mouse (game completed with k+m) the puzzles and the utter suspense will keep you going and keep you on edge not knowing what was around the corner waiting for you.”
music
1,760 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in "Little Nightmares" has been widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's eerie environment and emotional depth. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack, composed by Tobias Lilja, complements the visuals beautifully, creating a sense of tension and immersion that draws players into the unsettling world. While some felt the sparse use of music heightened the impact during critical moments, others appreciated the overall sound design, which includes chilling ambient noises that contribute to the game's unique horror experience.
- “The soundtrack, environment, and atmosphere building are so immersive.”
- “The music heightens the tension and makes the scenes more impactful.”
- “The sound design and haunting soundtrack further enhance the sense of dread and tension throughout the game.”
- “Music was forgettable.”
- “The soundtrack did not really do anything for me either.”
- “The music is also very well done.”
replayability
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
64%
16%
The game's replayability is generally viewed as limited, with many players noting its short playtime of around 3-5 hours and a linear storyline that offers little incentive for multiple playthroughs. While some players appreciate the opportunity to hunt for collectibles and achievements, the overall consensus is that the game lacks significant replay value, making it more suitable for a one-time experience rather than repeated play.
- “While it doesn’t offer much in the way of replay value in terms of new gameplay mechanics or branching storylines, the game’s atmosphere and lore invite multiple playthroughs to uncover hidden details and secrets.”
- “The achievements and hidden collectibles make this game replayable and still incredibly enjoyable with its atmospheric environment and absolutely incredible sound design!”
- “Despite being able to easily beat the game in one night, it has a great replayability aspect, meaning you will never get tired of it, or regret buying it.”
- “Replay value is also low, in my opinion.”
- “Due to its linear nature and the lack of significant changes in subsequent playthroughs, Little Nightmares offers limited replay value.”
- “It's good, but buy it at a discount, because it's quite short, and there's basically zero replayability.”
character development
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
46%
3%
Character development in the game is primarily conveyed through its striking and grotesque character designs, which enhance the overall atmosphere and emotional engagement. Players appreciate the unique and memorable aesthetics of the characters, particularly the protagonist, Six, whose silent journey reflects significant growth despite the lack of dialogue. The visual storytelling, combined with the eerie environments, creates a compelling narrative that leaves a lasting impression on players.
- “The character design of the various inhabitants is chilling and memorable, making every encounter feel significant.”
- “The grotesque yet oddly charming character designs contribute to the overall sense of unease, making every moment in the game visually captivating and emotionally charged.”
- “The character design, especially that of the protagonist Six, is both adorable and disturbing at the same time – a perfect fit for the game's unsettling vibe.”
- “The game tried to be scary, but unfortunately due to the bad character designs, I was really disappointed.”
- “Overall the game tried its best, but I do not recommend playing it due to the clunky controls and bad character designs.”
- “Even without things like a detailed storyline or character development, the game's atmosphere draws you in.”
grinding
207 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
41%
57%
The reviews indicate that the game's grinding aspect is largely viewed as tedious and frustrating, with many players expressing dissatisfaction with slow movement, clunky controls, and repetitive gameplay. While some found enjoyment in the atmosphere and story, the overall consensus is that the gameplay often devolves into a grind, requiring excessive trial-and-error and leading to a lack of engagement. Frequent checkpoints help mitigate some of the tedium, but many players still felt that the experience was marred by its grindy nature.
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “Average level of grinding.”
- “The gameplay is just tedious.”
- “It's not even that the bits I've had to redo after exiting are super hard, they're just lengthy and tedious that it kills any desire I had to play the game.”
- “Finding, catching (oh yes, catching....you have to chase them for 5 minutes around a table or through a pit of coal to get them first) and throwing gnomes becomes very tedious.”
emotional
199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Little Nightmares" is characterized by a unique blend of horror and whimsy, evoking a wide range of feelings from fear and unease to heartwarming moments and profound sadness. Players often report being deeply affected by the game's atmospheric storytelling, haunting soundtrack, and impactful character interactions, leading to emotional responses such as tears and a sense of connection to the narrative despite its minimal dialogue. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to create a rich emotional experience that lingers long after gameplay.
- “While the controls can be frustrating at times and the game is on the shorter side, the emotional impact and chilling world it presents make it a must-play for fans of atmospheric horror.”
- “Without a single word, the game manages to tell a deep and emotional story through its environment and situations.”
- “The ending is almost heart-breaking when you realize what's truly happening, such a beautiful story throughout even though you get given no context whatsoever, so it keeps you playing through the horrors and the dark atmosphere.”
stability
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and control issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users found the game enjoyable despite these technical problems, many expressed frustration over game-breaking glitches and inconsistent performance, particularly in the DLC content. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a significant concern, impacting immersion and gameplay for a substantial number of players.
- “Fun game which runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “+ Runs great on my 1070, didn't have any stuttering or crashes.”
- “I experienced no glitches throughout the game, all the animations are flawless and I saw no seams or visual weirdness.”
- “The achievement is broken and there are so many glitches.”
- “Unfortunately, the immersion is marred by occasional technical problems and small glitches, such as the protagonist getting stuck and twitching in place.”
- “The game is really buggy; sometimes you will lose in critical places because of a bug and have to go all the way back to the checkpoint.”
humor
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark and macabre elements, often eliciting laughter through grotesque character designs and absurd situations, such as the antics of fat chefs and quirky monsters. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance humor with horror, creating moments that are both funny and chilling, often leading to unexpected laughter during tense gameplay. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant and enjoyable aspect, enhancing the game's unique atmosphere and engaging experience.
- “This twisted and hilarious adventure takes you through a nightmarish world filled with creepy dolls, grotesque chefs, and hungry monsters.”
- “Little Nightmares doesn't take itself too seriously, sprinkling dark humor throughout the gameplay.”
- “The chefs are really funny... they just kinda sit there when they can't reach you, and their scream.”
- “The game has a charming art style, nice soundtrack, and an okay story, but when you just can't get through that one single spot in the second half of the game and try again and again for dozens of times, it's just not funny anymore and invalidates all the progress.”
- “Starvation is not funny.”
optimization
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs. However, some users experienced occasional control issues and clipping problems, indicating that while the game runs well on various systems, there are still areas for improvement, particularly in gameplay mechanics and menu navigation. Despite these concerns, the graphics and overall performance are praised, making it accessible even on lower-spec machines.
- “The gameplay is smooth and controls are easy to figure out, and I never had any issues as this game is highly polished and optimized.”
- “Great graphics, well optimized; I was getting 140 fps on ultra all the way through.”
- “The game itself is beautiful; 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.”
- “Very nice game but I have the same question... why have developers not optimized this game?”
- “I really wanted to like this game... however, the controls aren't optimized for PC; too many obstacles seemingly aren't in the way but physically prevent you from moving; points to vault or climb are too narrow or too minimal to actually work; also, enemies get stuck in places you need to get through, thus forcing you to restart the area.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that the $20 price tag is too high and suggesting waiting for a sale. While the game's music ads enhance the atmosphere, others perceive the overall monetization strategy as a cash grab, particularly in relation to the inclusion of DLCs.
- “I'd argue that for those interested in playing this game, the $20 is a little too much and that you should wait for it to go on sale, but if anything about the game's advertising has stood out to you, it ultimately is worth a go.”
- “It seems like a cash grab to me.”
- “Now, to understand my reaction, you have to first know that I hate advertising with a burning passion.”