Little Nightmares

Little Nightmares is a well-crafted horror game that is held back by okay platforming, loose controls and a bad checkpoint system.

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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

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 16,648 reviews

story1,342 positive mentions

replayability25 negative mentions

story
3,126 mentions
43 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
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 unsettling tale of a young girl named Six as she attempts to escape the Maw. While the game is praised for its atmospheric design and emotional depth, many reviewers note that the story can feel vague and open to interpretation, often leaving players craving more context and closure, especially when considering the additional content provided by the DLCs.
- “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.”
- “The story is nearly non-existent and the game is fairly easy.”
- “The story is minimal and a bit vague.”
- “The story doesn't exist.”
atmosphere
2,259 mentions
69 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Little Nightmares" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, effectively blending eerie visuals, unsettling sound design, and a unique art style that evokes a sense of dread and curiosity. Players appreciate the game's ability to create tension without relying on jump scares, instead using its dark, whimsical environments and grotesque character designs to draw them into a nightmarish world. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, making it a standout title for fans of atmospheric horror.
- “Little Nightmares is a beautifully haunting puzzle-platformer with a dark, eerie atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is just perfect, and it really intensifies the horror aspects of the gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere this game manages to create is unlike any other game I have played.”
- “The atmosphere is dark, oppressive and often disturbing, making every moment tense and meaningful.”
- “The atmosphere didn't click with me.”
- “The atmosphere, collectables, art, and soundtrack is all amazing, and it would take me forever to explain my love for this game.”
graphics
2,134 mentions
64 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Little Nightmares" are 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 detailed environments, character designs, and the overall aesthetic that enhances the game's eerie narrative, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and the game's short length. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The graphics are stunning and the game runs smoothly on most PCs.”
- “The visuals are breathtaking in a very twisted way that fits the world.”
- “The art style is fantastic, the atmosphere is great, and the controls are tight.”
- “The art style in this game feels like Tim Burton's worst nightmare.”
- “The graphics and gameplay are not very good, but the visuals and storytelling are amazing.”
- “The graphics are neither artsy nor anything special, sound design is generic for a horror game, stealth (the core feature of the game) is straight out broken in certain places.”
gameplay
1,720 mentions
35 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Little Nightmares" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its atmospheric design and engaging puzzles, while others criticize its mechanics as clunky and frustrating. The game features a blend of stealth, platforming, and puzzle-solving, but often relies on trial-and-error gameplay that can detract from the overall experience. Despite its short playtime of around 3-5 hours, the unique art style and immersive sound design contribute to a memorable, albeit sometimes flawed, gameplay experience.
- “The gameplay is engaging, immersive, cleverly designed, and addictive.”
- “The gameplay is a perfect balance of platforming and puzzle-solving.”
- “With its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and engaging gameplay, it delivers an unforgettable experience that will stay with you long after you've finished playing.”
- “Boring and tedious gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is simplistic platforming and overcoming obstacles.”
- “The gameplay itself, however, felt like the only shortcoming this game had, at least in my opinion.”
music
1,014 mentions
57 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
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 chase scenes and creating a sense of dread throughout the experience. While some players noted that the music is sparse, they appreciated how it is strategically used to heighten emotional impact and maintain immersion in the game's unsettling world.
- “The music is haunting and melancholic, with melodies that add an extra layer of tension and emotion to each scene.”
- “The soundtrack, environment, and atmosphere building are so immersive.”
- “The music and the theme were awesome.”
- “The soundtrack is missing any form of music, and the anxiety is highlighted by the creature's ambient sound produced.”
- “There is little music in it, the game sometimes feels really dull, again, except for the last level.”
- “The soundtrack did not really do anything for me either.”
replayability
145 mentions
17 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting its short playtime (typically 3-5 hours) and linear structure, which limits replay value. However, some find enjoyment in hunting for collectibles and achievements, suggesting a degree of replayability for completionists. Overall, while some players appreciate the atmospheric experience enough to replay it after some time, many agree that it lacks substantial replay value.
- “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 through 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
130 mentions
53 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted through its unique and often grotesque character designs, which evoke a strong emotional response from players, ranging from discomfort to fascination. The silent narrative effectively conveys the protagonist's growth and experiences, allowing players to piece together the story through environmental details and character interactions. Overall, the character designs are memorable and contribute significantly to the game's atmospheric storytelling, making it a standout feature.
- “The character development is quite unique, which leaves you with a memorable impression.”
- “The music is incredibly well done, and character development is beautifully told through the environment and story.”
- “The character designs, animations, and personalities all convey extreme amounts of charisma.”
- “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
113 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Little Nightmares" is widely praised for its ability to evoke deep feelings through its haunting atmosphere, visual storytelling, and impactful soundtrack. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from fear and tension to heart-wrenching moments, particularly in the DLC, which many describe as transformative and deeply moving. Despite some critiques regarding engagement, the game's ability to create emotional connections with its characters and narrative leaves a lasting impression on players.
- “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
104 mentions
4 % positive mentions
2 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches that can affect gameplay, particularly in the DLC content. While some users found the game enjoyable despite these issues, others experienced significant frustrations, including crashes and unresponsive controls. Overall, while the game is praised for its atmosphere and design, its stability remains a concern for many players.
- “Fun game which runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on my 1070, didn't have any stuttering or crashes.”
- “The game has barely any glitches and the gameplay is pretty fun.”
- “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.”
- “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 main reason for this was frustrating controls and glitches that made the experience less enjoyable.”
grinding
97 mentions
3 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
58 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that it requires an unrealistic time investment to achieve completion. Users frequently mention the clunky controls and frustrating mechanics that contribute to a lack of enjoyment, making the gameplay feel like a slog rather than an engaging experience. While some appreciate the atmosphere and story, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being a major drawback that detracts from the game's potential.
- “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
80 mentions
99 % positive mentions
-2 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
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 comical deaths and quirky animations. Players find themselves laughing at both intentional jokes and unintentional glitches, creating a unique atmosphere that balances humor with horror. Overall, the game successfully combines creepy moments with a lighthearted tone, making it an entertaining experience.
- “Little Nightmares doesn't take itself too seriously, sprinkling dark humor throughout the gameplay.”
- “This twisted and hilarious adventure takes you through a nightmarish world filled with creepy dolls, grotesque chefs, and hungry monsters.”
- “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.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “The humor often misses the mark and feels out of place.”
optimization
56 mentions
36 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and impressive graphics, others encounter significant control issues, bugs, and crashes that detract from the experience. Some users highlight that the game runs well on high-end systems, but performance can vary widely on different setups, particularly on lower-end hardware or laptops. Despite these inconsistencies, several reviews commend the game's visual quality and general optimization, suggesting it is playable with minimal issues for most users.
- “The overall concept was outstanding and the performance was absolutely impeccable; the graphics, storytelling, visuals, and overall concept were all so amusing.”
- “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.”
- “Great graphics, well optimized; I was getting 140 fps on ultra all the way through.”
- “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 frustrating 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
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users express strong negative feelings towards the monetization aspect, particularly highlighting a deep aversion to advertising within the game.
- “Now, to understand my reaction, you have to first know that I hate advertising with a burning passion.”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”