Why You Should Play
- Perfect atmospheric mixture of cute, horrific, and endearing.
- Simple, yet addictive puzzles and gameplay.
- Thought-provoking story that will make you ask for more.
- The Complete Edition is a great deal at $30.
Little Nightmares first released on April 28, 2017. Since that time all three episodes of the Secrets of the Maw DLC have also been released, with the third and final episode releasing just last week. The main game and the DLC tell a complete story that will leave you wanting more and continuing to ask questions about the mysterious happenings in the Little Nightmares universe. A comic book adds to the back story of the game, but whether you get completely invested in the universe, or just play through the game, you will feel real emotion toward the characters in the main game and DLC.
Gameplay
If you’ve played games such as Inside or Limbo, you should already have a good idea of how Little Nightmares plays. It’s a side-scrolling 3D adventure with mostly 2D gameplay in which you progress by moving to the right in most areas. The controls are limited, with only the ability to run, jump, activate a light and interact with various objects. However, it’s the simplicity that makes this game so enjoyable to play.
In the main game you play as Six, a person hidden by a large, yellow raincoat. You must traverse the Maw, a ship filled with secrets, as you encounter little Nomes and other children to help you along the way. However, the staff of the Maw, led by the mysterious “Lady” pose a threat to Six. This continues into the Secrets of the Maw DLC as you take control of The Kid, a boy whose story runs concurrent to Six’s as you’ll play through many familiar areas with new experiences.
Visuals and Performance
The entire main game and DLC takes place on the Maw. Because the Maw is a ship, the screen slowly sways with the ocean waves. It’s not enough to make the average person sick, but it adds a nice touch to the game to remind you that it’s a ship you’re exploring, and not a structure on solid ground. As you venture through the Maw you’ll encounter a wide variety of areas with matching enemies. The Chefs are found in the kitchen area, with puzzles that revolve around food or cooking, while the Janitor is found in the bowels of the ship around laundry and other dirty objects.
While the PC version of Little Nightmares sports the best visuals, the console versions are a bit more stable due to the nature of console development vs. PC development. Still, the PC version is a solid game and performs almost as well as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One console versions. The eerie atmosphere and subtle music and sound effects really add to the experience. Play the game with a good headset and even the limited jump scares may get you.
Game of the Week
Little Nightmares is not a new game, but the recent release of the final DLC area brings the game to a wonderful conclusion. If you haven’t played it yet, now is a great time to start. If you’ve already played it, the game is short enough to warrant a second play through with all of the DLC included. In fact, playing through once you have all of the DLC makes for a near seamless experience between chapters. All of this adds up to a great Prima Game of the Week candidate! We look forward to whatever developer Tarsier Studios has in store for us in the future.
If you’re just picking up Little Nightmares, we’ve got a complete walkthrough with all collectibles. If you’ve already completed the game, be sure to check out our article explaining the story and ending!
