Little Nightmares 3 has crept under the radar a little bit in the run up to launch, but it’s actually coming to Xbox consoles this week – and ahead of its imminent release, the reviews have just gone live for Bandai Namco’s new horror adventure.
It’s actually The Dark Pictures dev Supermassive Games handling this one as opposed to the original studio, but that doesn’t seem to have hurt ratings too much. Anyway, here’s what the critics are saying about Little Nightmares 3:
“Little Nightmares 3 doesn’t rewrite the rules of the saga, but it expands them intelligently. Supermassive Games inherits a remarkable legacy and translates it into a new cooperative grammar, where fear no longer stems from isolation, but from the possibility of losing the one beside you. The design remains true to the series’ poetics – environments that speak for themselves, ambient puzzles, silences loaded with meaning – while the online co-op introduces an emotional and gameplay dimension that feels surprisingly natural.”
“Even if two friends can’t experience Little Nightmares 3 in the same room, it’s still a game worth enjoying. At the end of the day, it’s sad that I can’t share my awe and wonder to my partner personally in the moment, but at least I can share those feelings on Discord. And this tale of friendship is one that will definitely generate feelings.”
“Little Nightmares III is faithful to its predecessors while also adding interesting Co-op gameplay. The story is fun and doesn’t overstay its welcome, and the co-op mechanics enhance in some areas, while detracting in others.”
“Supermassive Games has more than demonstrated its expertise in horror and flexed its chops with Little Nightmares 3, while adding in new mechanics and madness along the way. The franchise is in safe hands, and I look forward to the next installment of Tim Burton-esque horror.”
“Little Nightmares III delivers on the original conceit of the series with a horror-filled adventure that feels like trying to escape a nightmare you desperately want to wake up from. Outside of a few noticeable, if underbaked, additions Supermassive has introduced, I’d welcome more variation to the game’s formula. However, even if Little Nightmares III offers more of the same, it’s hard not to smile whenever Low and Alone’s adventure sends chills down my spine.”
“Little Nightmares 3 is faithful to the series under its new leading studio at Supermassive Games. The team, already a well-respected name in horror, carries Tarsier’s torch well, though it sometimes feels too deferential to the past games, failing to raise the bar both in puzzle and monster design. This is a good sequel that I’m glad to have made the time for, but if there’s to be another trip into this world of tiny terrors, it’ll first need a refill of nightmare fuel.”
“Little Nightmares 3 is a gorgeously crafted collection of grim visuals, memorable creatures and fear-inducing horror. The co-op play is a natural and understandable evolution for the series, but it does alter the overarching atmosphere, albeit it subtly.”
“Little Nightmares III faithfully preserves the oppressive mood, clever environmental puzzles, and visceral unease associated with the series, but feels like an echo of what came before. While its dark allure remains potent, the baffling absence of local co-op undercuts the game’s most ambitious feature. Though its multiplayer concept shines in theory, the absence of a character-swap feature to enrich single-player mode feels like another missed opportunity.”
IGN (6/10)
“Despite a pair of new protagonists and the inclusion of two-player support for the first time in the series, Little Nightmares 3 doesn’t do enough to distinguish itself from the previous two adventures, making each step through its shadowy structures less full of dread and more like a retread. There are some memorably morbid moments here and there, and the Carnavale chapter is a standout, but the constant crate-pushing and instant-fail chase sequences feel all too familiar at this point. Little Nightmares 3 features little innovation, few scares, and limited appeal if you’ve already played the previous two games, unless you’re dead keen to experience the series’ signature brand of stop-start stealth with a friend in tow.”
“If you’re a fan of Little Nightmares, or similar games in this genre — and, are willing to overlook some pretty loose design — then you’ll find enjoyment in this; a $60 AUD price point also helps. Otherwise, you’re better off steering clear, or engaging with other co-op titles like It Takes Two. If you’re on the fence, a demo is available, though it doesn’t offer progression into the main game proper.”
At the time of posting, Little Nightmares 3 has a score of 73 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic, which does fall a little behind the high 70s, low 80s scores of the game’s two predecessors. That’s nothing too crazy though, and it sounds like there’s still fun to be had here if you’re a fan of the series. There’s a free demo out anyway, if you’d like to give the game a try for yourself!
Still excited for this one? Talk to us about Little Nightmares 3 down below.
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Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin’ in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he’s not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that’s far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.