Little Nightmares 3: A Masterclass in Atmosphere, a Misstep in Co-Op Design

The horror genre in video games has long relied on isolation and vulnerability to create a sense of dread. The Little Nightmares series, with its unique brand of grotesque, dollhouse-like horror, perfected this formula. Now, with Little Nightmares 3, a new chapter unfolds under the watchful eye of developer Supermassive Games. While the studio has masterfully captured the aesthetic and tone of the originals, a significant shift in gameplay—the introduction of a mandatory co-op system—has proven to be a double-edged sword, offering new avenues for creativity but ultimately diluting the core experience for many players.

Supermassive Games, a studio renowned for narrative-driven horror titles like Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology, was a surprising choice to take over the series from Tarsier Studios. However, their expertise in crafting suspenseful, cinematic experiences is on full display here. From the moment you step into the shoes of the new protagonists, Low and Alone, you are immediately enveloped in the series’ signature blend of claustrophobic dread and surreal, larger-than-life environments. The sound design is a particular standout, with every creak, clang, and distant inhuman groan contributing to an ever-present feeling of unease. The art direction is equally breathtaking, building on the claymation-like aesthetic with new, nightmarish locations that feel both familiar and deeply unsettling.

The core gameplay loop of stealth, platforming, and puzzle-solving remains intact and is as compelling as ever. The addition of unique tools for each character—Low’s bow and Alone’s wrench—adds a welcome layer of complexity to the puzzles. These items are intelligently integrated into the level design, forcing players to think creatively to overcome obstacles. In solo mode, an AI companion capably handles the other character, and the experience feels seamless. The puzzles are designed to be intuitive yet challenging, and the moments of tension, when you are frantically trying to figure out a solution while a grotesque monster looms nearby, are where the game truly shines.

The Co-Op Conundrum: A Nightmare of Technical and Design Flaws

The biggest selling point of Little Nightmares 3 was its online co-op mode, a first for the franchise. The promise was to allow players to face their fears together. In theory, this sounds like a perfect fit, creating opportunities for shared scares and collaborative problem-solving. In practice, however, the co-op implementation feels clumsy and, at times, actively detracts from the experience.

• Loss of Immersion: The single-player experience of Little Nightmares is about feeling small, isolated, and powerless. Having a friend constantly by your side, even if only virtually, fundamentally changes that dynamic. The shared laughter and conversation that naturally arise from a co-op session—especially with no in-game voice chat to limit communication—can shatter the fragile sense of dread the game works so hard to build. The eerie silence and creeping tension are replaced with the frantic chatter of two players trying to coordinate their moves.
• Puzzles and Coordination: While some puzzles are well-suited for two players, others become frustrating due to the lack of a split-screen option. Online-only co-op means both players are tied to the same screen, which can lead to frequent deaths if one player gets too far ahead or falls behind. This is particularly problematic in platforming and stealth sections where precise movement and timing are critical. Instead of a tense, shared experience, it often devolves into a series of frustrating resets as players struggle to stay in sync.
• Technical and Control Issues: The control scheme, which feels perfectly intuitive for a single-player experience, becomes clunky in a co-op setting. The sluggish movement and unintuitive aiming, particularly with Low’s bow, become major pain points when under pressure. Combat encounters, which were never the series’ strong suit, become even more of a chore when trying to coordinate attacks with a partner. The lack of precision and fluidity makes tense sequences feel less like a challenge and more like a frustrating battle against the controls.

The decision to forgo local co-op in favor of online-only multiplayer is perhaps the most baffling choice. For a game that is perfect for a shared couch experience—the kind of game you play with a friend in a dark room with a bowl of popcorn—this is a massive missed opportunity. It forces players into a more distant, less immediate form of co-op, further diminishing the shared sense of vulnerability that the series is known for.

Ultimately, Little Nightmares 3 is a triumphant continuation of the series in every aspect but its multiplayer. Supermassive Games has proven they are the right studio to carry on the series’ legacy, and the solo campaign with the AI companion is a chilling and expertly crafted horror experience. However, the co-op mode, while a good idea in concept, falls short in execution. It introduces more frustration than fun and compromises the very atmosphere that makes the series so special. For those looking to dive into this latest nightmare, the advice is simple: embrace the solitude, turn off the lights, and experience the terror alone—it’s the only way to truly appreciate this haunting masterpiece.