Little Nightmares is one of the quintessential indie sagas of recent years in the video game industry. Bandai Namco's title, originally developed by Tarsier Studios, recreated childhood terrors in a gloomy environment where players had to flee from various repulsive and deeply unsettling creatures. The game was a resounding success, prompting the Japanese company to continue the adventure in this distinctive world that has captivated millions of players with its unique visual style and gameplay centered on vulnerability.

This led to a third instalment that represents a substantial shift from what had been seen before, as it involves not only a change in gameplay dynamics but also a change in development studio. The licence no longer belongs to Tarsier Studios, who are now developing a new, similar project called Reanimal. Bandai Namco therefore decided to entrust the third instalment to another major studio well-established in the horror genre: Supermassive Games. This transfer initially generated skepticism, but choosing the studio behind Until Dawn, among other titles, is a clear statement of intent regarding the narrative and visual quality they're aiming for.

With a focus on online or solo cooperative play, Little Nightmares III is an attractive proposition that looks better than ever on current-generation consoles, demonstrating significant evolution and gameplay dynamics that strive to preserve the essence of the previous two instalments despite the change in development studio.

Playing together, double the fun

The best way to experience Little Nightmares III is with a partner. Supermassive Games has created a title where practically everything that unfolds throughout the adventure requires both playable characters working together, a boy and a girl each with their own traits. Cooperation between both players is therefore essential to overcome the numerous puzzles that block their path. Solo play is also possible, with the other character controlled by artificial intelligence. Regarding the differences between characters, each has a different tool necessary for solving puzzles. The boy has a bow that can shoot at various targets to knock them down, create new paths, or even defeat enemies. The girl has a wrench that can serve as a gear for certain mechanisms or break doors and glass, as well as defeat enemies.

This differentiation creates highly entertaining gameplay dynamics that require both characters working together, something never seen before in a Little Nightmares title. This ensures fun for anyone who enjoys playing with others, something that's making a successful return in today's gaming world.

A nightmare more real than ever

The other great strength of Little Nightmares III compared to its two predecessors is the graphics. The game's artistic direction is impressive, creating gloomy environments with incredible detail that bring nightmare scenarios to life. From a semi-abandoned fairground to a warehouse with a terrifying warden, everything in the game looks stunning and generates the unease the series aims to convey. The power of next-generation consoles allows the development team to achieve a superior level of visual immersion, with richer textures and more subtle lighting effects that intensify the environmental horror.

The Little Nightmares games are experiences where shadows and lighting play a fundamental role in conveying atmosphere, and this is an area where Supermassive Games excels. The visual result of the third instalment is sensational, which also applies to the sound design—essential for keeping players on the edge of their seats during any situation that unfolds on screen. The sound design, with its creaks, breaths, and minimalist soundtrack, is key to creating that atmosphere of constant vulnerability.

Little Nightmares III is a game that aims to continue delivering entertaining experiences with genuine tension. The continuation of the series is excellent news for lovers of independent video games, as in an industry where big-budget blockbusters tend to receive all the praise, these lower-budget projects are capable of producing gems with completely different and original ideas. Cooperative play, atmospheric setting, and puzzle-solving enjoyment are essential elements in this third instalment, which aims to usher the franchise into a new era without the guidance of the hands that originally shaped it.