Little Nightmares III marks a new chapter in Bandai Namco’s unsettling series, this time developed by Supermassive Games and featuring dual protagonists Low and Alone. The PlayStation 5 version captures the same eerie, handcrafted quality the franchise is known for, while introducing cooperative gameplay as its core new idea. Across the shifting landscapes of the Nowhere, the two children depend on each other to overcome the monstrous and the surreal, with each carrying a tool that defines their style of play. Low’s bow and Alone’s wrench bring a mechanical focus that complements the game’s haunting atmosphere and encourages collaboration in nearly every encounter.
The setting is once again a highlight. Locations such as the Necropolis, the Candy Factory, and the Carnevale combine decayed whimsy with nightmarish detail, evoking a sense of wonder and unease that few horror platformers achieve. The world design strikes a delicate balance between grotesque and beautiful, with expressive lighting and clever use of shadow to frame the danger lurking in every corridor. The PS5’s visuals accentuate this, allowing details like flickering lights, damp reflections, and the texture of ruined architecture to draw players deeper into the illusion. These environments aren’t just backdrops – they feel alive and menacing, enhanced further by immersive audio work that makes every creak and whisper feel deliberate.
The central partnership between Low and Alone works well both thematically and mechanically. Their relationship provides a sense of emotional grounding amid the dread, and their distinct tools encourage creative problem-solving. When the cooperation clicks, such as in segments where timing and trust are tested under pressure, the game reaches some of its finest moments. The co-op design shows ambition, but its potential isn’t fully realized – especially in solo play, where the artificial intelligence sometimes simplifies puzzles or interrupts pacing. While playing with a friend online delivers a stronger sense of synergy, the absence of local co-op is a huge missed opportunity for a game built so heavily on companionship.
Exploration and stealth remain at the heart of the experience, interspersed with short bursts of chase sequences and environmental puzzles. The formula remains faithful to the series’ roots, but repetition sometimes sets in. Certain puzzle segments are hampered by perspective issues that make jumps or object interactions less precise than they should be, continuing a minor frustration seen in earlier entries. However, when rhythm and tension align – particularly in the latter half where the tempo quickens and the set pieces grow more elaborate – the game recaptures that feeling of helpless urgency that defines Little Nightmares at its best.
Technically, the PS5 version offers smooth performance and clean presentation, though it runs at a modest framerate compared to some of the console’s faster platformers. The visual fidelity and art direction make up for it, with character animations and lighting effects showcasing Supermassive’s cinematic touch. Sound design once again plays a leading role: the sparse use of music allows the hum of machinery, the echo of distant footsteps, and the ragged breaths of the protagonists to heighten immersion. The minimalist approach pays off, even if it occasionally leaves quieter stretches feeling a bit too subdued.
The campaign’s pacing is uneven but effective overall. The adventure lasts only a few hours, which fits the game’s condensed storytelling but may leave players wishing for more depth. The opening chapters take time to establish rhythm, while the final stages deliver some of the most imaginative and tense sequences in the series. The story’s ambiguity remains a defining element – enigmatic, lightly suggestive, and designed more for interpretation than clarity. Though it doesn’t reach the emotional resonance of the first two entries, its closing scenes still carry a melancholy weight that lingers.
Ultimately, Little Nightmares III succeeds in preserving the series’ identity while cautiously experimenting with co-op design. It’s a haunting, visually rich journey through an imaginative world where innocence and terror constantly collide. Yet its ambitions don’t fully match its execution – the dual-character system is inspired but underutilized, and the brevity of the experience limits its impact. Even so, for players seeking another night lost in the shadows of the Nowhere, this latest nightmare remains worth embracing – though we’re crossing our fingers for a local co-op option in a future update.
Score: 7.8/10
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