Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is a puzzle-platform horror adventure game developed by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Set in a mysterious world, Little Nightmares follows the journey of Six, a hungry little girl who must escape the Maw, an iron vessel inhabited by monstrous, twisted beings.
What it feels like
Slow-building anticipatory fear permeates the journey—constant threat of discovery and worse fates. The Maw's crushing atmosphere presses suffocating weight; the world feels hostile and inescapable. Six is a small isolated child alone in a vast, empty, threatening world.
What it's about
The primary aim is to frighten through grotesque twisted beings and a nightmarish atmosphere. Solitude and being cut off from any allies or safety underpin the narrative experience. Enduring a hostile environment with monstrous threats is the central struggle.
How it plays
Jumping and navigating hazardous geometry across the Maw is a core mechanical pillar. Avoiding detection by monstrous inhabitants through shadow and silence is central to survival. Puzzles are woven into the Maw's architecture, requiring interaction with objects and spaces to progress.
How it looks and sounds
Dark ornate industrial architecture and macabre design define the Maw's visual identity. The camera follows Six from behind/above as she navigates the environment. 3D rendering constrained to 2D-plane gameplay—lateral sidescroller aesthetic with depth layering.
How it's structured
Designed exclusively for solo play with no multiplayer component whatsoever. Designed as a compact, story-driven experience finishable in a few hours. Progression moves through discrete chambers and sections of the Maw in largely fixed order.
Kindred games
Shares Dread, Horror, Platforming, Oppressive.
Both lean into Single-Player, Dread, Horror, Platforming.
Shares Horror, Dread, Oppressive, Platforming.
Both lean into Horror, Dread, Single-Player, Oppressive.
Shares Dread, Horror, Stealth, Oppressive.
Both lean into Single-Player, Dread, Horror, Stealth.
See all games like Little Nightmares →
Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Dread, Horror, Short Playtime, Lonely. 90% positive across 4,526 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Single-Player, Dread, Horror, Short Playtime.
A lesser-known kindred — Dread, Lonely, Isolation, Oppressive. 86% positive across 4,772 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Dread, Single-Player, Isolation, Lonely.
A lesser-known kindred — Platforming, Stealth, Environmental Puzzles, Linear Levels. 85% positive across 4,515 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Single-Player, Platforming, Stealth, Environmental Puzzles.