Childhood fears, we all have them and there’s simply no way around it. Some are afraid of clowns while other will run away from the smallest spider. Fear is a complex mechanism, it’s easily triggered but never really forgotten. Little Nightmares brings you to a world filled with childhood horrors, and thanks to the Nintendo Switch, you can take it with you wherever you want. Perhaps you should play it in a dark and empty cellar?
The main game
Little Nightmares already released on other platforms a year ago and was considered as one of the more original games that released that year. This Nintendo Switch version is called the Complete Edition but, of course, still offers the same experience. The moment you play the game for the first time, it will give you the choice to play Six’s story or the Kid’s story. If this is you’re first time playing Little Nightmares, it’s advised to start with Six since she forms the main story; the Kid was added to the original as DLC later on. Since the story of Six isn’t new, I won’t repeat myself, check out our review of the original to know what this piece of the game has to offer.
What’s a bit more interesting, is to look at what this Nintendo Switch version has to offer. The first and major selling point is the fact that the Kid’s Story is included in the bundle and can be played right after you start your game. But who is this Kid and what is his story?
The Kid
The story of the Kid was originally a part of several DLC chapters to your main story arc, on Switch, you can play it without spending extra money. What’s interesting about the Kid is that his story unfolds at the same time as Six’s story. There’s even more, in chapter selection, you’ll see Six’s story always above the Kid’s story. This has a deeper (pun intended) meaning. Where Six tries to escape by looking for higher grounds, the Kid tries to escape by going deeper. It’s an interesting twist and it’s really great to see that both characters follow the same routine. It’s even so that you’ll cross some of the same environments as the Kid but that you take a different direction than Six did. Those small moments really form some unforgettable gaming memories.
Besides this, the story of the Kid is also set in a different environment with a different boss so prepare for some creepy moments. Just like the original game, the gameplay balances between survival horror where you have to run away as fast as possible and environmental puzzles. Everything about it is challenging and you’ll probably die a lot. This still isn’t a game for gamers who don’t like a challenge. It’s no problem to die this much but it’s still a bit frustrating that the game has to load this long, a problem that isn’t fixed on the Nintendo Switch.
Play it everywhere
It’s fun to have everything Little Nightmares has to offer in one pack but it’s even better to have it on Nintendo Switch. The best part of the game is probably that it’s finally portable. A game like this is perfect to play in shorter sessions and perhaps even best in your bed before you go to sleep, in order to truly captivate the thrilling experience. We tested it both in handheld mode and television mode and both run extremely smoothly. The PS4 and Xbox One version look slightly better but you won’t really worry about this once you’re playing, it’s a great new addition to the Switch’s library and you can even use your Pac-Man amiibo to unlock a special mask!
Conclusion
Little Nightmares is a great fit on Nintendo Switch and offers one of the best games in a genre that isn’t found that often on the console. I still loved it as much as I did when I played it for the first time and the inclusion of the DLC and the ability to take this game with me wherever I go even enhances the overall experience. If you’re looking for a thrilling new game to play, this should be on top of your list.
8.5/10
