Little Nightmares 3 just got announced during Gamescom 2023 and I had the pleasure of seeing a live co-op demonstration. In the demo, I saw our new heroes Low & Alone in action and got convinced this might easily become the best entry in the franchise.
Explore a new world
Little Nightmares 3 takes place in a new setting of different clusters all filled with their own kind of illusions. The demo took us to the Necropolis in the sunny desert. Necropolis was once a vibrant metropolis filled with life until a mysterious Monster Baby turned it into a ghost town. Low & Alone enter the cluster through a broken mirror and immediately venture into the ghost town to look for some answers.
Right from the start of the demo, it’s very obvious this is a Little Nightmares game. The dark and creepy atmosphere is set from the start and even in the bright sun of the desert, you don’t feel safe. The sound design and gorgeous graphics are both here to impress. With gorgeous lighting and tons of gorgeous details, the Unreal engine manages once again to bring this dark fairytale to life. The star of the demo was the Monster Baby that popped up from behind buildings from time to time, trying to grab you with its chubby hands. There are some jump scares because of it but overall it’s the dark and looming atmosphere that will make you feel uncomfortable.
It Takes Two Nightmares
The biggest thing about Little Nightmares 3 is of course the co-op gameplay. Although it’s really designed as a co-op adventure, you are able to play it solo too, an AI will take care of the other character for you. The demo however, was played in full co-op with both players having access to their own PC and screen. No split screen here, both the Alone & Low players got to see the game on their own screen and had to work together and help each other out to reach new grounds. It’s the basic puzzle solving we came to love from the franchise but it comes with some twists.
The biggest difference are the tools or heroes can use. One can use a wrench to smack down walls are use it to open doors or roll down ladders for example. The other player has a bow & arrow to shoot switches or even enemies. During the demo, we encountered a beetle that needed to be shot down with an arrow by one player and smacked with the wrench of the other player before you’re able to take it out. This form of co-op reminded me of It Takes Two while also still staying true to the Little Nightmares formula. You’re still going through small and narrow places while constantly being haunted by the giant monster who never stops chasing you. It’s the same fun I loved from the very first game in the franchise and it looks even better in co-op to be honest.
Early Conclusion:
I’ve only seen the first glimpse of the dark world that Little Nightmares III will have to offer but the co-op mechanics really impressed me a lot. As a fan of the franchise, I can’t wait to jump back into the horror together with a friend. One of the biggest surprises here at Gamescom this year for sure!
