Little Nightmares 3 Reviews Highlight Familiar Fears and Mixed Reactions to Co-op Debut

Little Nightmares 3 marks the first entry in the series developed by Supermassive Games, shifting away from original creators Tarsier Studios. Released on October 9  2025, the game introduces co-operative play for the first time, allowing two players to navigate the unsettling world of The Nowhere as protagonists Low and Alone.

Across major publications, reviews have been broadly positive yet cautious. GameSpot’s Mark Delaney described the game as immersive and visually striking but said it “feels overly familiar at times,” noting that it follows the sequel’s tone more than the original’s disturbing creativity. He credited the co-op mechanics as “a seamless, welcome change,” though acknowledged issues with depth perception and repetitive chase sequences.

IGN’s Tristan Ogilvie found the four-chapter campaign to be “a surprisingly uninspired retread,” praising the Carnavale section as a highlight but criticising limited puzzle variety and repetitive gameplay loops. He noted that the addition of co-op “doesn’t shake up the formula to any substantial degree,” particularly due to online-only restrictions and AI partner flaws in solo mode.

TheGamer’s Sam Hallahan echoed similar concerns, pointing to “generic textbook horror” and an absence of tension that once defined the franchise. He described the experience as lacking memorable moments, suggesting it “fails to capture what made Little Nightmares distinct and terrifying.”

Meanwhile, But Why Tho’s Mick Abrahamson appreciated the expanded lore and environmental storytelling but found the structure “too formulaic,” with predictable pacing and an imbalance between solo and co-op modes.

GamingBolt’s Salal Awan highlighted that despite gameplay improvements and strong atmosphere, the absence of offline co-op and cross-play limited its accessibility.

While critics agree that Little Nightmares 3 successfully preserves the eerie aesthetic and environmental storytelling that define the series, many concluded that its cautious approach leaves it a shadow of its predecessors.