PAX West 2025 brought with it a lot of light and fun previews like Kirby Air Riders and Digimon Story Time Stranger. What I was really eager for, however, was a look at Little Nightmares III, and thanks to Bandai Namco, I was able to spend almost two hours forcing my way through a deranged circus. What more could I ask for?
Cut to my first day on the PAX West show floor, where I entered a room covered in Little Nightmares III imagery, eerie music and figures hanging from poles above. The mood was set, and all I needed was the Alone to my Low, and I found them in a fellow writer from Rely on Horror. He was a good sport as I hesitated and panicked my way through each new area.
Low and Alone are the two playable characters in Little Nightmares III. Low is a ranged companion who uses a bow and arrow. Brief moments in the preview suggest he is deeply sad. Alone, by contrast, appears to be Low’s friend and source of comfort, wielding a heavy wrench for melee combat.
“Little Nightmares III marks the first time players can experience the game in online co-op mode.”
Little Nightmares III marks the first time players can experience the game in online co-op mode. An AI companion is still available. Only one player needs to own the game for both to play together, which is a smart and accessible feature. Couch co-op, sadly, is not supported.
The section we played was set in a twisted circus filled with massive, hunched-over creatures I initially mistook for elephants, along with terrifying marionettes that spring to life if you get too close. If you feel safe enough to stop and explore, the environment only becomes more disturbing. Some rooms even mislead you into thinking they’re necessary to explore, which heightens the tension—even though you could simply run past them.
The imagery in Little Nightmares III is the best part of the game. The lighting itself is the star. Whether it is using lights to let you peek at shadows behind a curtain or the soft glow of a television making you weary of waking the monster in front of it, the game really utilizes it to set the mood. The weather in this section is also wildly ominous, so the atmosphere is perfect for spooks.
“With online co-op and game sharing capabilities, the Little Nightmares franchise is more accessible than ever before.”
In terms of gameplay, the puzzles in Little Nightmares III aren’t overly complicated. It’s trying to solve them while being chased by maniacal puppets that bring the challenge. With a partner I had never met before, we managed to solve most things quickly—though he did most of the heavy lifting. The only areas where we had a problem were due to an issue we had with aiming and smashing with the wrench. It felt like the accuracy was a little bit off. Otherwise, the controls were intuitive, and puzzles were engaging but not obtuse.
The way that Supermassive Games designed Little Nightmares III was with trial and error in mind. Where I felt like I was failing, the studio reminded me that I was meant to fail first and try new things. For instance, a room where waves of enemies were coming, you never really knew where it was ending or how it all worked until you completed it.
Each new enemy introduced the need for communication, so my partner and I would need to regroup and restrategize each time. Though there is an AI companion, we weren’t able to test this out, so I can’t speak to how intuitive it is in these situations. I think co-op could be the definitive way to play Little Nightmares III.
I am curious to learn more about the overall story in Little Nightmares III as well. As I mentioned above, small moments brought a glimpse of emotion for Low. With no words, no real sound beyond ambiance and no facial expressions, the sadness behind the mask is still so evident. I can’t wait to see more.
Little Nightmares III will be released later this year on all major platforms, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. With online co-op and game sharing capabilities, the Little Nightmares franchise is more accessible than ever before.
