Gaming fans of the horror genre are buzzing with excitement in anticipation of the third installment in the Little Nightmares series. Little Nightmares 3 is one of the standout revelations from the recently concluded Gamescom 2023, and one of the most discussed aspects of the upcoming game is the absence of local co-op play.
While the game will support online multiplayer, the exclusion of couch co-op has been a point of contention among fans, a point the game’s director, Wayne Garland, has chosen to address. In an interview with GamesRadar, Garland explained the reasoning behind the controversial decision, saying:
We’ve been asked questions about online versus couch co-op. Couch is something that we considered, but again, when you come back to the atmosphere and the immersion that we’re trying to elicit through Little Nightmares, I think it was important for us that we stuck to our online co-op only rather than traditional more party aspects.
The puzzle-platform horror franchise released its first title in 2017 under the capable hands of Swedish developer Tarsier Studios. The dark franchise explores themes of confinement, childhood fears, and the struggle for survival.
Each installment builds on the lore of the world, providing players with glimpses into the grim past and the disturbing secrets of The Maw. With its unique blend of platforming, stealth, and psychological horror elements, the Little Nightmares series has quickly gained recognition as one of the best horror game franchises.
Tarsier Studios have now paved the way for British developer Supermassive Games, which is set to take the reins for the third installment. The studio, which is best known for its work on horror titles such as Until Dawn, The Dark Pictures Anthology, and The Quarry, previously worked on Little Nightmares II: Enhanced Edition, which was released for the Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.
Despite the mixed reactions to some of the changes and decisions surrounding Little Nightmares 3, many fans of the series remain hopeful that Supermassive Games can deliver a title worthy of the franchise, given the developer’s prior experience with Little Nightmares.
The announcement trailer for Little Nightmares 3 introduced two new characters, Low and Alone, hinting at a move into new mysteries and even darker horrors while providing players with fresh challenges and a deeper understanding of the haunting universe the series portrays.
Little Nightmares 3 is set to make its debut on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, slated for a release in the upcoming year.
