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I initially wrote this game off as being another one of the short kid-focused horror games that were popular at the time, in the same vein as games like Five Nights at Freddy’s and Hello Neighbour.
Oh, how wrong I was.

A One of a Kind Nightmare

Little Nightmares is, without a doubt, one of the most atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful games that I’ve ever played. The eerie world, oppressive, bleak, and surreal atmosphere, the unsettling characters, and the deeply immersive narrative all come together to create a truly unforgettable experience.
The game’s art style is striking, with its twisted, dreamlike, and timeless environments that are both captivating and terrifying. Each area is meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of dread, and the subtle details in the world-building make it feel alive, albeit in a nightmarish way. The use of lighting and sound adds layers to the atmosphere, with every creak, shadow, and distant noise keeping you on edge throughout the journey.
The art artstyle of both this game and its sequel reminded me heavily of the works of Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), specifically A Series of Unfortunate Events. Both the illustrations from the novels and the art direction from the 2004 movie adaptation present a similar timeless and surreal aesthetic to Little Nightmares; both works even make heavy use of eye imagery, which is probably what made the connection for me.
In terms of character design, each of them fits the dreamlike twisted world perfectly. While I personally don’t really find any of the adults scary, maybe with the exception of the janitor, all of them are still very unsettling. Six is immediately an iconic design; while she still bears a resemblance to other characters, namely Coraline, she still manages to stand out from other horror protagonists with her yellow raincoat, dark hair that covers her eyes, shadowy face and Zippo lighter.
While the monstrous adults found in this game are not really terrifying to me, the real horror of this game, to me, is found in the unknown. What is this world, and how did it come to be? Throughout the game, you are given tidbits of lore which draw you in and make you think. Fear of the Unknown, coupled with the bleak, hopeless atmosphere, is what makes this game scary to me.
Little Nightmares boasts a marvellous soundtrack, where every track is meticulously tailored to its setting. Six's Theme, a recurring melody that can be found throughout the series, is especially impactful. Its progression, starting softly and building to a darker crescendo, powerfully reflects Six's emotional arc, illustrating her slow transformation from vulnerable child to one of the monsters she was trying so hard to escape from.
The gameplay itself is brilliant. It’s a mix of platforming, puzzle-solving, and stealth, all wrapped in a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. The puzzles are not very challenging; I was never stuck for more than 10 minutes, but despite this, they still managed to be entertaining and illustrated the use of some grey greymatter. The stealth, on the other hand, is executed perfectly; sneaking past enemies in this game, especially the janitor, is a genuinely exhilarating experience.
While the story is told in a subtle, almost cryptic way, it’s clear that Little Nightmares is about more than just escaping a nightmare. It’s a commentary on fear, survival, and the cycle of abuse (the abused becoming the abusers).
This game has spawned a series that I personally believe to be one of the finest in the horror genre. This game, its sequel and prequel, the comics, and the audio series have crafted a world that is genuinely terrifying, with abused children being stolen from our world and trapped in a world of nightmares.

9/10