Little Nightmares is a game available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One that uses your worst childhood fears like never before. The game presents a cruel and dark world where the players (typically represented by the heroine Six) must escape from grotesque creatures lurking within. 

Little Nightmare is one of the most original horror games you’ll find. I found the dark and whimsical art style very intriguing, and it left me feeling unsettled after completing its twisted story. The developers did a fantastic job in the creation of Six. I found Six to be an adorable yet tragic figure that evokes deep feelings of compassion when you play through her harrowing journey. 

Trapped aboard The Maw 

Six, the nine-year-old heroine begins the story as she wakes up alone and hungry in a dank and gloomily lit prison. Six sees the chance to escape her living nightmare and takes a perilous journey through this bizarre and depraved world. 

You soon find out that the prison is a marine holding cell within a sizeable undersea vessel called The Maw. Guests come aboard to enjoy a wide range of food, some of which include the meat of children. They are not too thrilled when food catches them off guard. Hence, it is essential to never let them out of sight when playing the game. 

Little nightmares? More like huge 

Your journey through The Maw takes you to many areas, each with its disturbing creatures to contend. There are some difficulties you’ll encounter very early on. For instance, you might first meet slimy, venomous leeches deep within the bowels of the prison. Sludge is like walking liquid blobs with no mouth. 

They might gross you out, but they don’t compare to the next find. At first glance, the Janitor doesn’t seem very realistic. He’s the first member you see coming through the door, and he looks terrifying. For one thing, he has long, noodle-like arms that flop around like tentacles. Compared to his short, stubby legs, he seems disproportionately tall. 

He is keeping his face low to the ground, presumably so that you cannot tell which way he is looking. He detects your presence with some horrific clicking sounds coming from his nose. It’s jarring just how creepy the Janitor is, but there are even worse monsters lurking in this game. 

Entering the Kitchen 

The Kitchen is the next stop on your tour. It’s where all the meat is prepared by some amazing chefs who are incredibly skilled in their job. To reach the market, you have to dive into a surrealistic landscape where filthy butchers are boiling anything they can get their hands on.  These things could include both animal corpses as well as live animals that come into contact with them.

I felt sorry for Six, who had to go through such hard times. Thankfully, she’s a small girl who can easily hide from sight under tables and sneak through small holes between rooms. 

The game is impressive, and I didn’t want to get too attached to any characters. With that said, it’s essential to be careful and not get too invested in any of them. 

A flicker of hope 

In The Maw, Six can’t fight back, as she needs to be resourceful and patient to overcome the dangers. Instead, her size will play to your advantage in this horror-filled space. It would be best if you sneaked around in the shadows. 

Sometimes this means crawling through the vents, while other times, it means tip-toeing under furniture. Six has one helpful survival tool, which is her lighter, which doesn’t need any fuel. This is handy given how dark the boat is.  Moreover, LED lights can also serve as a light source in the dark. Additionally, you can even use them to light lanterns and candles. This additional illumination is beneficial and acts as an in-game map checkpoint system. 

Hugs, anyone? 

Further tugging on your heartstrings are the little dunce cap-wearing critters called Nomes. These fidgety guys run around The Maw, often hiding in dark corners from prying eyes. If you ever come across one, Six can approach them, showing them love. Afterward, for a limited time, the Nome will follow you around.

It’s never really explained what precisely these creatures are, so the reader gets to fill in some blanks independently. Unsafe, But hey, If you hug enough, you’ll unlock one of the game’s trophies. This will change the ending slightly too. 

Beautifully grim presentation 

The atmosphere in the art direction of Little Nightmares is incredible and incomparable. They’ve captured a sense of gloom, darkness, and puzzle-solving skills so well it reflects exactly how you’d picture a child’s worst nightmare. 

While The Maw is a horrific prison, it also contains some lighthearted playground elements. You may find a bouncy ball you can play with or a tower of building blocks that you can knock over. Some scenes will feel like innocent childhood moments – it’s funny how these scenes turn into sets of more horror later on. 

This contrast is what makes the game truly special.

The game is set in a dark & creepy environment. You can feel the tension within the game’s soundtrack and ambient noises that take an unsettling turn. 

The pressure is elevated during encounters with grotesque creatures in The Maw. This sentence appears to be missing some words. The audio can be unpleasant, but it does wonders to get into the moment and enhance the experience. 

Final Thoughts 

Little Nightmares is a video game created for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It’s a thoroughly original and twisted adventure that delivers on its promise. It’s a cold and dark world full of sad moments, but it also has intense emotional moments that make you feel connected to the story. 

The art in the game is astonishing. It combines low images of horror with the innocence of childhood. Little Nightmares is a short but memorable video game, clocking in at a little over four hours. The story it tells will still stick with you long after the credits roll, though, and should be experienced by everyone.