From time to time, a game comes along that refuses to let a restrictive concept like gender bog it down. Little Nightmares is one of those projects. Combining various different styles, Tarsier Studios has created a beautiful platformer, full of puzzles and imbued with grotesque imagery.
Horror is a niche genre that tends to focus on promoting a tense atmosphere during gameplay. Puzzle platformers are typically the exact opposite. Consequently, few of the former engage in the latter. This makes Little Nightmares incredibly unique, but is it a great game?
History
Divided into five chapters, Little Nightmares centers on a hungry young girl named Six, who tries to escape from a strange prison run by as yet unknown people. Little Nightmares can evoke memories of Studio Ghibli’s phenomenal Spirited Away, even if the tones and premises differ. Both properties blend the fantastic with a hint of reality to create an almost dreamlike state of wonder.
Little Nightmares’ story mostly takes a back seat in support of the game’s surreal tone, but Six’s journey produces truly intense and traumatic moments. Chapter 4 is particularly effective, at least as far as the horror aspect is concerned.
In fact, Little Nightmares works best as a pure horror game. In truth, adventure isn’t conventionally scary. Due to its 2.5D platforming nature, Little Nightmares cannot quite replicate the level of immersion found in games like Resident Evil 7 or Dead Space. That said, Little Nightmares is relentlessly intense. There is rarely a time when Six feels safe.
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