Following its release, Little Nightmares 3 has stumbled out of the gate with disappointing Steam reviews and a lukewarm critical reception. Supermassive Games may have tried to preserve the eerie charm of the series, but fans believe the soul of Little Nightmares got lost somewhere in transition.

Miniature horror has always been the beating heart of the Little Nightmares franchise, but this time the chills don’t hit quite as hard. With Tarsier Studios gone and Supermassive Games stepping in, the third entry faced an immediate identity crisis. The addition of online co-op was meant to freshen things up, yet many players wondered whether the series could evolve without losing its unique tone.

Little Nightmares 3 Crashes Hard at Launch

Released on October 10, Little Nightmares 3 quickly divided both critics and fans. On Metacritic, the game currently holds an average score around 70–72 depending on the platform — decent, but far from great. While the artistic direction remains faithful to the series, the lack of innovation, underwhelming puzzles, and repetitive chase sequences leave the experience feeling uninspired.

It’s a safe and risk-averse title that refuses to step outside its comfort zone. The absence of local co-op has also been heavily criticized. On Steam, where more than 2,200 players have left reviews, only 49% are positive. Common complaints include the game’s short length (around 4–5 hours), persistent bugs, forced restarts, and clunky mechanics that punish players for trial and error rather than skill.

Adding to the frustration are a weak storyline, forgettable characters, and visuals that, while striking, fail to recapture the oppressive atmosphere of earlier installments. The AI has also come under fire, particularly in single-player mode, where poor coordination with companions breaks immersion. Fans were further disappointed by the announcement of two upcoming story expansions planned for 2026 — a move they see as tone-deaf given the lack of depth in the base game.

Supermassive Games clearly wanted to carry on the spirit of Little Nightmares, but the result feels more like a shadow of what came before. The horror is there, but the magic is gone — and even a last-minute cliffhanger couldn’t stop the fall.

Source: 3djuegos