Little Nightmares II Review

Little Nightmares II is a game with a huge amount of promise. Its 2017 predecessor, Little Nightmares, quickly became one of Tarsier Studios’ best releases. That’s high praise considering that the developer has previously worked on projects like LittleBigPlanet. But the dark story, savage, world, and perfectly blended platforming and puzzle gameplay made it a surprise hit.

With its sequel, Tarsier Studios is now looking to expand the narrative and improve upon its predecessor. The end result is a game that is one of the first must-play experiences of 2021. Any fans of the first game will want to check it out, while every other gamer should at least try it.

Story

Little Nightmares II essentially follows directly on from the events of the first title. Six, the small child and protagonist from Little Nightmares, returns in the sequel. However, this time Six has been relegated to being a computer-controlled character. Players are now taking on the role of Mono, who frees Six and accompanies her throughout the rest of the narrative. Mono acts as a sort of protector for Six, guiding her through the terrifying world.

As a sequel, it’s best to play Little Nightmares before delving into the new narrative. It is not strictly necessary, because the franchise has a unique way of storytelling. Nothing is really told directly to the player, with there being no dialogue or in-game text to explain what is happening. Instead, gamers are expected to explore the world and make their own assumptions about the events.

Little Nightmares II excels at creating mysteries that you want to solve. By not revealing anything directly, the story drives you on with a drive to uncover the reasons the world has become so monstrous. While there seems to be no definite answers, the game provides plenty of material in clues to keep players guessing. Just like with its predecessor, fans will have a lot to consider when coming up with fan theories and explanations.

The sequel also takes Six to new locations, expanding the in-game universe. This helps to give Little Nightmares II a sense of being a bigger and more established world. By the end of the story, it’s hard to not feel personally invested. Thankfully, there’s a satisfying pay-off at the conclusion that feels well done, even if it is a little confusing.