Little Nightmares 2 aims to deliver more than its predecessor, with challenging puzzles, excellent platforming, and a horror aesthetic that is as unsettling as it is beautifully crafted. Has Tarsier games been able to live up to their promise, and create a more memorable experience than its original? Oh yes, and then some.



Little Nightmares 2, the sequel to the 2017 horror puzzle-platformer, aims to expand on the world of Little Nightmares by taking us outside the Maw and into the world beyond. Jumping into the first level, there is immediately a shift in colour palette, going from the brownish yellow of the first, to a spectrum of blues. This change in colour beautifully reflects the change in theme, which is Escapism this time around, moving away from the theme of the first, Greed. Tying the theme together even more so, is the scattered TV sets all around the world - since we associate TV (and by extension, Netflix, Amazon, etc.) as a form of escapism from our world.

Tarsier Studios created a space that is quite open for interpretation, so each player will be impacted differently.

Not only does the new colour system work to amplify the core theme, but it also adds to the atmosphere, creating a truly “blue” outlook on the world. Tarsier Studios created a space that is quite open for interpretation, so each player will be impacted differently. From my perspective, it also spoke of themes of depression, living in a world where we feel we don't belong, and using mediums such as TV, or even video games, to escape into a world where we feel we belong. However, it's about finding the joy as well, through friends, companionship, and being brave enough to tackle the world head on - not to mention hunting for cool hats.



There are some changes to the formula, with Tarsier Studios adding two main evolutions of the original game. Firstly, Six, the main protagonist from the first game, is here to help as an AI companion, assisting us in solving puzzles and creating a new dynamic to the story. Second, there is now some slight combat scenarios, where enemies in each environment will provide a unique threat and you need to defend yourself.

Six as an AI companion is super helpful, and really adds a varying perspective on the world of Little Nightmares, and also adds a dynamic element to the relationship of kids who do not belong in this realm. Six will oftentimes assist you if you get stuck on a puzzle, so if you pay attention to what she is doing during a particularly tough puzzle or encounter, you can look to her for some help. It’s easy to create a character like this that offers too much help, and ends up taking the challenge of the puzzles away but thankfully, that isn’t the case here. Her actions and movements are subtle so you won't have anything spoiled for you.



Sadly, Six is not a playable character, and there is a distinguishable lack of multiplayer or co-op functionality. The way that Six moves and her actions in the game would lead her to being the perfect co-op playing partner, particularly for couch co-op - an example here would be Unravel Two. Sure, it doesn't detract from the narrative in any way, but that is also my argument; having Six as a co-op character would not detract from the story, and might even amplify it in some aspects, so I feel like it is a missed opportunity. I am holding out that Tarsier Studios will add this in a later update.



In terms of combat, don't expect to be swinging a sword around like a miniature Knight of the Round Table. Combat is not frequent throughout the game, and when there is, developer Tarsier made sure to accurately reflect the inertia that a child that age would experience when trying to handle a “weapon”. This adds a new element to the puzzling as well, as sometimes you need to think about how to tackle a situation since you are a child trying to handle an adult item. Even in saying that, there are only really one or two scenes where an actual weapon is used, but mostly it's everyday items such as pipes, small axes, hammers, etc. The combat certainly feels natural in this world, as it's not every corner you have to fight your way out, and the fact that you need to actively think about every combat scene and how to overcome it, just amplifies the danger that this world possesses, bringing it more to life.



Little Nightmares 2 also takes a clear step-up in terms of visual fidelity and world building. The world is not only made more atmospheric and creepy by means of better visuals, but it feels so much larger thanks to advantages of newer tech. Backdrops are much further in the distance, making you feel even smaller in this unfamiliar landscape, adding to that sense of non-conformity. In the more confined spaces of rooms, corridors, and levels, everything is brought that much more to life by bits of dust floating around in areas like a vent, or basement. The way that Tarsier Studios has been able to manipulate lighting in differing areas makes each stage feel unique, and just beautifully - and terrifyingly - atmospheric, to the point where I needed to remind myself to breathe at times.

...Little Nightmares 2 has somehow managed to take cliche ideas and warp them into something refreshingly satisfying.

The nightmares themselves have also gotten a visual upgrade, and if the original title’s nightmares gave you shivers, these will genuinely crawl up your spine. We also have a whole new host of creepy creatures to tackle, and that isn’t even mentioning the little critters that you encounter during the stages. I won't spoil any of the new bosses but Little Nightmares 2 has somehow managed to take cliche ideas and warp them into something refreshingly satisfying. This is made even more unsettling if you take the time to just watch their routines, and how they interact with the environment.



The core gameplay remains relatively the same, with puzzling and platforming being the primary gameplay drivers. The puzzles are a little more interactive this time around, thanks in no small part to Six accompanying us, with a much smoother blend of platforming and puzzling in the same overall structure. There were some small areas that I feel could be tweaked ever so slightly to make the puzzling a little smoother, especially with some particularly hairy encounters, but I never came across a single boring, tedious, or lazy puzzle throughout the game.

In fact, it was often me overcomplicating a situation or environment when I got stuck, instead of the actual puzzle being flawed. Lastly, the puzzles are made even better by flowing naturally with the stage it is set in - a long, linear puzzle was solved differently to a puzzle set in a vertical stage, which not only keeps the gameplay loop refreshing, but makes the world just feel that much more natural, as well as making us feel even less like we belong.



Overall, Little Nightmares 2 is an absolutely brilliant puzzle platformer, with just enough creepy to keep you on the edge of your seat. An excellent step-up from their first outing, Tarsier Studios has created a phenomenal world, tackling incredibly adult concepts from the perspective of a child. The world that they have built is eerily atmospheric, perfectly proportionate, and offers natural integration of puzzles and platforming, making the world feel alive. Unfortunately, the lack of co-op (local or otherwise) is a slight oversight, and I hope that there will be an update to introduce this in future. It is one of the best games I have played in quite some time, and certainly sets the bar pretty high for this year.



*PS4 Review code provided by Bandai Namco Entertainment