The sequel to 2017’s Little Nightmares pits players back into the big world of darkness with a small protagonist. Following the events of the first game you play as Mono, a young boy who was captured as food like Six before him. While escaping he comes across the former and the new duo work together to escape their shared Hell.

Little Nightmares II is a 2021 puzzle-platform, horror adventure game, it is developed by Tarsier Studio, and published by Bandai Namco. It is available on PC, Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia.

Editor’s Note: A Xbox review copy for Little Nightmares II was provided by Bandai Namco in support of this review. Near complete spoilers for Little Nightmares II may be present within this review. 

Meet new lead Mono.

Little Nightmares II follows the events of the first game, but this time it stars Mono. A young boy with a bag cover his head. After meeting Six the two work together to traverse the world and escape the giants looking to use them as a food source. Beyond the giants, Six & Mono have to contend with a powerful being known as the Thin Man who seemingly has full control over their world.

Six & Mono working together to move forward in the world.

THE GOOD: Little Nightmares II begins with a boy named Mono awaking from a dream he had about a door with an eye on it. After going through the woods he meets Six in a shack who was captured and he frees her. The Hunter who captured Six chases her and Mono armed with a shotgun and after tricking the Hunter they kill him with it. After using a door as a raft they traverse a river where they end up in Pale City which is full of giants and controlled by the Thin Man. They reach a school full of living porcelain children and a woman with the ability to stretch her neck to great distances. Six is captured by the children and later freed by Mono. The two escape the school together and the woman and go deeper within the city.

They get chased by giants who are obsessed with a TV signal and meet the Thin Man. Using TVs to travel the city they attempt to escape, but Six is eventually captured. Her shadow is left behind as a glitch and Mono trails it back to her. Mono learns he has abilities similarly to that of the Thin Man and the two face off with Mono emerging victorious. He finds Six who has begun the grotesque process of becoming a giant who is obsessed with a music box. Mono saves and returns Six to normal by destroying the music box and they move onward trying to escape where Six was held. The area begins to change shape into horrific form. Six & Mono cross a dissolving bridge together. Mono is forced to jump to reach Six who successfully made it to the other side, however just as she grans him she purposely lets him go escaping on her own.

It’s revealed that Mono is actually The Thin Man from the past who has a vendetta against Six. Six escapes Pale City finding a boat as her stomach begins to growl intensely referencing the beginning events of the first game.

Little Nightmare’s beautifully grotesque indie horror world never loses a step.

While Little Nightmares II doesn’t do a whole lot to change itself mechanically it’s biggest attribute is the continuation of it’s story. It’s a total service to its own world building, while at the same time providing so much character development for characters who are basically silent nearly 100%. There’s no dialogue box to help provide context of how these characters feel about the situation their in as they continue to be in it either. That’s a near impossible feat that the game makes feel like child’s play and Little Nightmares II is a prime example of why independent gaming matters so much to the industry. Smaller projects always have way more creative freedom to standout vs the next big AAA. However, at the same time this freedom can also be a bit of a catch 22 for indie gaming. Budgets exist and if you can stand out enough within your budget then all that creativity kind of falls flat.

Little Nightmares II never feels like it’s going through those types of motions. It’s got a powerful writing team behind it who knows how to build worlds and characters and that’s ultimately why it succeeds as a game even with a tight budget. And it’s sales numbers as well as that of the first game speaks volumes to that success.

Despite it’s horror aesthetic Little Nightmares II is a charming adventure.

THE BAD: Admittedly, there’s not a whole lot wrong with Little Nightmares II and what is wrong with it is strictly technical. Not enough to completely kill any and all enjoyment with game breaking bugs, but there are bugs present. There’s also a few times when the controls can feel a bit clunky, especially with the platforming bit of the game. These are never more than a few minor annoyances but it does slightly take you a nit out of the mood here and there.

A scary good time.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: Little Nightmares II as well as the franchise as a whole is another piece of proof as to why indie gaming matters so much to an industry that has a severe issue with innovation. It thrives thanks to it’s creative world, story, and characters. It’s just a good game that you can spend an afternoon’s worth maybe about eight or so hours to play and beat while walking away satisfied as hell that you took the ride.