Rishabh Borde
Swedish video game developer Tarsier Studios’ creepy horror puzzle-platformer game ‘Little Nightmares’ came out in 2017 and instantly struck a chord with gamers, for its extremely organic storytelling style and for managing to inculcate a pervasive feeling of dread very reminiscent of Playdead’s 2010 smash-hit game ‘Limbo’.
Critical reception was also fairly positive, with plenty of plaudits being showered on the game’s fantastic atmospheric narrative and sound design, despite somewhat clunky platforming mechanics. The success of the title even prompted the subsequent development of three DLCs (Downloadable Content) titled ‘The Depths’, ‘The Hideaway’ and ‘The Residence’, as well as a mobile game titled ‘Very Little Nightmares’ for iOS. All in all, ‘Little Nightmares’ managed to top one million in unit sales on all platforms by August 2018.
Now Tarsier is preparing to continue their exploration of the disconcerting, Tim Burton-esque world, it set up in the first game in an upcoming sequel titled ‘Little Nightmares II’. Read on to find out everything we know about the sequel to 2017’s indie horror platforming sensation ‘Little Nightmares’.
Little Nightmares 2 Gameplay: What to Expect?
The upcoming ‘Little Nightmares II’ is set to be a direct sequel to ‘Little Nightmares’, and will continue the story following the events of the first game. However, this time around the game will feature an all-new protagonist – a young boy wearing an oversized coat and a bag over his head named Mono. Six, the protagonist of the previous game, also returns but this time as an AI-controlled companion who will guide you through your adventure.
The web page for ‘Little Nightmares II’ describes the game as follows:
“Little Nightmares II is a suspense-adventure game in which you play as Mono, a young boy trapped in a world that has been distorted by the humming transmission of a distant tower. With Six, the girl in a yellow raincoat, as his guide, Mono sets out to discover the dark secrets of The Signal Tower and save Six from her terrible fate; but their journey will not be straightforward as Mono and Six will face a gallery of new threats from the terrible residents of this world.”
The new story will be a continuation of the events of the first game, which concludes with Six walking out of the Maw into the wide world. This time, the mystery centers around the insidious Signal Tower, which possesses powerful powers of persuasion that permeates through retro television sets and has a potent effect on the inhabitants of the region.
In the hot seat at the signal tower is the enigmatic broadcaster, the man/woman/creature behind the ongoing horrors. Besides the broadcaster, the trailer for ‘Little Nightmares II’ also showcases frightful new enemies such as the mask-wearing Hunter and the unnervingly demonic Teacher.
Gameplay in ‘Little Nightmares II’ will mostly consist of platforming segments navigating several new environments including a school, city, mental asylum, forest and more. Being a puzzle platformer, you will also be spending a decent chunk of your time solving environmental puzzles that enhance the game’s narrative aspects. The story itself is delivered largely through the art design, subtle atmospheric cues, puzzles, and even the audio.
Little Nightmares 2 Developers: Who Are the People Behind the Game?
‘Little Nightmares II’ is being developed by Malmo based Swedish video game development studio Tarsier Studios. The studio was initially founded in 2004 under the name Team Tarsier, later undergoing the name change in 2009. Tarsier has previously worked extensively with Sony Interactive Entertainment on a number of exclusive PlayStation titles. The studio is best known for games such as ‘LittleBigPlanet 3’, ‘Tearaway Unfolded’ and ‘The Stretchers’.
‘Little Nightmares II’ is being published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
Little Nightmares 2 Release Date: When and Where Can I Play It?
‘Little Nightmares II’ is due to release sometime in 2020, although Bandai Namco is yet to announce a concrete launch date yet.
‘Little Nightmares II’ will be available to play on a number of platforms including PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Little Nightmares Series Retrospective:
The original ‘Little Nightmares’ follows a very tiny girl in a yellow raincoat named Six who finds herself trapped in a mysterious underwater vessel known simply as the “Maw”. After waking up in the lower depths of the Maw suffering from agonizing pangs of voracious hunger, Six sets about exploring the vessel.
However, she is soon accosted by the terrifying long-armed, yet blind janitor aboard the vessel who repeatedly tries to capture her. As Six seeks to uncover the sinister secret behind the Maw and plots her escape, she must also deal with numerous other threats including the repulsive Twin Chefs (who are seemingly capturing runaway children like Six in order to cook and prepare them for consumption), large blood-sucking Leeches and plenty more.
The gameplay is fairly standard puzzle platforming fare, with large parts of your time spent navigating the tricky environment and solving various puzzles. However, much like other similar games like ‘Limbo’, ‘Little Nightmares’ uses environmental cues, art direction, and sound to disperse the narrative without the need for any dialogue or exposition.
Little Nightmares 2 Trailer:
You can watch the announcement trailer for ‘Little Nightmares II’ right here.
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