Little Nightmares (franchise)

***Little Nightmares*** is a video game franchise created by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The main series consists of two (soon to be three) 2.5D platform adventure games. In addition, the franchise includes a spin-off mobile game developed by Alike Studio as well as two comic series and an audio-fiction series. A TV series was also planned for the franchise, though its status is unknown.

## Website description

*All Little Nightmares adventures take place in dark places, where the protagonists must face their deepest fears and monstruous urges.*

*Embrace a child's vision distorted by scare: between dreams and nightmares, try to escape hostile environments. Fortunately, you will sometimes find some help on these dangerous traps.*

*Grownups are the ones to fear. No need to discuss with them to know that they mean you harm.*

*Each episode has a weak and heavy atmosphere, offering you a delectably dangerous journey where you will have to go beyond your limits to escape.*

*Be brave, little ones.*

## List of video games

### *Little Nightmares*

*Main article: Little Nightmares (video game)*

The first game of the series. Released on April 28, 2017 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, May 18, 2018 for the Nintendo Switch, June 1, 2020 for Stadia, and December 12, 2023 for iOS and Android. Players get to play as Six, the protagonist of the game. Her goal is to escape the Maw while avoiding it's monstrous entities.

#### *Secrets of the Maw*

*Main article: Secrets of the Maw*

A DLC for *Little Nightmares*, consisting of three chapters - The Depths (released on July 6, 2017), The Hideaway (released on November 9, 2017) and The Residence (released on February 22, 2018). In this DLC, the protagonist is a boy named the Runaway Kid, a new and different character who also attempts to escape the Maw while exploring through brand new areas.

### *Very Little Nightmares*

*Main article: Very Little Nightmares*

A spin-off mobile game of the *Little Nightmares* series released on May 30, 2019 for iOS and December 10, 2019 for Android. The game has a different gameplay style, being a puzzle-themed escape room. Players have to tap the screen to move the character and interact with objects. Players get to play as the Girl in the Yellow Raincoat as she tries to escape the Nest while uncovering it's sinister secrets and avoiding the threats inhabiting it.

### *Little Nightmares II*

*Main article: Little Nightmares II (video game)*

The second game of the series. Released on February 11, 2021 for PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Stadia, and August 25, 2021 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Players get to play as Mono with their AI companion Six as they navigate through the Pale City to reach the Signal Tower while avoiding the monstrous residents.

#### *The Nome's Attic*

*Main article: The Nome's Attic*

A DLC for *Little Nightmares II*, which adds a small, additional segment to The Hunter's cabin in The Wilderness chapter. The player will be rewarded the Nomes' hat upon completion.

### *Little Nightmares III*

*Main article: Little Nightmares III (video game)*

The third game of the series. Set to be released in 2024 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch. For the first time in the series, players will have a choice to play this game in online co-op, with each taking control one of the characters, or to play the game solo with an AI companion just like the previous game. Players can choose to play as either Low or Alone as they search for a path that could lead them out of the Nowhere.

## Other media

### Comic series

#### *Little Nightmares*

*Main article: Little Nightmares (2017 comic series)*
Issue 1Issue 2
Published on May 31, 2017 (Issue 1) and July 26, 2017 (Issue 2). Just like the game is based and named after, it revolves around Six and her attempt to escape the Maw. It is initially going to have 4 issues, however, issues 3 and 4 were cancelled, leaving only two issues for the comic series.

#### *Little Nightmares Comics*

*Main article: Little Nightmares Comics*

A *Little Nightmares II*-themed comic app was published on January 13, 2021 (Episode 1 and Episode 2), January 27, 2021 (Episode 3 and Episode 4), and February 10, 2021 (Episode 5 and Episode 6). It has 6 episodes, all revolving around children and their adventures throughout the Pale City where they have to deal with harsh monsters in the world of *Little Nightmares*.

### Audio-fiction series

#### *The Sounds of Nightmares*

*Main article: The Sounds of Nightmares*

The series tells the story of a young girl named Noone who struggles with a nightmare-related disorder. Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 were published on August 22, 2023, Chapter 3 on August 29, 2023, Chapter 4 on September 5, 2023, Chapter 5 on September 12, 2023 and Chapter 6 on September 19, 2023.

### Television series

#### *Little Nightmares*

*Main article: Little Nightmares (TV series)*
A planned TV series based on the game *Little Nightmares*. It is unknown whether it is still in-development or if it's been cancelled.

## Trivia

* According lead Narrative Designer, Dave Mervik, over 200 pages of lore for the franchise were written, mostly consisting of biographies for all the characters, including the Residents and their backstory, what drives them, etc.

## References

1. ↑ Little Nightmares II’s Writer On How To Make A Scary Video Game