Sunrise Parabellum Little Nightmares Review

Little Nightmares was a short but memorable experience. Its atmosphere was what struck me most, from the visuals to the sound design without forgetting the overall presentation, all these elements worked together to create a haunting yet fascinating world. I find that the use of light and shadow is particularly well done, and the art direction gives every location and characters a strong identity. Animations are smooth too with a lot of attention to small details that you can miss easily. The unlockable concept arts were also a nice touch as it’s always interesting to peek behind the curtain and see the creative thought process. I also appreciated (and disliked to some extent) that the game doesn’t hold your hand. From the start, you’re left to figure out the controls and the world on your own, something that can feel like a double edged sword. The same goes for the story, we don’t know who we are, where we come from, or why we’re here. Instead of clear answers, we get fragments and unsettling encounters that build up to a surprising and memorable ending. That being said, the game isn’t without flaws. Sadly, the puzzles do their job but never particularly clever. Moreover, I got stuck a couple of times without realizing I could interact with certain objects (climbing the refrigerator, for example). The fixed camera and perspective occasionally make platforming clunky, and deaths can feel unfair. Combined with checkpoints that are sometimes too far apart, this repetition can get frustrating. To put it in a nutshell, I really enjoyed my time with Little Nightmares nonetheless. The unsettling world in a dark fairy tale atmosphere make it a unique experience. I only wish it were a little longer. Thankfully, there’s a sequel and also a mobile game (which is a prequel) and I'm looking forward to playing them, hoping it is going to shed more light (or perhaps more shadows) on this mysterious universe.