The post is a the latest iteration of the Xbox Excellence Awards, which was created last year to celebrate how players engaged with various releases on Xbox. The Store Rating category lists 2025 games with the best ratings on the Microsoft Store, with an added requirement of the title having at least 500 ratings. Player Engagements is about the average number of hours spent on a game by each player within the first six weeks of a game’s release. Daily Active Users celebrates titles, expansions or updates with the highest single-day active users throughout the year. And finally Units Sold is fairly self-explanatory.

Going down the lists, you’ll find many of the biggest releases of the year, from ARC Raiders and Battlefield 6, as well as award-winning RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Indie titles have also been well-represented, with games like Crime Scene Cleaner and Satisfactory making it into the lists. There also doesn’t seem to have been a singular genre to dominate the lists, since everything from sports games like EA Sports Madden NFL 26, to fantasy adventure life sims like Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, and even fighting games like Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics are well represented.

Curiously, none of the games was present in all four of the categories. At most, we got to see titles like Borderlands 4 being able to make it on to three of them: Player Engagement, Daily Active Users and Units Sold. Even ARC Raiders, which has seen quite a bit of success, is only on the Units Sold and Daily Active Users lists.

Microsoft has also emphasized that the lists represent a diverse collection of games developed by studios of varying sizes. All in all, it represents 48 unique developers based out of 13 countries, with 24 publishers having had a hand in their release. 19 of the games were self-published. “Taken as a whole, it’s an encapsulation of development on Xbox – we want gaming to reach you wherever you are, and for the teams making those games to find you from wherever they are,” wrote the company.

Full list of games:

Store Rating:

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Crime Scene Cleaner
• Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2
• Digimon Story: Time Stranger
• Dreamcore
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Final Fantasy XVI
• Lies of P: Overture
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• Little Nightmares III
• Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics
• Minami Lane
• Mullet MadJack
• Poppy Playtime Chapter 4
• Satisfactory
• Silent Hill 2
• Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
• The First Berserker: Khazan

Player Engagement:

• Borderlands 4
• Digimon Story: Time Stranger
• Dynasty Warriors: Origins
• EA Sports College Football 26
• EA Sports FC 26
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
• Farm Together 2
• Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
• Helldivers 2
• Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii
• MLB The Show 25
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• NBA 2K26
• NHL 26
• Rust
• Satisfactory
• The First Berserker: Khazan

Daily Active Users:

• Arc Raiders
• Avowed
• Battlefield 6
• Borderlands 4
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• DOOM: The Dark Ages
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Fortnite
• Forza Horizon 5
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Grounded 2
• Helldivers 2
• Marvel Rivals
• Minecraft
• NBA 2K26
• Rematch
• Roblox
• Rocket League
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege

Units Sold:

• Arc Raiders
• Assassin’s Creed Shadows
• Battlefield 6
• Borderlands 4
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
• EA Sports Madden NFL 26
• EA Sports College Football 26
• EA Sports FC 26
• Elden Ring Nightreign
• Grand Theft Auto V
• Helldivers 2
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
• MLB The Show 25
• Monster Hunter Wilds
• NBA 2K26
• PGA Tour 2K25
• Ready or Not
• The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
• WWE 2K25

So it’s all the more impressive that the video game industry, be it triple-A developers, independent studios (even with the backing of major publishers) and smaller creators, can craft such a wide range of terrifying games, year in and year out. While that also means a heaping helping of shovelware – awful releases that wouldn’t even muster a simple yawn – a select few rise above the rabble to dominate.

Here are our nominees for the best horror game of 2025, starting with…

Routine

Between development troubles and even stopping development, only to restart in 2020, it’s almost impressive that Lunar Software’s first game was released at all, much less received such positive praise. Nevertheless, it’s pretty much what we expected – a slow, methodical trip down the retro futuristic rabbit hole in a station filled with killer robots. Even if the story doesn’t quite stick the landing, being immersed in this surreal world and awkwardly feeling your way through is more than worth the price of admission.

Tormented Souls 2

Old-school survival horror with its save rooms, fixed camera angles, and tank controls – you really couldn’t ask more from Dual Effect, especially after the surprising success of Tormented Souls. However, the sequel actually improves a lot, from more intricate puzzles and exploration to far better lighting that adds the oh-so creepy mood. Caroline Walker may never really catch a break, but her escapades make for some tense gameplay, if nothing else.

The Midnight Walk

If there’s one medium that’s adept at portraying adorably terrifying creatures, it’s claymation, and MoonHood uses it to full effect here. There’s an almost Tim Burton-like vibe to this tale of The Burnt One struggling to protect Potboy, who houses an alluring flame, from the various horrors of this mysterious world. The Midnight Walk straddles a fine line between beauty and terror while remaining engaging throughout.

Silent Hill f

Of course, it’s not just about balancing beauty and terror – sometimes, you can find each in the other, as Konami’s latest mainline Silent Hill showcases. Venturing outside the US for the first time, taking place in the fictitious Ebisugaoka in the 1960s, it’s a rural horror unlike anything the franchise has seen thus far. Deeply disturbing and unrelenting with its gore, yet never descending into senseless brutality, it’s a psychological trip that’s worth taking.

Total Chaos

A Doom 2 total conversion turned full-fledged horror by Sam Prebble of Turbo Overkill fame, this essentially captures all the reality-bending horror the former strived for. Between fighting grotesque horrors across Fort Oasis and trying to discover the truth of yourself, you’re crafting rudimentary weapons to fight back – all the while diving even deeper into this surprisingly meaty nightmare.

Hell is Us

While much of the emphasis remained on dungeon diving and getting by without any hand holding, Remi’s journey through the war-torn remains of Hadea isn’t without some disturbing sights. War crimes abound, but even discovering mountains of corpses and gruesome murders all in the name of ancient practices, which all connect back to the country’s bloody history, can get heavy. You won’t have to worry about jump scares or such, but it’s a stressful experience throughout.

Little Nightmares 3

It’s a shame that Supermassive didn’t innovate much on the gameplay because, in terms of the atmosphere and aesthetic, the spiral of Low and Alone through Nowhere is delightfully dreadful. Witness the Carnevale, with its sentient puppets that won’t stop attacking until you crush their heads. Flee the Supervisor, whose smile is almost as frightening as her Candy Factory. The frights may not be as out-and-out, but the sights remain as disturbing as ever.

Sleep Awake

Imagine if sleep were the enemy – the domain of an entity known as The Hush, who spirits away those that can’t resist nap time. Now imagine being one of the last few people on Earth trying to maintain their sanity. It’s an unconventional premise, sure, and Blumhouse Games further reinforces the surreality by mixing full-motion video with some gameplay sequences. Despite the iffy stealth sections and walking sim-like nature, its narrative stands strong.

Dying Light: The Beast

What’s there to be afraid of when my boy Kyle Crane, making his return after years in exile, can now rip apart zombies with his bare hands? As it turns out, when the sun goes down, everything. Volatiles are more ruthless, intelligent and brutal than ever, and we couldn’t be happier. It’s finally an achievement to survive the nighttime, which now looks properly foreboding and oppressive (the makeup of Castor Woods helps as well).

Cronos: The New Dawn

If Bloober Team was under immense pressure to deliver with Silent Hill 2 remake, then you have to wonder how much higher expectations were afterwards. Lo and behold, Cronos is another compelling survival horror – different, sure, especially with its post-apocalyptic body horror, sci-fi leanings, and unique premise, but still unrelentingly, stressfully frightening.

And the winner of the Best Horror Game of 2025 goes to…

Silent Hill f

Much like when Bloober Team was announced to remake Silent Hill 2, many were skeptical that NeoBards Entertainment could deliver a new mainline Silent Hill. Going back to the past is one thing, but forging a new experience forward, especially for a studio known for flops like RE:Verse and Resident Evil: Resistance? It seemed like Konami had lost its mind.

But it also announced that Higurashi no Naku Koro ni writer Ryukishi07 was penning the narrative while the brilliant kera handled the characters and creatures. Slowly and surely, despite skepticism surrounding its combat, Silent Hill f morphed into a compelling product. None of this could prepare anyone, even fans of the series, for what they would expect when stepping into the shoes of Shimizu Hinako. Heck, even Konatsu Kato, her Japanese voice actor, continues to be traumatized in her playthrough (to the entertainment of thousands, of course).

Suffice it to say, this is a masterclass in terror and pacing with grotesquely beautiful creatures that you couldn’t tear your eyes from. It offers a strong narrative with even stronger characterization (and a surprising number of layers thanks to its multiple endings). Did we mention the fantastic sound design and soundtrack? And as noted before, everything that you see, regardless of how brutal and cruel it can be, serves a purpose. It’s not unlike the symbolism seen in the series’s best games – just tackling new and undeniably uncomfortable themes.

I could go on, but the result is a powerful horror experience that makes you almost forget about the above-average combat. As a result, Silent Hill f is our pick for the top horror game of 2025. Walk in with as few spoilers as possible – you won’t regret it (maybe).

Here are the nominees for the best stealth game of 2025, starting with…

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Improving on one of the more universally agreed upon “greatest games of all time” isn’t easy. Thankfully, Konami didn’t seek to mess with the bones of Metal Gear Solid 3 when it made Delta: Snake Eater. Even with the overhauled visuals, the cutscenes retain every bit of emotion – even the goofiness – right down to the core. Everything just feels so robust and vibrant, like you’re venturing into the jungle and consuming snakes for the first time (in-game, of course). All the quality of life features – hurray for quick dial and the optional compass – don’t hurt either.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

The years come and go, but even with a different protagonist, Sniper Elite: Resistance maintains the same gameplay loop: Perch in a good location (preferably one where you can muffle sounds), aim, shoot and watch the extravagant X-Ray Kill Cam. There’s the whole mess of escaping without getting caught, not to mention the Hitman-like formula of overhearing enemies and gathering information on targets. You can even choose to forego sniping entirely for some good ol’ fashioned sneaking, but the real challenge and reward is in that perfect kill. In that vein, Resistance is as engaging while presenting all kinds of fun new environments to explore.

Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream

Arriving out of nowhere, Eriksholm immediately made a huge impression with its incredible art direction, Scandinavian architecture and gorgeous cutscenes. The story of Hanna, who’s on a quest to find her missing brother Herman while evading the police, is one told through an isometric perspective, as you’re slowly exposed to the highs, lows and sights of the city. And while it may feel straightforward at first, things take a turn when more characters are thrown into the mix.

Simply sneaking by isn’t enough – you need to coordinate each person’s unique ability, whether it’s knocking out enemies from afar or venting, all while keeping track of noise levels and enemy vision. It’s easy to get into and quickly ramps up the tension but never feels overwhelming – all while delivering a compelling story.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Has Hideo Kojima really been remaking Metal Gear 2 for decades? Your mileage may vary, but there’s no denying the series’ influences on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, even more so than the original. More combat with more accessible weapons is one example, but stealth is perhaps the biggest winner. Sneaking around bases and dispatching enemies is one thing, but tossing a decoy hologrenade for distractions or tossing Dollman to scope out the terrain makes it feel so much more enjoyable. Plus, you can now take down enemies without having to equip a Strand.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

We finally got Assassin’s Creed in Japan before GTA 6, and the development team didn’t skimp on all the potential of playing as a proper ninja. Yasuke is…Yasuke, when it comes to stealth, but Naoe’s moves feel like an evolution of everything in the series thus far. Stalking the rooftops, vaulting backwards to land seamlessly, clinging to ceilings when the opportunity arises – her entire kit is simply incredible to control. The fact that even more was added post-launch to improve her parkour abilities and further bolster enemy AI difficulty (if you so choose) also helps.

Alien: Rogue Incursion – Evolved Edition

Alien: Rogue Incursion VR, but without the VR, is perhaps the best way to describe Survios’ survival horror first-person shooter. And make no mistake – there’s a lot of shooting to be done, especially given the target-rich nature of Purdan. But if you close your eyes and stow those weapons, relying on the motion tracker while keeping your head low, Alien: Isolation might just manifest in all its glory. Or not. Either way, stealth is viable and arguably makes for a more compelling experience in the Evolved Edition.

Steel Seed

Another surprising new IP, Steel Seed, dazzles with its fast-paced platforming, combat and post-apocalyptic setting. It’s when the action takes a minute and presents you with the opportunity to sneak around, laying traps and assassinating foes, that it shines differently. Granted, the limited number of enemy types and tools is a downer, but each stealth section feels uniquely crafted and fun.

Little Nightmares 3

It’s not quite at the level of its predecessors, but Supermassive’s Little Nightmares 3 still presents plenty of terrifying scenarios. And who would guess that sneaking about is the best way? It could be evading Monster Baby’s massive hands or trying to wake the wooden puppets of the Carnevale (and if you do, trying to destroy them by coordinating attacks between Low and Alone). While it won’t win any awards for innovation, the creepy atmosphere and stealth fundamentals are solid enough that you’ll want to keep pushing through the darkness and beyond, to see what’s next.

Ghost of Yōtei

Stealth in Ghost of Tsushima was kind of a meme, which is a nice way of saying it made clearing some camps stupidly easy. Ghost of Yōtei’s foes are thankfully smarter, and it’s a tougher journey to maximise your killing potential. In a way, stealth is pretty much the best means for survival on Lethal difficulty, given how easily Atsu can be killed.

Upgrade enough of your tools, discover the right armor and equip the best Charms, and it’s not long before you’re dragging enemies to execute them with the kusarigama and slinking away, searching for your next victim. And if that wasn’t enough, the mysterious wolf can eventually unlock skills to assassinate enemies whenever you do, and immediately kill Brutes and Leaders with its abilities.

Commandos: Origins

With Shadow Tactics developer Mimimi Productions officially closed, we had to look to an old killer to accommodate our team-based real-time tactical needs. Commandos: Origins serves as a prequel, outlining how the iconic unit is formed, but it still sticks to the formula that fans know and love. Each character has their own skills and tools, yet how they’re utilized is completely up to you. Create distractions, take out enemy guards stealthily or bypass them entirely to complete objectives. It’s challenging, but being able to experiment so extensively makes victory that much more satisfying.

And the Best Stealth Game of 2025 is…

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Standing out as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in a legendary tactical stealth series isn’t easy, but it was just another day in the jungle for Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Much bigger, sandbox-like environments with a lot more room for experimentation; a camouflage system that required adapting to the level to stay hidden; and, of course, the CQC system all made for a ground-breaking stealth experience.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Konami’s long-awaited remake, doesn’t change any of that. Rather, the new over-the-shoulder perspective offers a unique twist on everything, while camouflage can be affected by mud and other environmental factors, which is a lot more dynamic. Seeing Snake’s injuries develop into scars that remain till the end of the game and telling a story of their own? An incredible touch, among many others.

You could argue that it doesn’t innovate much on the original, but Metal Gear Solid 3 already revolutionized the genre – this is just the victory lap (and a potential new beginning, if more remakes are incoming). For that and many other reasons, it’s our pick for 2025’s best stealth title.

God of War 

There aren’t many games that are able to deliver a stunning experience in such a smooth manner as Sony Santa Monica was able to do with the 2018 reboot. This story sets the protagonist in a new setting; new boss fights and outstanding level design. It’s both fresh and recognizable at the same time, and the new combat and the camera on offer also embodies the spirit of modern third person game while making it more intentional. The 2018 reboot is definitely one of the best games on the PS4, and is a great starting point for newcomers.

Gears 5

The Gears series was always at the forefront of modern rendering techniques, and Gears 5 is obviously no different in that regard. Released in 2019, Gears 5 continues to impress with its gorgeous level of detail present in every aspect of the presentation, including but not limited to the environment, characters, and the sheer spectacle of the firefights on offer.

Silent Hill f

Silent Hill f takes the long-running horror franchise in a completely new direction, setting its story in 1960s Japan instead of the fog-covered town for the better. Silent Hill f expertly blends psychological horror with grotesque body transformations, crafting a disturbing experience that is both tragic and mesmerizing. Every frame oozes dread, and the hauntingly beautiful visuals serve as a chilling contrast to the decay creeping beneath the surface.

This time, players control Low and Alone, a new pair of children seeking to escape The Spiral. As with previous titles, this means sneaking past threats, though each is armed with a new tool to progress forward. Unlike its predecessor, Little Nightmares 3 offers online co-op (no couch co-op, unfortunately). Those who purchase the title can invite their friends using the Friend’s Pass for full access.

Check out our review for the title here – we gave it a nine out of ten – or play the free demo, which focuses on the opening in the Necropolis, evading Monster Baby. Even more content is coming post-launch with the Secrets of the Spiral Expansion Pass, which adds two additional DLC chapters. The first arrives between April and June 2026, while the second debuts in October to December 2026.

This new adventure leaves Six and Mono, the protagonists of the previous two games behind in favor of a new dynamic duo that finally brings online co-op to the table. It’s quite easy to see how this is a game that’s best enjoyed with a friend, solving its puzzles together while having some company during its intense moments is always welcome.

"The art direction on display in Little Nightmares III is simply phenomenal."

We’re introduced to Low and Alone, our new leads, quite early on in the game. If you’re playing through this one solo, you get to choose between Low’s bow or Alone’s wrench, with the game’s AI taking over the other character. Things quickly escalate for the pair as they traverse the first area of the game, a derelict hospital that’s under the purview of a giant, very disturbing toddler.

The franchise’s unforgettable take on hide and seek is very much in play, as Low and Alone must use their wits and stealth to stay one step ahead of the threats they face, carefully making their way between safe points and just gunning it when they are spotted. If you’ve played the first two games, you’re going to settle in quite quickly with this one, leaving you to enjoy the franchise’s most ambitious entry yet.

The art direction on display in Little Nightmares III is simply phenomenal. Each level boasts a distinct visual identity, presumably being a creation of the protagonist’s imagination. While there wasn’t much of a story to it for the most part, that’s an omission that has allowed the developers to just let loose and let their imaginations run wild. The result is a nightmare that’s probably going to stay with you when you’re awake.

"If you’ve played the first two games, you’re going to settle in quite quickly with this one, leaving you to enjoy the franchise’s most ambitious entry yet."

That palpable tension I spoke of earlier? It permeates the very air in each of the game’s levels, helped along by a soundtrack and level design that help weave it into every step you take on your way to the next mirror. Low and Alone do have a few options to engage smaller enemies this time around but the moments where you need to are few and far between. It’s generally a combination of using the bow to down an enemy and the wrench to ensure it stays down, although there are twists to that pattern we won’t spoil.

What isn’t simple, however, is the way each level comes with unique puzzles and a strikingly memorable main enemy. That grotesque baby in the hospital is joined by other monstrosities whose designs are literally the stuff of nightmares. They are able to crush you with relative ease, forcing you to stay on the down low and run for your life in a few chase sequences when they finally track you down. I’m not going to forget the puppet master and his vicious companion anytime soon, and I’m fairly certain that you won’t either once you play through that particularly harrowing level.

The puzzles in Little Nightmares III are an additional layer of challenge, often having such devilishly simple solutions that could be staring you right in the face but are so well-hidden in plain sight. I spent hours trying to disable a cooling vent’s fan only to find a switch that I could easily reach in the very next room. There was also a very memorable one that had me spinning a chandelier around, trying to line up its platforms with a hard to reach ledge that put both my spatial and platforming skills to the test.

"The puzzles in Little Nightmares III are an additional layer of challenge, often having such devilishly simple solutions that could be staring you right in the face but are so well-hidden in plain sight."

It’s a pity, then, that the platforming sections are wildly inconsistent thanks to the game’s camera choosing to be a passive observer rather than an active participant in my struggles. It’s a gripe that I had with the last two games and although it’s certainly an improvement, there’s still a lot to be desired from it. Many of my deaths were thanks to my jumps not lining up correctly, and a control scheme that took a while to get used to. I’d say that the game’s camera angles were among its greatest threats.

However, the rest of the experience is sublime. Low and Alone’s character designs are adorable and the few costume options I had available were pretty cool. Enemy designs are suitably grotesque and terrifying, as are the levels. Each new area reeks of desolation that’s appropriately themed to match the monster it houses.

While the levels themselves are fairly linear, they are so well-designed that it isn’t really an issue, and each one gives you a sense of progression as you carefully make your way through it. Every room in the game was suffocating to say the least, the silence weighing heavily on me as I tried to figure out where to go next and how I was going to get there.

And in those moments where it was time to run, there was sheer panic and the need to think very quickly as I leapt across gaps and ducked into dark corners to throw my enemy off. The game’s AI was quite helpful in this regard, with my partner easily leading me to places of relative safety although I believe they could have been a tad more useful when solving puzzles. However, it’s a balance I’d gladly accept as it made me really work for my progress which is never a bad thing in my book.

"While its occasionally shoddy camera and controls hold it back from true greatness, this one’s still quite easy to recommend."

I’d highly recommend diving into this one with a friend though, as that’s where the true beauty of this game lies. I imagine that things could actually get harder thanks to the two of you having to figure out where to go even during chases, and you can expect quite a few failed attempts to get to safety.

That’s not because of a lack of skill but thanks to the game being designed that way. It demands patience and perseverance, rewarding those of you who persist with more of its incredible designs and a take on horror that doesn’t rely on jump scares. Instead, Little Nightmares III brings thrills and chills baked into its very DNA, a facet of the experience that’s becoming the franchise’s calling card at this point.

While its occasionally shoddy camera and controls hold it back from true greatness, this one’s still quite easy to recommend. It’s easy to learn but hard to navigate, and is a game that you should take your time with. It’s perfect for a slow weekend where you and a buddy are looking for a title that’s fun to play and so artfully designed it takes your breath away. And, of course, makes you forget to breathe when it kicks into gear!

Little Nightmares III is a worthy addition to the franchise, and perhaps even the best one of them all. It builds on the strengths of its predecessors while taking the franchise to new heights.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

From evading Monster Baby in the Necropolis to hitching a rollercoaster ride in the Carnevale, it’s a not-so-subtle depiction of what nightmares the duo will face. And while it seemingly ends with these being nothing more than drawings, an ominous figure approaches, likely with sinister intentions.

If there were ever any concerns about Supermassive Games being unable to recreate the vibe of the previous titles, Little Nightmares 3 has steadily proven otherwise in the past few months. It launches on October 10th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 with a free demo available now. Check out our feature for everything you should know.

However, with a new studio at the helm and a catalogue of community-led feedback, the series is set for a revamp. Little Nightmares III aims to shake up the formula by shifting to co-operative-first gameplay. There is much to anticipate for new and returning fans: here’s 15 things which differentiate Little Nightmares III from its predecessor.

New Protagonists

Little Nightmares III introduces a brand new pair of unlucky heroes – Low and Alone – and much like Mono and Six before them, they’ll need to rely on each other to survive a world of grotesque monsters and shuffling dread. Alone is a resourceful young girl with pigtails and an aviator mask, mechanically gifted and loyally grounded. The bird masked Low is an imaginative boy who’s unusually resolute for his age. He’s convinced he can lead the pair to safety.

Each Character Wields a ‘Hero Item’

Where Mono and Six had to make do with improvised tools, Low and Alone each carry a signature item throughout the game. Alone carries a wrench which she uses as both a blungeoning melee weapon and a device for adjusting machinery. Low wields a bow and arrow, giving him ranged ability to hit enemies or out-of-reach switches from afar. These tools don’t seem naturally complementary; it’ll be intriguing to see how the game treats combat encounters and puzzles given both the overlap and divergence of our duo’s skills.

Co-op From the Ground Up

Undeniably, the biggest shift for the threequel is co-operative play, built from the ground up. Whilst both Little Nightmares II and Little Nightmares III star a pair of heroes, only in III can players control both protagonists in a full two-player experience. Puzzles and encounters will require simultaneous interaction – one player distracting a monster whilst the other sneaks through, or both players pulling levers in sequence. Alongside being a community-requested feature, this design choice represents a natural evolution for the series. Reportedly, the game’s interactions aren’t especially challenging; instead, tension is heightened with survival hinging on communication and teamwork.

Solo Play, Reimagined

Despite Little Nightmares III being designed with co-operative play at its core, the game can still be played solo with a campaign that’s balanced for single players. The misadventure can be experienced through either Low or Alone’s perspective, with computer-controlled AI taking command of the other. Much like It Takes Two or Split Fiction, sections of gameplay – or the entire thing – can be replayed as the other character, opening the door to seeing how each toolset changes the experience.

New Enemies

The series’ monstrous Residents remain the principal threat to our heroes’ welfare, and in Little Nightmares III, some of the most disturbing enemies yet have been revealed. The Supervisor is a six-armed factory overseer obsessed with perfection, whilst the Monster Baby stalks a ruined necropolis in search of their next ‘toy’. Thematically, these creature designs appear to lean towards anxieties surrounding authority and vulnerability. Little Nightmares II gave us the nightmarishly memorable Teacher, Doctor, and the Thin Man, but III looks like it’ll be upping the Residents’ scare factor.

New Setting

In Little Nightmares II, Mono and Six braved the Pale City, exploring the Wilderness, the School, the Hospital, and the Transmission on their journey to the Signal Tower. Low and Alone are instead trapped in the Spiral, a realm within the Nowhere like the Pale City that’s described as a cluster of disturbing places; a fragmented, dreamlike fever imbued by visions of torment and trauma awaits our pair, with each new biome becoming increasingly hostile to their survival.

Biome Variety

The Spiral’s confirmed locations so far include the Necropolis, the Canivale, and the Candy Factory. Each a mysterious dystopia, playing through Little Nightmares III feels like an anthology of nightmares rather than the more linear progression of Little Nightmares II. Accompanying III’s aesthetic shifts will be level-distinct use of Low and Alone’s co-operative ability; Low might shoot for dusty ropes between crumbling platforms above the Necropolis’ desert sand, whilst Alone’s wrench will undoubtedly be used to fix broken fairground machinery.

Tone and Scare Profile

Little Nightmares III retains the series’ signature oppressive atmosphere and fantastical horror, however it can be argued the threequel’s co-operative gameplay could soften the tense feelings of isolation that weigh heavily on Mono and the computer-controlled Six in Little Nightmares II. Driving II’s fear are themes of escapism; escape from adulthood, corrupted society, and the loss of innocence, each encapsulated tonally in a growing sense of hopelessness. III seems to favour sustained dread to unsettle its players, using its shared problem-solving mechanics to create a slow-burning anxiety.

Narrative On-boarding

Little Nightmares II functioned as a bridge to its predecessor, with returning characters and embellished lore which rewarded players who were continuing from the first Little Nightmares. By contrast, Little Nightmares III is being advertised as a completely standalone entry. With new protagonists and a freshly noxious realm to explore, no prior knowledge of the series is required to get the most out of it.

Online Only Co-op

We’ve just speculated on Little Nightmares’ signature dread-inducing isolation losing its edge due to III’s co-operative gameplay. Well, to counteract this and to maintain an isolated atmosphere, the game will be playable in online co-op only. In other words: there’ll be no couch co-op. To make it easier to play with friends, Little Nightmares III includes a Friend’s Pass, with only one player needing to purchase the game to play with someone they know. Little Nightmares II had none of these features, of course, given it was single player only.

Platform pairing rules

Little Nightmares III will support cross-generational play within the same console family, but not cross-platform play. At launch, at least, a pair of players across, say, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 can tackle Low and Alone’s misadventure through the Spiral together. If you’re a PC player and your mate owns a Switch, well, you’re out of luck. Hopefully cross-platform play will be added at a later date as, with an emphasis on online co-op, not including this feature at launch feels like a misstep.

Save File Constraints

Little Nightmares III will not support cross-save or cross-progression functionality at launch. Meaning, in other words, your save file will be locked to the platform you start on. Progress can be continued across the same platform which is a change from Little Nightmares II where save files could not be transferred between different systems. Furthermore, save files that started in co-op cannot be switched to solo mid-campaign. Little Nightmares III offers up to eight save slots to counteract this limitation.

Voice Chat

We know what you’re thinking: if Little Nightmares III is online co-op only, perhaps the game will embed a communication tool between players. Well, no, the threequel will not have any built-in communication tools, such as voice chat. This, much like the online only decision, is to preserve the suffocating atmosphere. It seems as though playthroughs will function similarly to when one wanderer encounters another in Journey; both titles include a ‘call’ feature to alert companions.

Studio Change

Another substantial difference is the change in the development studio. Up to Little Nightmares II, the series was shepherded by Tarsier Studios. Following their acquisition by Embracer Group in 2019, the studio moved away from Little Nightmares and began working on the conceptually similar Reanimal due to release in 2026. The reigns have been handed to Until Dawn and The Quarry studio Supermassive Games, and even though the celebrated team studied Little Nightmares I & II in detail, they’re intent on bringing their own unique strengths and passion to the third entry.

Post-launch Model

Little Nightmares III already features broader post-launch plans than its predecessor in the shape of the Secrets of the Spiral DLC. Including costume sets on launch, plus two extra story chapters coming later on, III’s DLC plans hint at the possibility of deeper world building beyond the Spiral. By comparison, Little Nightmares II featured an optional puzzle segment in its Nome’s Attic DLC.