Little Nightmares II already promises to surpass its hauntingly good predecessor with deeper mechanics, increased difficulty, and more ominous foes. Luckily, we were able to get our hands on a demo, showcasing a part of Little Nightmares II's hospital chapter. There will be minor spoilers within the article, but nothing that discusses main story elements.

I'm not going to beat around the bush – Little Nightmares is a triumph in atmospheric horror. Spooky, minimalist storytelling has never looked better, and Tarsier Studios hasn't slowed down since Little Nightmares' release in 2017. Additional DLC, Secrets of the Maw, came about later that year, deepening the difficulty and lore. Now, a proper sequel is right around the corner, currently slated for a release on February 11, 2021.

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First Impressions

As soon as Little Nightmares II booted up, I was met with a dreary animation of what I presume to be the coast of the Pale City. Waves calmly lap at the sand that lies below a series of towering buildings, accompanied by a new version of the original theme song. The ominous humming melody is back, but with more developed instrumentation and structure. Even before beginning the gameplay, I found myself inspired by the strong atmosphere – exactly what Little Nightmares earned a reputation for.

Little Nightmares II Menu Screen
Little Nightmares II Menu Screen

The gameplay from the short demo wasn't mind-blowing. It felt a lot like the first game, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Building from Tarsier Studios' past formula, Little Nightmares II primarily forces you to pay attention to the details of your surroundings to conquer setbacks and avoid death. This time, however, you'll be working with a partner in crime.

The new protagonist, Mono, teams up with the previous game's protagonist, Six. Together, they allow for a new interactive mechanic entitled "call." Activating the ability prompts the two to whisper to each other, which sends Six over to Mono. Later in the demo, there was a moment when Six actually called out to me, having me run over to her. The gameplay effect is subtle, yet it strengthens the tense atmosphere by giving hushed, determined voices to our two young heroes. Additionally, Six (as an AI companion) seems to have a much more strong, useful presence than that of the gnomes, for instance.

Little Nightmares 2 Mono And Six
Little Nightmares 2 Mono And Six

Mono is also different than Six, even though the pair are approximately the same height. He is a bit stronger than we're used to, able to pick up and swing heavier objects at obstacles or foes. Although not shown in the demo, he also has the ability to travel through TVs.

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Difficulty And Atmosphere

Based on the hospital demo, which is an "advanced" stage in the game, the difficulty has continued to increase from Secrets of the Maw. I ran into multiple dangerous foes, including animated, severed hand-spiders, as well as malicious mannequins that only move in the darkness. I found the latter to be a particularly difficult nuisance, as the flashlight that Mono is armed with isn't the easiest to control while moving. The mannequins were often shockingly fast, so I had to freeze them in place by accurately pointing the light at them as Mono walked. Overall, the gameplay builds on the mechanics that made Little Nightmares intriguing, while adding in extra depth and difficulty.

Little Nightmares 2 Hospital Mannequins

Aside from my highly-kinetic pursuers, there was a smattering of puzzles and environmental hazards that kept me on my toes. Nothing was shockingly new, but it felt fresh controlling a unique new protagonist with Six helping out along the way. The main twist of the demo was the very end, where you get your first glimpse and the overweight, ceiling-dwelling Doctor. If the full game is similar to this hospital snippet – I can't imagine there will be many complaints from fans of the genre.

More than anything else, Little Nightmares II still strikes me as an entry that puts atmospheric storytelling first. Through beautiful art and colors, fascinating sound design and music, creepy antagonists, and chilling settings – Tarsier Studios appears to have successfully designed yet another world where you will feel small, outclassed, and desperate to succeed in your mission.

NEXT: Little Nightmares II Releases Mono Promo Image