10 Games Like Little Nightmares To Check Out

There’s absolutely nothing little about the nightmares in Tarsier Studios’ side-scrolling horror platform. Unfortunately, they’re not endless nightmares, so once you’ve guided Seven and Mono through their hellish adventures, all that’s left to do is start over from the beginning. Unless, of course, we pinpoint a few games like Little Nightmares for you.

That’s exactly what we’ve done here. These ten games carry the essence of Little Nightmares, either by matching its playstyle, themes, or aesthetics. If you’re looking for more of the twisted denizens and dilapidated environments, these games should tide you over until the inevitable release of Little Nightmares III.

 

Games Like Little Nightmares

10. Machinarium

Developer: Amanita Design
Publisher: Amanita Design

When the Black Cap Brotherhood gang kidnaps Berta, only Josef the robot can navigate the industrial world and bring her back. Some of that may have sounded like nonsense, but it’s the premise of Amanita’s point and click steampunk adventure, Machinarium.

This delightful tale of robot love and heroism leaves behind the horrors of Little Nightmares but keeps some of the strange aesthetics. A unique art style brings the steampunk world to life and, much like with Little Nightmare’s own world, is half the reason to boot up Machinarium. Sure, the gameplay is entertaining, if not a little simplistic, but it’s the world design that really excels.

Solve puzzles, unravel the surprisingly deep story, and reunite with your robo-girlfriend in this quirky mechanical quest.

 

9. Pinstripe

Developer: Atmos Games
Publisher: Atmos Games

It’s very easy to interpret Little Nightmares as an attempt to escape hell. With Pinstripe, you don’t have to interpret it that way. That’s quite literally the story as ex-minister Teddy descends into the afterlife to find his kidnapped three-year-old daughter. It’s a grim premise, but Pinstripe is an inspiring premise that comes with plenty of challenges.

Equipped with little more than a slingshot and his wits, Teddy maneuvers the frozen landscape, fending off monsters and solving clever puzzles. Slap a real combat mechanic onto Little Nightmares, and Pinstripe would be even more closely related as the two thrive off their signature styles and perilous journeys into unknown lands.

Pinstripe is adored for many of the same reasons Little Nightmares is – art style, sound design, and atmosphere.

 

8. Planet Alpha

Developer: Planet Alpha ApS
Publisher: Team17 Digital Ltd

You’re going to notice one thing that many of these games have in common with Little Nightmares – their worlds are a significant part of the story. Planet Alpha drops players on a mysterious alien world where everything is deadly, and hope is a rare commodity.

The perils are abundant for anyone trying to survive the hostile landscape. Like in Little Nightmares, the goal is to simply stay alive long enough to understand why you’re in the situation you’re on. To do so, you’ll traverse a vibrant land, manipulate standard platformer mechanics, manipulate the planet’s solar cycle and use the change in day and night to your advantage.

Planet Alpha is beautiful, but there are many extraterrestrial threats lying in wait for some hapless fool to make one wrong move.

 

7. Sea of Solitude

Developer: Jo-Mei Games
Publisher: Electronic Arts

If you enjoyed the monsters of Little Nightmares, you’re going to love what Sea of Solitude has in store. Though the game is all about the effects of loneliness, it hides its core theme behind monstrosities tucked within the deep blue.

Sea of Solitude introduces you to a variety of creatures, all with their own story and plight. As you guide the game’s protagonist, Kay, through the watery world, you’ll overcome challenges and alter the landscape. The deeper Kay gets into the titular sea, the more the world evolves around her.

Sea of Solitude is a healthy blend of emotional storytelling and engaging gameplay. And if neither of those really appeal to you, at least there are monsters you’ll come face-to-face with.

 

6. Obusite

Developer: Darkest Room
Publisher: Darkest Room

Not only does Obusite emulate the Little Nightmares series, it practically puls right from them. If you’ve played Little Nightmares, then all of this will look incredibly familiar. A tiny protagonist slinks around a much bigger world filled with antagonistic giants. It’s a recognizable formula, but it works so well we’re not mad.

Being indie-developed, Obusite can get away with practically being a Little Nightmares clone. We’d like to think of it more as a spiritual successor, just with deadly photographs that can trap you in a literal hell. Obusite has a few areas that could use some TLC, but overall, it works hard to deliver effective thrills.

Most importantly, it helps fill the void once you’ve done all you can with Seven and Mono.

 

5. Unravel

Developer: Coldwood Interactive
Publisher: Electronic Arts

If it’s the platforming of Little Nightmares that really drew you in, the whimsical physics-based puzzler, Unravel, should have no issues appealing to you. Yarny may be a thread of yarn, but he’s imbued with enough spirit to embark on a thrilling adventure across the beautiful landscapes of Northern Scandinavia.

While you’ll spend much of the time admiring the scenery in Unravel, Coldwood Interactive was sure to break up the visuals with puzzles that use the environment and its inhabitants to make any headway.

Like Little Nightmares, Unravel is a very visual journey, and the heartfelt story of memories and family is told through Yarny’s actions. The two games are thematically and tonally different, so approach Unravel knowing you’re in for something brighter and more hopeful. Once you’re done, be sure to check out the sequel.

 

4. Lone Survivor

Developer: Jasper Byrne
Publisher: Superflat Games

Little Nightmares is a psychological horror through and through. The imagery, the monsters, and what’s alluded to happening behind the scenes all come together to make players feel very, very uncomfortable. Lone Survivor is quite similar in that regard, ensuring there’s not a moment of real peace once you start.

The side-scrolling survival horror game immerses you into a disease-ridden city with only one goal – escape. A blend of combat and stealth is all you have to survive the psychological horrors brought to life by stress and exhaustion. Lone Survivor features branching paths and a host of craftable items to experiment with on your journey.

This pixelated horror does a great job of matching the tone of Little Nightmares and sometimes feels like a crossbreed of Tarsier’s series and Silent Hill.

 

3. Among the Sleep

Developer: Krillbite Studio
Publisher: Krillbite Studio

We all had grand adventures as children. But did those adventures involve running away from a terrifying version of your mother? Maybe they did, depending on how naturally unpleasant your childhood was. And if that’s the case, you may feel a connection to David, a toddler who’s immersed in a horrifying adventure.

Shortly after his second birthday, David and his new friend, Teddy, sink into a darkness stalked by ominous figures. The shadows torment the toddler, following him throughout fantastical landscapes as he tries to find his way back home to his mother. Of course, Among the Sleep is a game of symbolism, and everything represents something else. As you can probably guess based on the tone, it’s not a happy tale, and the game tackles very sensitive topics.

Among the Sleep will resonate with many players as it tackles very real issues faced by children. Like Little Nightmares, the game is very well done and perfectly blends horror with reality.

 

2. Inside

Developer: Playdead
Publisher: Playdead

There are two games that, when you ask anyone for their recommendations for games like Little Nightmares, will always come up. Playdead’s Inside happens to be one of them. There are quite a few parallels between the two titles, more so than that they’re both puzzlers and incredibly atmospheric.

Both games deal with very deep and dark narratives set in worlds that want nothing more than to completely obliterate one’s soul and will to live. Whereas in Little Nightmares, Seven is a mere snack for the slovenly inhabitants of The Maw, an allegory for the dynamic between the rich and the poor, Inside is about control and conformity. In both scenarios, you’re just trying to survive and not succumb to the system.

Inside delivers its message through engaging platforming and a unique art style that really helps define the world.

 

1. Limbo

Developer: Playdead
Publisher: Playdead

Limbo is the second title that players often attribute as being very similar to Little Nightmares. It was also Playdead’s inaugural game that predated Tarsier Studio’s horror title by six years. The premise is simple: you enter Limbo to track down your sister, whose fate is unknown, and find your path littered with puzzles and many hazards.

For being five years older than Little Nightmares, Limbo still held up well to compete with the side-scrolling horror title. Mechanically, the two games are very similar, and players will find themselves accomplishing similar tasks. What Limbo is a persistent threat to keep you terrified and pushing forward. Sure, there’s a giant spider that’s as terrifying as it is large, but the real dangers are mistimed jumps.

Limbo’s monochromatic style really captures the tone of the game. Which, as you can guess from its setting, is far from happy.

READ NEXT: 10 Games Like Deus Ex That You Actually Asked For