Little Nightmares 3 offers a new world with new characters. As this is the third game in the series, onlookers finally peeking into the franchise are curious as to whether this is a direct sequel, if the worlds are reconnected, and also if you need to play either of the first two games before hopping into Little Nightmares 3 for the first time.
This might surprise you, but the Little Nightmares franchise has sold over 20 million units worldwide! This is a phenomenal achievement for an indie title. However, Little Nightmares 3 is moving closer to AA territory with the introduction of Supermassive Games—a renowned horror expert.
But today, we’re seeing if there’s a disconnect between Little Nightmares 3 and the titles that came before it, and tell you everything you need to know if you’re on the fence about buying.
Do You Need To Play Little Nightmares 1 or 2 Before Playing Little Nightmares 3?
You do not need to play Little Nightmares 1 or Little Nightmares 2 before playing Little Nightmares 3, as this is a new adventure independent of the first two games.
Little Nightmares 3 features two brand-new characters—Low and Alone. The side-scrolling puzzle-platformer also takes place in a fresh location—The Nowhere. None of these properties has featured in previous Little Nightmares games.
So if you’re worried about missing out on crucial story lore or not understanding the game due to missing a piece of the puzzle, we can assure you that everything is learned and uncovered as you play.
Is Little Nightmares 3 Connected To The First Two Games?
The short is no, we don’t think Little Nightmares 3 is directly connected to either of the first two games.
At best, there’s a loose sense that Low and Alone share the same world, although it’s not directly implied. Whereas Little Nightmares 1 and 2 are more overt, as Six—the main character in Little Nightmares 1—also appears alongside Mono in Little Nightmares 2.
The second game is a prequel to the first, which is why they tie together so nicely and fittingly. But Little Nightmare 2 is its own entity. Everything about it is fresh, and we think it symbolizes the new beginning as the series’ development shifts away from Tarsier Games to Supermassive Games.
There could be some subtle clues we’ve missed throughout our playthrough—which we discussed in our Little Nightmares 3 review—otherwise, you should be fine if this is your first LN experience!
To recap, you don’t need to play either of the first two games before playing Little Nightmares 3. The world may be faintly connected, but this is a new adventure, and a new story. Let us know how you get on with Little Nightmares 3 via the official Insider Gaming forum.
We have much more Little Nightmares 3 content to check out: All Necropolis Chapter 1 Doll locations, All Candy Factory Chapter 2 Dolls locations, How Long to Beat Little Nightmares 3, and the game’s trophy list.
Andy is Insider Gaming's Senior Evergreen Editor and has been in the games journalism sphere in one way or another for over 7 years. His video game taste is as…
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