Little Nightmares III introduces a fresh take on the series, renowned for its unsettling world and haunting atmosphere.
For the very first time, you can face your childhood fears with a friend. Thanks to the online co-op mode, Little Nightmares III shifts from a solo journey to a shared adventure.
The franchise’s core features (platforming, stealth, environmental storytelling) remain front and center, but the new multiplayer mode adds a fresh layer of tension and dread.
Whether you choose to explore The Spiral with a friend via online multiplayer or play solo with an AI companion, co-op sits at the heart of Little Nightmares III.
This article presents the new gameplay mechanics and characters shaping the journey—and explains why co-op is redefining the franchise.
What Is Little Nightmares III?
Little Nightmares III is the latest entry in Bandai Namco’s acclaimed atmospheric platformer series. This time, you play as two new protagonists, Low and Alone, and can experience the entire game with a friend online or solo with an AI companion.
No more facing nightmares in isolation: survival now goes hand-in-hand with collaboration, making Little Nightmares III the most ambitious evolution in the series so far.
Meet Low and Alone — the two new protagonists of Little Nightmares III
In Little Nightmares III, you step into the roles of Low and Alone, two children trapped in the twisted world of The Spiral.
Each brings unique tools and abilities that define how they interact with the environment.
Low wields a bow and arrows, allowing him to strike from a distance and solve puzzles with precision.
Alone, on the other hand, carries a wrench — a versatile tool ideal for smashing obstacles, turning mechanisms, and forcing her way through barriers.
These complementary skills create a natural synergy.
Low’s agility and reach pair perfectly with Alone’s strength and resilience, and some challenges will require combining their talents to succeed.
This design reinforces the central theme of Little Nightmares III: survival is no longer an individual struggle but a shared responsibility.
You’ll quickly realize that if either child were truly alone, they wouldn’t have made it this far.
A dark atmosphere through the lens of co-op
Little Nightmares has always been defined by an oppressive atmosphere: shadows stretching across warped corridors, grotesque figures emerging from the dark, and a constant, heavy tension.
In Little Nightmares III, that familiar dread takes on a new dimension in co-op.
Instead of enduring fear alone, players now share the weight of every moment.
A puzzle that could once be solved in silence becomes a taut collaboration; a chase through collapsing corridors turns into a frantic scramble where both must survive.
In The Spiral, fear becomes collective, and the environment feels even more hostile because every decision affects not just your survival but your partner’s as well.
This renewed tension keeps Little Nightmares III true to the series’ identity while evolving into something more immersive than ever.
Little Nightmares Co-op — What Fans Can Expect
Why online co-op makes Little Nightmares III unique compared to the first two games
In the first Little Nightmares, you were utterly alone in the depths of The Maw, relying only on instinct and stealth to survive.
Little Nightmares II refined the formula with Mono and the return of Six as an AI-controlled companion, but it remained a strictly single-player experience.
Adding true co-op in Little Nightmares III is the series’ boldest shift yet. For the first time, you can play with
a friend from start to finish, tackling every puzzle, chase, and escape together.
Beyond variety, this fundamentally changes the atmosphere. The signature loneliness of earlier entries gives way to shared dread.
One misstep puts both players at risk — and solving a puzzle feels like a shared triumph.
In this sense, Little Nightmares III transforms the franchise’s DNA without losing its core.
By placing co-op at the center, Little Nightmares III stands out not only within the series but across the horror genre as a whole.
It’s more than an addition; it’s the feature that sets the game apart.
An exploration of friendship
With its companion system, Little Nightmares II explored themes of trust, suspicion, and ultimately betrayal. Little Nightmares III focuses more on friendship itself.
Fans who remember the unforgettable turns of the previous games may be surprised by the protagonists’ kinder bond.
Low and Alone have been traveling together for some time; their loyalty isn’t in question — but forces greater than them may intervene.
How will they react when faced with an impossible choice? And how strong is your friendship with the person on the other side of the screen?
The only way to find out is to face the truth together.
Little Nightmares III
Free Trial & Friend’s Pass
To learn more about the Free Trial and the Friend’s Pass, check out our dedicated article:
FAQ: Online Co-op in Little Nightmares III
Is Little Nightmares III co-op or multiplayer?
Yes — you can play the entirety of Little Nightmares III in co-op.
For the first time in the franchise, the whole game can be played in multiplayer: two players on the same platform control Low and Alone throughout each chapter, tackling tense exploration, puzzles, and terrifying encounters with monstrous Residents.
This is a full experience — not a handful of missions or a side mode. The entire journey can be played with a friend online.
Little Nightmares III uses multiplayer to heighten the series’ unsettling tone by raising the stakes of every close call.
Every avoided death ratchets up the tension — for both players.
Does Little Nightmares III support cross-play?
No — Little Nightmares III does not support cross-play.
If you want to play co-op with a friend, you must both be on the same platform.
For example, if you’re on PC, your partner also needs to be on PC. The same applies to other platforms where Little Nightmares III is available: PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch.
Can you play Little Nightmares III solo?
Absolutely. Little Nightmares III is designed for both co-op and solo play.
When playing solo, the second character is controlled by AI.
As with Six in Little Nightmares II, this AI companion responds to your actions and helps with puzzles and challenges as you explore The Spiral.
Whether you prefer the shared intensity of multiplayer or the eerie solitude of single-player, the experience remains authentic and complete.
Can you switch between multiplayer and solo mid-game?
No — you can’t change modes during a single playthrough.
You have multiple save files allowing you to start separate solo and multiplayer runs on the same copy of Little Nightmares III.
However, if you start a multiplayer game, you’ll need to finish it in multiplayer.
The same goes for a solo run — you can’t invite a co-op friend into an existing solo playthrough. To play together, start a new game with your friend.
Is Little Nightmares III online-only?
No. While Little Nightmares III emphasizes online co-op, you can play solo with an AI companion.
You can enjoy the full story of Low and Alone without an internet connection (though updates may be required for optimal play).
Online multiplayer exists to enrich the experience — not restrict it.
The teams at Bandai Namco Entertainment and Supermassive Games have ensured that every player, connected or offline, can explore The Spiral and face its horrors at their own pace.
Did Little Nightmares II have co-op?
No. Little Nightmares II introduced Mono and brought back Six as a companion, but it was strictly single-player.
Six acted as an AI-controlled partner, enabling moments of cooperation, but it wasn’t possible to share the adventure with another human player.
That’s why adding multiplayer to Little Nightmares III is such a groundbreaking step.
It evolves the idea of companionship from Little Nightmares II into full-fledged co-op gameplay, delivering the experience many fans imagined while playing the earlier titles.
