Little Nightmares 3: A Potential Standout for Spooky Season, But With Caveats

Sure! Here’s a rewritten version:

Alright, let’s dive into this tangled web called Little Nightmares 3. Feels like forever ago, right? Back when Tarsier Studios first cooked this up, then boom, Embracer Group snagged them in 2019. But hold on, Bandai Namco didn’t let go of the rights. Nope. They were just sitting there, waiting for the right moment to drop a new bomb on us. And then August 2023, bam! They announced Little Nightmares 3. Mix that with Supermassive Games — y’know, the brains behind Until Dawn and Dark Pictures. Seriously, how did those two worlds even collide?

Originally, we were supposed to see this in 2024. But nothing materialized. Sort of like when you promise yourself you’ll start eating healthier… someday. Anyway, they officially pushed it to 2025. Now we’ve got October 10, 2025, stamped in ink. Just in time to clash head-on with Split Fiction for the prime spooky season spot. But there’s this pesky little detail about the whole co-op situation that’s got everyone scratching their heads.

Now, speaking of spooky, co-op games are still riding high. But story-driven ones? Definitely not as common. Hazelight Studios, though — hats off to them — carved a niche. Remember A Way Out? That was 2018’s gift. A thrilling prison break with a buddy. Fast forward to 2021, It Takes Two took the game awards by storm. Split Fiction popped up this year, too, riding Hazelight’s co-op wave. Seeing that it rated higher than its predecessors, it’s clear folks are eating this up.

Hazelight’s charm? Local co-op at its core. Good old days flashback here: GoldenEye 007, Halo, and Borderlands all did it right. But now? It’s vintage. Nonetheless, Hazelight sticks to its roots. And look at that — two million copies of Split Fiction sold in week one! Shows there’s still love out there for this kind of thing.

But about Little Nightmares 3… it’s kinda riding that Split Fiction success wave but missing the local co-op boat. And it’s got people talking. Sure, online co-op is confirmed — over and over, like when you tell your dog not to chew your shoes. But why no local co-op? Supermassive director Wayne Garland talked about it in a 2023 GamesRadar interview, saying split-screen’s all happy party vibes, which doesn’t jive with the game’s vibe. Makes sense? Maybe. But seeing characters always together on screen, it just feels weird.

At least there’s this glimmer of hope: the "Friend Pass” system from Hazelight’s playbook. So there’s that. You can invite a pal to play online without buying another copy. Small mercies, I guess.

Now, here’s the kicker — the Switch! A match made in heaven, right? Two controllers always on hand, Little Nightmares’ simple controls. Woulda fit perfectly. But nope, it’s all online. So, dreaming of some couch co-op with Little Nightmares 3? Guess it’s back to the drawing board.

There you have it. A messy, slightly chaotic take on Little Nightmares 3!