Little Nightmares II
A horror adventure set in the Pale City.
Little Nightmares II is a puzzle-platform horror adventure game from Tarsier Studios, published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It follows Mono, a boy with a paper bag over his head, who teams up with Six—the protagonist of the original game—to navigate the dangers of the Pale City and uncover its hidden truths. The game launched on 11 February 2021 for Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. An enhanced version, Little Nightmares II: Enhanced Edition, was developed by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, releasing on 25 August 2021 for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S.
The game received positive reviews, with critics highlighting its graphics, atmosphere, and improvements over the first game. Within a month, it had sold one million copies worldwide. A sequel, Little Nightmares III, was announced for a 2024 release but has been delayed to 2025; its exact release date has not yet been confirmed.
In terms of gameplay, players control Mono in a 3D world, solving puzzles and navigating platforming sections. Mono can grab items to swing at objects or fight smaller enemies, but must rely on stealth and the environment to avoid larger threats, much like Six in the original. Six is controlled by the computer, but players can call to her or hold her hand to keep the pair together. They often cooperate to solve puzzles or defeat foes, such as using a ranged weapon together. Collectible hats and glitching remains are scattered throughout; gathering all the remains unlocks an extra scene.
The plot begins with Mono waking in the Wilderness from a dream about a door marked with an eye at the end of a hallway. He frees Six from a shack owned by the masked Hunter, who chases them until they kill him with a shotgun. Using a door as a raft, they drift to the Pale City, a misty, rain-soaked place filled with old televisions. Mono can use these TVs as portals to try reaching the door from his dream, but Six always pulls him back. He also absorbs ghostly, glitching remains of children by touching them.
In the School, Six is captured by porcelain Bullies, but Mono rescues her and they escape the long-necked Teacher. At the Hospital, they face mannequin-like Patients, detached Living Hands, and the bulbous Doctor who crawls on ceilings. Mono lures the Doctor into an incinerator, optionally killing him.
- Developer
- Tarsier Studios
- Publisher
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Release date
- 11 February 2021
- Platforms
- Google Stadia, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
- Genre
- Puzzle-platform horror adventure
- Protagonist
- Mono
- Sequel
- Little Nightmares III (release date not yet confirmed; delayed to 2025)
Lore & Background
The story begins with Mono awakening in the Wilderness from a dream of a door marked with an eye. He frees Six from the masked Hunter, and after killing the Hunter with a shotgun, they drift to the Pale City, a misty, rain-shrouded place filled with old television sets. Mono can use televisions as portals to enter the hallway from his dream, but Six pulls him back before he reaches the door. They traverse the School, where Six is captured by porcelain Bullies, and the Hospital, encountering mannequin-like Patients and the bulbous Doctor. Eventually, Mono reaches the door through a television and confronts the spectral Thin Man, who captures Six. Mono battles the Thin Man, disintegrates him, and pulls the Signal Tower towards himself. Inside the tower, Mono destroys Six's music box, causing her to revert to her smaller form—but she remains hostile and ultimately betrays Mono, leaving him trapped as the new Thin Man.
Reader's Guide
Little Nightmares II received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising its graphics, atmosphere, and quality of life improvements, some finding it superior to its predecessor. Within one month of release, the game sold one million units worldwide. The gameplay focuses on Mono exploring a 3D world, solving puzzles, and using stealth to evade larger foes. Six is a computer-controlled character, but the player can call out to her and hold her hand. The game includes collectible hats and glitching remains, which unlock an additional scene. A sequel, Little Nightmares III, developed by Supermassive Games, was released in October 2025. Tarsier Studios, acquired by Embracer Group in 2019, announced they would not continue making Little Nightmares games, but Bandai Namco Entertainment expressed intent to continue the franchise. The game's development was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a demo was released on 30 October 2020.
Did You Know?
- Within one month of release, the game had sold one million units worldwide.
- The game features a computer-controlled Six, and the player can call out to her and hold her hand.
- If the player collects all glitching remains, an additional scene shows Six encountering her shadow self and her stomach growling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Little Nightmares II?
It is a side-scrolling puzzle-platform horror adventure created by Tarsier Studios and released by Bandai Namco in February 2021. Players control a silent, bag-wearing boy named Mono as he traverses the nightmare-like Pale City in a fully cinematic, dialogue-free experience.
Who is the protagonist and what role do they play?
Mono, a mute boy wearing a paper bag, is the primary character and wields a single nail as his tool for solving puzzles and fending off enemies. Midway through the game he is joined by Six, the lead of the original title, and the two work together to unravel the Pale City's dark secrets.
How does the story of Little Nightmares II end?
Mono ultimately gives himself to the Radio Tower so that Six can break free from the Pale City's influence. The final shot shows Six walking out into a vast, sunlit landscape, while Mono's fate is left deliberately ambiguous.
Why is Little Nightmares II significant for the platformer genre?
It pushed the atmospheric, wordless horror-platform formula of the first game into richer narrative territory by weaving a co-op thread with Six and exploring themes of dependency and control. Its hand-crafted set-pieces and environmental storytelling raised the bar for cinematic indie platformers.
On which platforms is Little Nightmares II available?
The title launched on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, and Google Stadia in February 2021. An Enhanced Edition, developed by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco, arrived in August 2021 with performance upgrades and extra content.
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