If you played
Little Nightmares to its grim, portentous conclusion, you don’t need any explanation from me regarding exactly how unfriendly a place the Maw is. Six, the little girl in the yellow raincoat, has indeed made it out, but not without incurring a grievous cost to her soul. Granted, that still puts her head and shoulders above the numerous other children who have, for some reason, been unfortunate enough to find themselves in this waking nightmare; the piles of shoes she’s had to wade through on her hellish journey should be proof enough. But a certain mop-headed kid you may or may not remember from the original game isn’t exactly content to be reduced to more fuel for this raging, all-consuming fire. No, this youngster is a survivor, though his torment may be only just beginning.
Little Nightmares: The Depths generally sticks to the thematic and gameplay tropes established in the core game, and save for the introduction of a new villain (the Granny), doesn’t break any new ground. It’s the same kind of ordeal; you navigate a series of three-dimensional and two-dimensional spaces, simultaneously finding a way forward and avoiding danger. It’s usually easier said than done; having to solve puzzles and remain stealthy at the same time is still a wonderfully intense, high-stakes version of hide-and-seek. But most of The Depths’ runtime is spent in the dark with very little to do besides move in the only direction that allows progress. The final encounter is pretty frightening for anyone who’s harbored a fear of things living in deep water, but it’s easy enough to the point where you’ll probably know what to do the second you get a grip on your surroundings.
