From the very first Little Nightmares to the soon‑to‑arrive third entry, this series has taken players on a dark journey filled with twisted worlds and unforgettable scares.

Each game has its own style of horror – from eerie sound design to strange, nightmarish enemies that stay in your mind long after you stop playing.

Little Nightmares Series in Chronological Order

Here’s the order of the games so far:

Not sure what to play first? Start with Little Nightmares to experience the original story and atmosphere before diving into the sequels.

Game Comparison: The Little Nightmares Series

Fans love the mix of fear, tension, and curiosity that makes every step feel dangerous. But one question keeps coming back: out of all these chilling adventures, which title truly stands out as the creepiest masterpiece?

Little Nightmares, Little Nightmares 2 and upcoming Little Nightmares 3 | Image credit: Supermassive Games

To really see how they compare – and to get the Little Nightmares games ranked in a clear way – here’s a breakdown across four key points:

  • story depth (plot, character development, emotional impact, lore expansion)
  • atmosphere (world design, sound, music, level variety, immersion)
  • gameplay design (mechanics, puzzles, controls, graphics, visual effects)
  • horror elements (enemy design, jump scares, tension, psychological fear)

Story Depth

The Little Nightmares series is famous for telling stories without words, and each entry adds its own layer of mystery. A closer story analysis of the first game reveals Six’s desperate escape from The Maw, a tale full of hidden meaning and shocking moments.

Little Nightmares II went even deeper, introducing Mono and building a darker, more emotional journey that ended with one of the most unforgettable twists in horror gaming. The eerie atmosphere and constant sense of danger kept players on edge from start to finish.

Little Nightmares 2 Gameplay | Image credit: Supermassive Games

Very Little Nightmares added extra lore through its mobile adventure, showing us more about the world but in a smaller, lighter way. The short chapters and simple puzzles made it feel like a side glimpse into the universe rather than a full journey.

Now, with Little Nightmares III on the horizon, fans expect the story to grow even bigger, with two new characters and a chance to see the universe from a fresh angle.

Atmosphere

If there’s one thing these games do better than almost anyone else, it’s atmosphere. The first Little Nightmares trapped us in The Maw, a grotesque ship filled with oversized, terrifying Residents. Every room felt like a nightmare you couldn’t wake up from.

Little Nightmares II raised the stakes with its variety: the eerie forest, the terrifying school, the haunting hospital, and finally the twisted Signal Tower. Each location had its own mood and style, keeping players on edge.

Very Little Nightmares kept the creepy tone but couldn’t match the scale or immersion of the main titles. Its smaller levels and simpler design made it feel more like a side story than a full experience.

Early looks at Little Nightmares III suggest another set of chilling environments, designed to make players feel small, powerless, and constantly watched.

Gameplay Design

The gameplay has evolved with every entry. The first game kept it simple: stealth, puzzles, and careful movement. It worked because the tension came from knowing one wrong step could mean capture.

Little Nightmares II expanded the formula with new mechanics, like using objects as weapons and working together with Six. This made the puzzles more dynamic and the action more intense, while the larger and more varied environments added an extra layer of tension to every encounter.

Very Little Nightmares | Image creidt: Bandai Namco

Very Little Nightmares brought the series to mobile with smart touch-based puzzles and a dark, charming style, but the slower pace and focus on problem-solving didn’t give the same exciting rush as the main games.

Little Nightmares III looks set to push things further with full cooperative play, letting two players face the nightmares together. That could make it the most interactive and replayable entry yet – and a strong contender for the title of the best Little Nightmares game.

Horror Elements

When it comes to pure horror, Little Nightmares II is the clear winner so far. The Teacher’s long neck, the Thin Man’s haunting presence, and the Hospital’s mannequins created moments that players still talk about. The first game also delivered unforgettable scares, especially with the Janitor and the grotesque Chefs. 

Little Nightmares 2 Gameplay – Boss Fight | Image credit: Supermassive Games

Very Little Nightmares was more unsettling than truly scary. It focused on strange puzzles and a creepy mood, but it still kept the dark style and atmosphere that carry the series’ creepy DNA.

With Little Nightmares III, the bar is high – fans expect new monsters that are just as disturbing, if not worse, than what came before. If the developers deliver, it could easily rival the second game in sheer nightmare fuel.

Conclusion

Fans now look to Little Nightmares III with huge expectations. The promise of full co‑op gameplay, two new characters, and fresh terrifying worlds makes it feel like the next big step for the series. Many hope it will mix the emotional depth of Little Nightmares II with the raw atmosphere of the first game, while also pushing the horror even further. If it delivers, LN3 could become the most complete and ambitious entry yet.

But what do you think? Which game in the series deserves the top spot on the list of scariest adventures so far – and do you believe Little Nightmares III will take the crown? Which Little Nightmares game is the creepiest masterpiece?

  • Little Nightmares(The Maw, the Janitor, The Chefs – the original nightmare)
  • Little Nightmares II (Mono, Six, the Teacher, the Thin Man – pure terror)
  • Very Little Nightmares (mobile spin‑off with eerie puzzles and hidden lore)
  • Little Nightmares III (upcoming co‑op adventure – will it take the crown?)