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How It Works • Games & Tech

Little Nightmares

Little Nightmares is a puzzle-platform horror video game developed by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2017.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Little Nightmares is a puzzle-platform horror game developed by Tarsier Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment in 2017. Players control Six, a child in a yellow raincoat, as she tries to escape The Maw, a surreal underwater vessel.

What it is

Little Nightmares is a side-scrolling puzzle-platform game with stealth and exploration elements. Players solve environmental puzzles, avoid grotesque creatures, and rely on timing and observation to survive. The story is deliberately ambiguous, leaving much open to interpretation.

Key details

Originally announced under the title *Hunger*, the game launched on Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on 27 April 2017. Later ports arrived on Nintendo Switch, Stadia, iOS, and Android. The game's atmospheric art style and eerie tone earned it a cult following and launched a broader franchise.

Why it matters

Little Nightmares stands out for its minimalist storytelling and oppressive atmosphere, influencing later horror-platformers. It is available to Canadian players through major storefronts and is part of a globally recognized Bandai Namco franchise with strong indie-game appeal.

In short

  • Puzzle-platform horror game set in The Maw.
  • Player controls Six, a child in a yellow raincoat.
  • Stealth, exploration, and environmental puzzles.
  • Cult following and franchise starter.
Canadian angle

The game is available to Canadian players through major console, PC, and mobile storefronts, and it is part of a globally distributed Bandai Namco franchise with strong international recognition among horror and indie-game audiences.

Quick questions

What is Little Nightmares about?
It follows Six, a child trying to escape The Maw, a disturbing underwater structure filled with dangerous creatures.
Who developed Little Nightmares?
Tarsier Studios developed the game, and Bandai Namco Entertainment published it.
When was Little Nightmares released?
It was first released on 27 April 2017.

Sources

  1. Steam — https://store.steampowered.com/app/424840/Little_Nightmares/
    Supports: Developer, publisher, release date, and genre
  2. Bandai Namco Entertainment — https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/little-nightmares
    Supports: Official description of Six, The Maw, and game premise
  3. IGN — https://www.ign.com/games/little-nightmares
    Supports: Gameplay description, protagonist, and setting
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Nightmares_(series)
    Supports: Series context, original title Hunger, and platform history