During a recent Bandai Namco media preview event, Coralie Feniello, Producer of the upcoming Little Nightmares III, sat down to provide an in-depth look at the team’s approach to expanding the beloved horror series into the co-op realm while preserving its signature atmosphere of dread.

Feniello, who has been involved with the Little Nightmares franchise since its inception, emphasized the importance of balancing fan feedback with the development team’s own creative vision. She discussed how Supermassive Games, known for their work on titles like Until Dawn and The Quarry, has brought a fresh perspective to the series while staying true to its core identity.

Responding to Fan Feedback

Feniello emphasized the importance of fan feedback in shaping the development of Little Nightmares III, noting that the addition of online co-op was the “most requested feature” following the first two games in the series. “It was very important for us to have both online co-op and single player because we wanted players that love Little Nightmares 1 and 2 to still be able to experience the game in the same way,” she said.

Feniello further explained that the team took community feedback seriously, stating, “We are interested in reading every theories and things that the community is thinking, because like they talk a lot about the game and what they think about the environment and everything, but we still want to bring our own story, so we still work with the team to make sure that we are bringing the story and the ideas that we have.”

This balance of honoring fan expectations while introducing new creative elements was a key focus for the development team. As Feniello put it, “It’s very important for us to broaden our audience and make sure that multiplayer can also attract new players that would be able to share their games with another person.”

Maintaining the Series’ Unsettling Ambiance

While the new co-op mode introduces new gameplay dynamics, Feniello assured that the team has worked diligently to maintain the series’ signature sense of unease. “We are really working hard to make sure that the AI is balanced and that you don’t have too many cases where the AI is solving the puzzle and we make sure that when that happens, it doesn’t feel unfair for the other player,” she explained.

Feniello further emphasized the importance of pacing and the use of sound in cultivating tension, stating, “I think what’s important is to let the players just breathe some time, and to not have all the time the tension at the maximum. And you can see that as sometimes everything gets calmer, but that doesn’t really mean that you are safer, it’s just that you can breathe in that moment.”

She also noted the significance of “the absence of sound” in creating a sense of unease, saying, “It’s playing on when we hear the characters, when we don’t hear them, and making sure that we create that tension and we keep that tension.” This delicate balance of tension and respite is crucial to preserving the series’ distinctive horror atmosphere.

New Characters, Same Lore

Another key change for Little Nightmares III is the introduction of the new protagonists, Low and Alone. Feniello explained that bringing in fresh characters allowed the team to explore new narrative avenues while staying true to the established Little Nightmares universe. “It’s a new story, but in the same place and same lore, basically,” she said.

Feniello further elaborated on the decision to introduce new playable characters, stating, “The characters are such central elements, so important for that story that we really wanted to bring our own story, and also let Supermassive have their own elements on that.” This decision allowed the development team to expand the narrative and characters while maintaining the core identity of the Little Nightmares franchise. As Feniello noted, “Everything in Little Nightmares is part of the same world, so basically everything is taking place in the nowhere, in the games, which is the nightmarish world of Little Nightmares.”

Gameplay Enhancements and Replayability

In addition to the new co-op mode, Feniello discussed how the team has worked to enhance the overall gameplay experience in Little Nightmares III. She noted that the new protagonists, Low and Alone, each have their own unique items and abilities, such as a bow and arrow for Low and a wrench for Alone. These tools will be essential for solving puzzles and navigating the game’s environments, and Feniello promised that the team has “found new ways of using the same tools, and that each new way is adapting to the environments that we are developing.”

Feniello also hinted at increased replayability, stating that the single-player experience will allow players to explore the game’s narrative and environments from the perspective of both Low and Alone. “If you want to really dig into the personality, you can also replay the game with both characters, which was not possible in 2 for example, where on Little Nightmares 2 you only can play mono,” she explained.

The game’s art direction and sound design, long hallmarks of the Little Nightmares series, will also see refinements in the upcoming third installment. Feniello highlighted the importance of “the absence of sound” in creating tension, as well as drawing inspiration from the team’s personal “childhood fears” to inform the visual design. As she stated, “We are working a lot with how everyone is experiencing childhood fears to make sure that what we are creating is talking to everyone, basically.”

Looking Ahead

Little Nightmares III is set to release later this year, offering both longtime fans and newcomers to the series an opportunity to delve into its unsettling world, either solo or with a friend. Feniello expressed confidence that the game will appeal to a wide range of players, stating, “Like, I know a lot of players that don’t enjoy necessarily horror or very deep horror like that, but on Legend of Nightmares, we are talking about charming horror for the type of game, so it means that we always have a charming aspect to it.”

With a focus on fan feedback, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and a commitment to preserving the series’ signature atmosphere, Little Nightmares III promises to be an exciting new chapter in the beloved horror franchise. As Feniello concluded, “I think both players, both characters are so fragile and we are making sure that we create them being so small in the world that is really not made for them. And that’s a key element of Little Nightmares.”