Complete Little Nightmares Timeline & Story Recap
The Little Nightmares timeline presents a captivating and eerie narrative that has engrossed horror game fans since the franchise’s inception in 2017. Developed initially by Tarsier Studios, the series blends unsettling atmospheric horror with a distinct art style that juxtaposes childlike innocence against grotesque threats. Later, the trilogy was expanded with Little Nightmares 3, developed by Supermassive Games, known for their work on Until Dawn, adding fresh perspectives and characters to the series’ twisted universe.
Introduction to The Nowhere
Central to the Little Nightmares series is a surreal and nightmarish realm called The Nowhere. This distorted world is inhabited by both vulnerable children and horrifying entities known as “Residents.” These Residents embody various facets of greed, gluttony, and other destructive human traits, presented through monstrous forms that prey on the defenseless. Navigating this hostile environment demands wit, stealth, and swift action from the child protagonists to survive the pervasive dangers.
Key Characters and Story Progression in the Timeline
1. Very Little Nightmares
- Protagonist: A young girl in a yellow raincoat (distinct from the Six in the main series).
- Setting: A mansion known as The Nest, located on a cliff’s edge.
- Plot Highlights: After a hot air balloon crash, the girl meets Six and encounters The Craftsman — a menacing antagonist implied to create dolls from living children. The story involves evading The Craftsman, aiding Six’s escape, but ultimately culminates in the girl’s demise, leaving only her raincoat behind.
2. Little Nightmares 2
- Protagonists: Mono and Six.
- Setting: Begins in a desolate forest, transitions to Pale City.
- Plot Highlights: Mono experiences visions of a door marked by a creepy eye, escaping predators alongside Six. Six is captured by Bullies in a twisted school setting but is rescued by Mono. The duo confronts sinister forces including a scientist combining human and doll parts and the enigmatic Thin Man. Ultimately, Mono uses television portals to navigate the city and rescues Six, who had become obsessed with a music box. The destruction of the box returns her to normal, but in a heartbreaking conclusion, Six lets Mono fall, leading to his transformation into a new Thin Man, while Six sets off towards a place reminiscent of The Maw.
3. Little Nightmares: Secrets of The Maw (DLC)
- Protagonist: The Runaway Kid.
- Setting: The Maw – a vast submersible ship rife with danger and grotesque characters.
- Plot Highlights: The Kid escapes captivity on The Maw, befriends helpful Nomes, but is ultimately captured by The Lady and transformed into a Nome. The narrative intertwines directly with the main game’s timeline, providing crucial context for the events involving Six.
4. Little Nightmares (Original Game)
- Protagonist: Six.
- Setting: The Maw.
- Plot Highlights: Six navigates The Maw, battling starvation and evading deadly foes such as The Janitor. The story reveals Six’s increasingly feral nature as she consumes live rats and eventually the Runaway Kid, the latter of whom is linked to the DLC’s ending. The climax features Six defeating The Lady by exploiting her fear of mirrors, absorbing her powers and escaping. Six’s transformation into a powerful and dangerous entity by the game’s end leaves her future ambiguous but suggests a significant role in the ongoing timeline.
Understanding the Timeline and Narrative Connections
The Little Nightmares timeline is non-linear and layered with themes of childhood trauma, fear, and survival. The recurrence of characters like Six across multiple entries strengthens the interconnectedness of the storyline. The introduction of new characters in Little Nightmares 3, such as Low and Alone, expands the universe further, placing new players in The Nowhere’s expanding horrors.
5. Little Nightmares 3 and Its Place in the Timeline
Little Nightmares 3 introduces two fresh protagonists, Low and Alone, who traverse a new area called The Spiral within The Nowhere. These characters appear for the first time in the series’ chronology, suggesting that the game explores untapped aspects of the universe. Although Six has yet to appear directly in this installment, her established presence in previous games hints at narrative threads that may converge in future expansions.
Additional Insights and Related Horror Games Landscape
As a series, Little Nightmares contributes significantly to the atmospheric horror genre, noted for its intricate world-building and the psychological depth of its narrative. Its success, evidenced by consistent critical acclaim and community engagement, aligns with a broader surge in narrative-driven horror games. Titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill parallel Little Nightmares in blending story with immersive gameplay. According to market data from NPD Group (2024), atmospheric and survival horror titles have grown by over 15% in popularity globally in recent years, demonstrating a robust audience for such experiences.
- Notable Game Comparisons: Like Little Nightmares, Alien: Isolation uses stealth and tension effectively, influencing player psychology and engagement.
- Community and Lore Theories: Fans actively engage in interpreting hidden lore, crafting theories that enrich the games’ mysteries.
- Cross-Media Storytelling: The Little Nightmares comics and DLCs serve as supplementary content that enhances narrative understanding.
Conclusion
The Little Nightmares series offers a unique blend of charming yet chilling storytelling that unfolds through rich timelines and interconnected characters. Understanding the chronological order—from the haunting mansion of Very Little Nightmares to the depths of The Maw, and finally to new frontiers in Little Nightmares 3—enriches the player experience by revealing the full scope of The Nowhere’s dark mysteries. This timeline recap aims to clarify the sequence of events and encourage deeper appreciation of this critically-acclaimed horror saga.
Suggested Reading
Image credits: Bandai Namco Entertainment
