Games Like Little Nightmares: 8 Dark Puzzle Platformers

If you loved Little Nightmares, play Little Nightmares II next, then Inside and Limbo: the same mix of platforming, puzzles and wordless horror. Bramble, Somerville and Creepy Tale keep that cruel fairy tale feeling going. Nearly all of them are short, perfect for one or two evenings with the lights off. Here are 8 games to get that shiver back.

Why Little Nightmares sticks with you

Little Nightmares follows Six, a little girl in a yellow raincoat trying to escape the Maw, an iron vessel full of monstrous beings. Tarsier Studios puts everything into atmosphere: huge rooms seen from the floor up, twisted creatures, noises that make you jump and not a single line of dialogue to explain anything.

It's short. According to players on IGDB, the story takes about 2 hours, about 3.5 hours with extras and about 9 hours for 100%. That's exactly why it works so well: no filler, just rising tension and images that stay in your head for a long time.

What to look for next

The games on this list share three things: a side view or close to it, puzzles built into the environment and storytelling without text. Some are scarier, others lean into melancholy. If the horror is what got you, go for Little Nightmares II, Inside or Creepy Tale. If it was the dark poetry, Far: Lone Sails or Planet of Lana are gentler.

Bonus: since they're short, you can get through several in a month. For more ideas, check out our horror games list and short games you can finish fast.

1. 

   1. Little Nightmares II

   2021 · Main story 4 h

   The obvious sequel. You play Mono, a boy with a paper bag on his head, alongside Six. The world opens up with a school, a hospital and a rain-soaked city, and the monsters are even more unsettling. Longer, more varied and scarier than the first game, with the same style intact.

   Add to my pile →
2. 

   2. Inside

   2016 · Main story 2 h

   From Playdead, Inside follows a boy fleeing through the countryside and some deeply unsettling facilities. The platforming is simple, the puzzles are smart and the staging is incredibly precise. No words, no explanations, and an ending people still argue about. A benchmark for the genre.

   Add to my pile →
3. 

   3. Limbo

   2010 · Main story 2.5 h

   The forerunner, also from Playdead. A boy searches for his sister in a black-and-white world full of deadly traps and giant spiders. You die a lot, sometimes brutally, and that's the point. More abstract than Little Nightmares, but clearly one of its inspirations.

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4. 

   4. Bramble: The Mountain King

   2023 · Main story 4 h

   A dark Nordic fairy tale where a young boy searches for his sister in a forest filled with folklore creatures. The scenery is beautiful and the bosses are genuinely terrifying. It swings between magical moments and very violent scenes. For you if you like fairy tales that go wrong.

   Add to my pile →
5. 

   5. Somerville

   2022 · Main story 3.5 h

   A family cut off during an invasion from somewhere else, and a father trying to find them. Jumpship takes the Playdead recipe, no dialogue, with puzzles built around light. More contemplative than Little Nightmares, with the feel of a sci-fi film.

   Add to my pile →
6. 

   6. Far: Lone Sails

   2018 · Main story 3 h

   You drive a strange sail-powered vehicle across a dried-out, empty world. You keep it fueled, fix it and figure out how to get past each obstacle. Less horror, lots of melancholy and a lovely soundtrack. A nice breather if you want the short, silent format without the monsters.

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7. 

   7. Creepy Tale

   2020

   A hand-drawn puzzle game inspired by the darkest fairy tales. A boy crosses a forest to save his brother, running into witches and creepy creatures along the way. The puzzles call for close observation and trial and error. Small budget, but the mood is very close to Little Nightmares.

   Add to my pile →
8. 

   8. Planet of Lana

   2023 · Main story 4 h

   Lana and her small creature, Mui, cross a planet overrun by machines. The painted backdrops are gorgeous and the puzzles rely on the two of them working together. Brighter than Little Nightmares, but with the same wordless storytelling and moments of real tension.

   Add to my pile →

FAQ

What game is most like Little Nightmares?

Little Nightmares II, since it's the direct sequel with the same studio, the same style and Six back in the story. Outside the series, Playdead's Inside is the closest thanks to its mix of platforming, puzzles and constant unease.

How long is Little Nightmares?

According to players on IGDB, the main story takes about 2 hours, about 3.5 hours if you explore a little and about 9 hours for 100%. You can finish it in a single evening.

Is Little Nightmares actually scary?

It's more creepy than jump-scary. The horror mostly comes from the atmosphere, the twisted creatures and the chase scenes. There's barely any gore, but some moments are disturbing. It's still approachable if you're not into hardcore horror.