In anticipation of the second game in the adaption directed by Henry Selick in the works.
This attention around the game made it an easy decision to get started on a sequel, and that's just what Bandai Namco and Tarsier Studios have done. Little Nightmares 2 was announced at Gamescom 2019 and will hit consoles and PC on February 11, 2021. An optimized port for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 will arrive later in the year. Instead of the first game's Six, players will take control of Mono, a boy wearing a paper bag for a mask. Six will tag along on the adventure as a computer-controlled assistant, and the duo will take on villains originally hinted at in the first game's DLC.
For those who've never experienced the first game, Bandai Namco is eager to help get them hyped for the sequel with a free giveaway online. Players only need to sign up on the game's official website to get a Steam key emailed to them at some point in the future. Players have until January 17 to take up the publisher on its offer, but the first day's supply of keys ran out early in the day, so it may be a rush to grab it as the days go on.
Those who do play the game via the giveaway will only get the base version and will have to buy the three separate DLC packs in order to get the full experience. Meanwhile, players who have already cleared the first adventure can instead grab a newly released demo for the sequel across Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The demo covers the Wilderness portion of the game and showcases the gameplay dynamic between the new playable character and the returning NPC protagonist. Bandai Namco has also released a line of merchandise just in time for the sequel's imminent release.
Although its indie nature keeps it a bit under the radar, the Little Nightmares franchise is a clear example of a major studio understanding the trends and trying to take advantage. The horror game plays in the same realm as something like Five Nights at Freddy's and Bendy and the Ink Machine, and that level of awareness is not something you'd expect from a major publisher so soon after a trend takes off. With developer Tarsier Studios' recent acquisition by the Embracer Group, Bandai Namco may need to find a new way to keep the game going, but that likely depends on the success of the sequel next month.
Source: Bandai Namco/Twitter
