2020 is almost here, so we’ve asked GameSpot’s staff to share which games they’re looking forward to most in the new year. New consoles are going to dominate the headlines, but at the end of the day it’s all about the games, and there are a ton of exciting ones to look forward to. When you’re done reading this entry, follow along with all of our other end-of-the-year coverage collected in our Best of 2019 hub and our Most Anticipated of 2020 hub.
Announced at Gamescom 2019, Little Nightmares 2 was a sequel I never saw coming, but I’m absolutely delighted that it’s happening. The upcoming horror puzzle-platformer from Tarsier Studios is confirmed to be released in 2020, although no exact date has been revealed.
I still remember the exact moment I first caught a glimpse of Little Nightmares at a convention in late 2016–the cute-but-creepy, Tim Burton-esque style immediately grabbed my attention. If you’re a fan of horror, Little Nightmares does not disappoint. The game follows Six, a hungry little girl in a yellow raincoat, as she makes her escape from a terrifying vessel known as the Maw. Six encounters a host of gruesome residents aboard the vessel, including a dreadful long-armed Janitor, the grotesque Twin Chefs, and blood-sucking leeches.
Little Nightmares is similar to games like Limbo or Journey in that the story is communicated through the environment and silent encounters rather than dialogue. Even without her speaking or even revealing her face, you grow attached to Six and emotionally invested in her escape as she makes her way through the dangerous Maw. And while the end may leave you with questions, Little Nightmares offers up a unique and unforgettable world that sets the stage perfectly for a sequel.
We know that Little Nightmares 2 will introduce a new character, a little boy named Mono, who teams up with Six after her escape from the Maw. In the sequel, you’ll play as Mono, and Six will be your guide as you set out to explore a mysterious humming transmission from a distant Signal Tower. Of course, there will be new monstrous residents after them, including a sadistic Teacher, and stealth and puzzle-solving will be a major aspect of the gameplay. The trailer even shows some light combat, a new addition to the series.
I’m incredibly excited to see how the sequel expands on the story started in Little Nightmares and its mobile prequel, Very Little Nightmares. In the first game, we caught a glimpse of the monstrous Guests boarding the Maw, and now we’ll finally learn what horrors lie in the world outside. We know Little Nightmares 2 will mostly take place outside of the Maw, introducing new settings like a creepy forest and an ominous cabin occupied by the bloodthirsty Hunter.
Even more intriguing are the retro-style TVs that appear to be scattered throughout the game, which are likely connected to the Signal Tower and seem to hold hypnotic powers over the residents. There’s also the question of that shadowy figure on the cover, who also appears in the TV at the end of the trailer. Is he our big bad in Little Nightmares 2?
It’s a testament to the first game’s incredible worldbuilding that there’s so much ground to cover in the sequel. The world of Little Nightmares is about to get a lot bigger in 2020, and I can’t wait to be absolutely terrified by it.