Little Nightmares 3came out swinging during its special showcase, revealing not only a release date, but a brand-new trailer and gameplay. The wait forLittle Nightmares 3has been a long one, as the game was originally supposed to come out last year. After a long delay, the third chapter in the adorably disturbing horror franchise is right around the corner, and it’s promising some heart-pounding settings.
One of these levels is Carnevale. As the name implies, Carnevale is a demented carnival filled with terrifying beings to run into. This marks the first time thattheLittle Nightmaresfranchisehas ventured into a circus-like setting, and it’s just the right unnerving atmosphere needed to honor the series in a brand-new way. However, one potential enemy type seems obvious: clowns. While clowns make sense for a carnival setting,Little Nightmares 3may be better off subverting expectations by focusing on other horrors instead.
Little Nightmares 3 May Have Missed the Clown Boat
A Long-Running Horror Trope That Needs a Break
There’s no doubt that clowns can be terrifying. Stephen King’sITand prolific serial killer John Wayne Gacy have completely flipped how much of society views clowns. However, these red-nosed characters have arguably been overused over the years. Whether it’s a goofier adaptation, likeKiller Klowns from Outer Space, or a more disturbing and gore-filled tale, liketheTerrifierfranchise, clowns have permeated pop culture for decades.
DuringtheLittle Nightmares 3showcase, a 10-minute preview of the Carnevale level was revealed, and while no clowns were present in the demo, it definitely seemed probable that one could show up. It’s incredibly easy to imagine a giant clown as the level’s final boss, but that also runs the risk of being a disappointing reveal, since it’s so expected.
Little Nightmares 3will be available for the Nintendo Switch 1&2, PC, PS5, and the Xbox Series X/S.
Carnevale is Already Horrifying Enough
From the very beginning of the demo ofLittle Nightmare 3’s Carnevale level, the oppressive nature of its atmosphere was immediately clear. SinceLittle Nightmares 3is beingdeveloped by Supermassive Gamesthis time instead of series creator Tarsier Studios, there were questions about whether the developer could nail the franchise’s specific tone or not. Thankfully, it seems as though Carnevale has given a clear answer.
Carnevale looks beyond bleak in the best way.2025 already has plenty of horror offerings, but theLittle Nightmaresfranchise’s special brand of cute horror makes it a standout option to look forward to this fall. Featuring a clown in the Carnevale level definitely wouldn’t be a deal-breaker, but the dark energy of the area is already so effective, a clown simply may not be necessary.
In addition toLittle Nightmares 3, the showcase also finally revealed the long-rumored Enhanced Edition of the originalLittle Nightmares.
From the very beginning of the demo ofLittle Nightmare 3’s Carnevale level, the oppressive nature of its atmosphere was immediately clear.
Little Nightmares 3 is Adding Another Strong Horror Title to Fall 2025’s Lineup
Since fall leads up to Halloween, late September and early October tend to be the stage for fresh horror titles to debut.Little Nightmares 3having a fall release date felt like a no-brainer, but it is far from the only horror option on the roster.Late September bringsSilent Hill fto gamers, whileDirective 8020offers a one-two punch from Supermassive Games this October. After such a long wait after its delay, finally having confirmation of a release date is a thrilling update, and it will be interesting to see how the game stacks up against its fellow horror titles.
