Parents' Guide to Little Nightmares II

You don't need to know anything about the first game -- though you may be inspired to track it down when you finish this one -- but this atmospheric adventure is well worth your time. Successfully blending puzzles, platforming, and fear, Little Nightmares II starts off with Mono and Six learning to work together to solve puzzles. Most of these puzzles are environmental, such as standing on each other's shoulders to reach an attic drawstring, tossing objects to snap bear traps, or ducking under tall reeds to avoid detection. There's no dialogue in the game, but it doesn't mean you don't develop a bond with the protagonists. Between the atmospheric (and frightful) images, fluid animation, crisp sound effects, and a wonderfully haunting musical score, you'll find Little Nightmares II a game that's hard to put down. Along with platforming tasks, there are also some timing-based challenges, like evading gunfire or a rolling log while being chased. If you die, you'll start the level only a little earlier than when you perished, so you're not forced to play through chunks of a level all over again as punishment. The pacing of the game is perfect.

Little Nightmares II does have a couple of small technical issues, which breaks the suspension of disbelief. Some of these game bugs could even force you to restart levels to solve puzzles. As fun as the game is, it's also not very replayable, since all the items and enemies are in the same place each time, and there aren't any additional modes or multiplayer support. For instance, online co-op, with one person controlling Mono and the other Six, would have been great. Despite its few shortcomings, Little Nightmares II is a wonderfully crafted adventure game with a ton of character, smart puzzles, and high-production values that's a real treat for gamers who like spooky tales.