A Return To The Nightmare
If you’ve ever been to the theatre or a film set and had the chance to go backstage, it’s an eye-opener. Out front, it’s all bright lights, glamour, and illusion, but behind the curtain, it’s a realistic world of props, stage flats, and electrical wires everywhere. It’s a magical place where costumes are hung up, props are scattered around, and people hurriedly work to make the front of house the best it can be.
Little Nightmares III has its first piece of story DLC in The Backstage, taking place after the events of last year’s main game. Let’s get back into the nightmare.
Little Nightmares III came out in 2025, and we enjoyed its co-op and single-player journey through strange worlds, following Low and Alone on their adventure. At the end of the game, both characters are separated by a portal and left stranded apart. Since then, we’ve also had the excellent release of Reanimal from the creators of the original Little Nightmares. After playing that, I was slightly worried about returning to this franchise, wondering whether it would feel as good. But while Reanimal is one of my games of the year, stepping back into this world was still a delight, especially thanks to a strong central villain and the contained setting of this DLC.
A New Story And A Sinister Villain
We start with Low, backstage. Instantly, strange shadowy creatures appear, ready to end him. But another character arrives with a torch fixed to their head and a strange device in their hands. There is a flash of light, and the shadow creatures disappear. This character is called Dime and becomes your new co-op partner. The device, capable of unleashing a devastating blast of light, is the major new mechanic introduced in this story. It’s useful for defeating enemies, confusing larger ones, opening doors, and solving puzzles.
In The Backstage, there is a new enemy called The Puppeteer, who creates new puppets by sewing together living people like Low and Dime. This character stalks you throughout, and serves as the main threat you need to avoid. It’s a good bite-sized chunk of story, told in the same way as the base games through visuals and atmosphere rather than dialogue. It doesn’t add a huge amount to the original narrative, and it’s perhaps a little too short for my liking, but it’s still packed with terror, which is never a bad thing.
The Head Torch Changes Everything
The major gameplay addition, as mentioned, is the head torch and its powerful blast of light. It’s a great tool, not only for defeating enemies, but also for blinding The Puppeteer if your partner gets caught, buying just enough time to escape. The ability works on a recharge timer, so you need to think carefully about when to use it, especially when you’re surrounded by shadow creatures. It’s also used to unlock doorways and reveal hidden clues written on walls that are otherwise invisible.
The rest Little Nightmares III – The Backstage plays much like the original. You’ll still be platforming alongside your partner, solving puzzles using your new equipment, and figuring out the best route through each area. The puzzles feel a little more challenging than those in the base game, which I appreciated, as I felt more tested this time around. Encounters with The Puppeteer require patience and stealth as you carefully work your way through each area. If she spots you, her gaze locks onto you, freezing you in place. Thankfully, using the head torch ability can break you free and give you a chance to escape.
Another Beautifully Horrifying World
The DLC maintains the same high visual quality as the main game. I really liked the way the head torch reveals hidden elements of the world with each flash. The design of The Puppeteer is excellent too, particularly the unsettling way she moves through the environment. The sound effects are superb, and if you’re playing with headphones, the footsteps and skittering noises in the darkness are pretty unsettling. The soundtrack is equally strong, which has become the standard for this series.
A Short But Memorable Return
It’s sometimes difficult returning to a game after a break just to play a piece of DLC, because by the time you’ve settled back into it, the experience is already over. Little Nightmares III – The Backstage is certainly a short adventure, but throughout its brief running time I had a great deal of fun. I liked the torch mechanic, enjoyed the flash of light gameplay, and loved facing off against The Puppeteer.
And neatly, Little Nightmares III – The Backstage also feels like a more challenging experience than the main game, which bodes well for whatever DLC may come next.
Important Links
Little Nightmares III Descends Into Darkness Again With The Backstage DLC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/little-nightmares-iii-descends-into-darkness-again-with-the-backstage-dlc/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/little-nightmares-iii-the-backstage/9N7D6BCR15X5/0010
