Little Nightmares 3 is built to be finished in a handful of sittings. Early completions land between roughly 3.5 and 6 hours for a straight playthrough of its campaign, which is structured across four chapters. That tracks with the series’ history of compact, tightly directed adventures.

Little Nightmares 3 average playtime (main story)

The main story typically takes about 4–6 hours for most players. Faster runs closer to 3.5 hours are possible if you move directly through objectives and click quickly with the puzzle logic. Expect a bit longer if you’re new to the series’ trial-and-error platforming or prefer to explore.

There isn’t enough aggregated completion data yet on major tracking hubs to pin down a single “official” average, but the clustering of early playtimes around the mid‑single digits is clear.

Completionist time and how co-op affects length

Going for everything adds a few hours. Collectible dolls tucked behind optional paths and a list of hidden achievements can push total time into the 6–9 hour range, depending on how thoroughly you sweep each level and whether you revisit chapters for missed items.

Co-op does not fundamentally change total runtime. It can reduce friction on certain two-switch or timing-based sequences, but the chapter layouts, chase set-pieces, and puzzle counts remain the same. Playing solo with the AI companion is only marginally slower if you already understand the puzzle setups.

How it compares to earlier entries

The series has always been brief. The first game’s story commonly lands around 3–4 hours, while the second stretches closer to 5–6. Little Nightmares 3 sits right between those benchmarks: four chapters that lean on the same cadence of environmental puzzles, stealthy traversal, and occasional sprints from oversized foes.

Quick reference: play style vs. estimated hours

Play style Estimated hours Notes
Main story (efficient) ~3.5–4.5 Minimal detours; few deaths; puzzle solutions come quickly.
Main story (typical) ~4–6 Balanced exploration with some retries on chases and puzzles.
Story + most collectibles ~6–8 Explores off-path rooms; cleans up some missed items via chapter select.
Completionist (100%) ~7–9+ All dolls found and hidden achievements fulfilled; backtracking included.

Note: Individual results can fall outside these ranges. A handful of estimates put total time higher, but those typically involve methodical exploration or extended troubleshooting on specific set-pieces.

Chapters, structure, and what adds time

With four chapters, the campaign divides neatly into self-contained locales with their own puzzle language and centerpiece escapes. Time usually spikes when a chapter introduces a new interaction rule—objects that only move under light, enemies with a unique patrol cue, or a physics element that requires a clean setup. If you’re chasing collectibles, plan for deliberate sweeps of dead-end corridors and vents, as many dolls hide in rooms that sit just out of the camera’s natural framing.

Release and platforms

Little Nightmares 3 is available on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. On PC, you can purchase it via the Steam store page. The console versions follow the same chapter structure and expected playtimes.

If you’re on the fence about when to start, treat it like an evening or two of focused play. A direct run is short and sharp; a slower, collectible-driven approach stretches the tension without overstaying its welcome.