Little Nightmares Secrets of The Maw Expansion Pass is an adventure title that extends the original game's world through a parallel single-player campaign. Players take control of the Runaway Kid, a young prisoner navigating The Maw in search of escape while uncovering details that connect to the main story of Six.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on puzzle-platforming and stealth in a side-scrolling format. The Runaway Kid moves through hazardous environments by walking, running, jumping, pushing objects, grabbing items, and throwing them to progress or distract threats. Swimming becomes a key mechanic in flooded areas, allowing navigation through underwater sections that introduce new puzzle types and evasion challenges against submerged dangers.
Interactions with the environment expand in later sections. The protagonist can recruit Nomes by catching and hugging them, turning these small creatures into temporary allies that help push heavy loads, open doors, or form groups for larger tasks like powering machinery. A flashlight serves as both a light source and a tool for solving light-based puzzles while repelling certain enemies in darker zones.
Progress relies on observation and timing rather than combat. Players avoid grotesque inhabitants of The Maw by hiding, timing movements, and using the environment creatively. Each chapter introduces distinct mechanics that build on the base systems without requiring prior mastery of the main game.
Game Modes
The expansion offers a single-player campaign divided into three self-contained chapters that can be accessed independently via chapter select. These chapters run parallel to the main story and focus exclusively on the Runaway Kid's journey through previously unseen areas of The Maw.
The Depths introduces water-based navigation and evasion. The Hideaway emphasizes ally management with Nomes to overcome obstacles and complete objectives. The Residence shifts toward light manipulation and direct confrontation with new enemy types using the flashlight. No multiplayer options or alternate modes exist; the experience remains a linear narrative adventure with puzzle and platforming emphasis throughout.
Story and Setting
The narrative follows the Runaway Kid as he explores The Depths, a flooded and abandoned section of The Maw, before moving to The Hideaway amid coal piles and industrial remnants. The final chapter takes place in The Residence, revealing more about the inhabitants and hidden corners of the vessel. This structure provides additional context for events in the base game while presenting fresh challenges tied to each location's unique hazards.
Environments emphasize atmosphere through tight corridors, precarious platforms, and dimly lit spaces that heighten tension during exploration and puzzle-solving. The story unfolds through environmental storytelling and the protagonist's actions rather than dialogue.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player feedback on the expansion pass remains consistently positive, with Steam reviews rating it Very Positive based on hundreds of user submissions. Reviewers highlight the thoughtful level design, new mechanics that refresh the formula, and the way the chapters expand understanding of The Maw without feeling like filler content.
The full pass delivers roughly three to four hours of playtime on a first run, comparable in density to the original game. It suits fans of deliberate puzzle-platformers who enjoy atmospheric horror and precise movement challenges. Those who appreciated the base game's focus on tension and discovery will find the additional chapters a natural extension, while newcomers can approach the expansion as a standalone experience after the main campaign.
Availability as a complete pass means all three chapters unlock progressively or in full upon purchase, with no ongoing seasonal content or live-service elements required. The content stands as a finished addition that maintains the series' emphasis on single-player exploration and survival.
