Little Nightmares Walkthrough: Complete Guide to The Maw

Introduction

If you’ve found yourself clutching the controller while guiding Six through the shadowed corridors of the Maw, this little nightmares walkthrough is written for you. Whether you want to solve every puzzle, collect every mask and rune, or figure out how to beat the game using stealth and timing, this guide covers practical, step-by-step strategies. I’ll walk you through each chapter, highlight common traps, and share secrets so you won’t miss collectibles, achievements, or hidden areas.

Quick overview: What to expect

Little Nightmares is less about combat and more about atmosphere, timing, and environmental puzzles. Expect tight platforming, light stealth sections, and tense moments where a single mistake can mean starting a sequence over. This walkthrough focuses on clear instructions for each chapter, tips for puzzles and platforming, and how to find key collectibles like runes and masks.

Essential tips before you begin

• Play patiently: Rushing leads to mistakes. Observe enemy patterns first.
• Use sound and camera cues: Enemies often telegraph movements with sound—listen for footsteps and breathing.
• Interact with the environment: Push, pull, and stack objects to create new paths or escape routes.
• Stealth over speed: Many sections reward slow, quiet movement. Crouch where possible and avoid making noise.
• Save collectibles early: If you want masks or runes, explore off the main path when safe; don’t save exploration for right at the end of a chapter where escape can be tricky.

Chapter-by-chapter walkthrough

Below is a practical chapter walkthrough that covers platforming, puzzle solutions, and how to access hidden areas. Each chapter summary includes common pitfalls and tips to help you avoid them.

Chapter 1 – The Prison

The opener trains you in the basics: sneaking, jumping, and using the environment. Focus on timing here. When you encounter the first guards, wait for their back to be turned before moving. If you’re looking for early collectibles (some players call these the first runes and masks), check the side rooms and climbable pipes carefully. You’ll need to push crates and climb ledges—don’t assume an object is purely decorative.

Chapter 2 – The Lair

Expect more verticality and the first real chase sequences. A key strategy is to move slowly along ledges, peek around corners, and time jumps to moving platforms. In the kitchen area, use hiding spots (cabinets and high shelves) and wait for patrolling enemies to pass. For puzzles that require stacking objects, drag items to the exact edge and use them as stepping stones rather than trying to jump long gaps.

Chapter 3 – The Lady’s Domain

This is one of the most atmospheric areas and introduces more complex puzzles and the concept of tension-based puzzles where enemies react to light or sound. In this part of the little nightmares walkthrough, remember that light often reveals or distracts enemies—use it to your advantage. If you get stuck on a puzzle, look for environmental clues like decals, shadows, or objects that stand out in color. Those are often hints for the next step.

Chapter 4 – The Guests

Large rooms, long tables, and enemy patterns dominate this chapter. Focus on timing platings and using coverings to slip past guests. If a chase starts, look for vertical routes—many rooms have overhead beams or stacks of furniture that give temporary respite. For collectibles, search under tables and inside cupboards. Many hidden masks are tucked away in corners that are easy to miss during the first run.

Chapter 5 – The Pale City

Platforming becomes more demanding here, and environmental traps are more frequent. Combine running with careful jumps and practice shorter hops when the platforms are small. If you’re trying to achieve certain achievements or trophies, this chapter often contains optional rooms and alternate routes that hide runes and masks. Keep an eye out for one-way doors—backtracking is limited in some sequences.

Chapter 6 – The Maw (Final Sequences)

The Maw brings all mechanics together. Expect steeper platforming, long stealth runs, and a final sequence where pacing and timing determine your success. This is where many players miss the final collectibles or fail to unlock certain endings. Patience in the last run, and study the patience windows in enemy patterns. There are also key environmental puzzles that require stacking objects precisely—don’t rush these; a small misalignment can prevent progress.

Puzzles, platforming tricks, and examples

Puzzles in Little Nightmares often have simple solutions that are hidden in plain sight. Think like Six: everything is small and fragile, so use lightweight objects for balance and heavier objects to press down switches. Here are several practical puzzle-solving tips:

• Stacking for height: Use crates and chairs together to reach high ledges—sometimes you need to push a crate into water to create a floating step.
• Balancing acts: If a platform tilts, distribute weight evenly by moving items to counterbalance.
• Timed switches: Trigger timer switches and be ready to sprint or chain jumps. Pre-plan the path before activating the switch.
• Using light: Some puzzles require aligning light sources or casting shadows. Move lamps or objects until a shadow reveals the correct pattern.
• Environmental clues: Look for repeated symbols or color patterns—these often indicate the correct order or route.

Stealth, enemy behavior, and how to beat Little Nightmares

Because the game emphasizes stealth over combat, learning enemy behavior is key to how to beat Little Nightmares. Enemies usually have a limited set of behaviors: patrol, investigate, chase, and return to post. Use these patterns to your advantage by:

• Waiting for blind spots where you can slip by unseen.
• Using distractions—throwing items to alter the patrol route.
• Hiding in small spaces; enemies typically ignore unreachable nooks.
• Observing chase endings—escape routes often include vertical climbs or small crawl spaces to lose pursuers.

When in doubt, slow down and let the enemy complete its patrol. Patience is often the difference between success and a frustrating restart.

Collectibles: runes, masks, secrets, and hidden areas

If you’re aiming for 100% completion, the little nightmares walkthrough must include how to find collectibles. There are two main collectible types most players look for:

• Runes: Small stone carvings often hidden off the main path. Look up—runes can be placed on higher walls or tucked behind pipes.
• Masks: Decorative masks that provide a visual collectible reward and sometimes count toward an achievement. Check cupboards, under tables, and behind curtains.

Tips for finding secrets:

• Explore every accessible ledge and crawlspace. The developers purposely hide many collectibles in places that require backtracking or careful platforming.
• Pull on everything you can push; crates and barrels often hide secret routes or reveal ledges.
• If a wall looks different or there’s a breakable object, approach and interact—some hidden areas only open when you trigger a specific action.

Achievements and trophies: easy and missable

Some achievements are easy: finishing the game or surviving a sequence. Others are missable: collecting all masks or finishing a chapter without being detected. If you want specific trophies, plan a second playthrough focused only on collectibles and achievements. Use this walkthrough to mark which chapters contain missable items so you can prioritize them in your first or second run.

Common issues and troubleshooting

Players sometimes encounter platforming glitches or get stuck in the environment. If you find yourself stuck, try these steps:

• Respawn or reload: Reload the last checkpoint. Many times, physics objects settle differently after a reload.
• Use objects to pry free: Move crates or push items to realign a stuck platform.
• Restart the chapter: If you’re in a critical sequence and something glitched, restarting the chapter may be faster than hunting for a workaround.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Where are all the masks and runes located?

Runes and masks are scattered across chapters—runes are typically on walls or raised platforms while masks are often inside cupboards or tucked in corners. Follow the walkthrough’s chapter notes for exact areas and look for subtle environmental hints pointing to hidden spots.

2. How do I beat the game without getting caught?

Focus on stealth: observe enemy patterns, use hiding spots, and time your movements. Distractions and vertical escape routes are your friend. If a chase begins, run to a known hiding spot or use environmental obstacles to break line-of-sight.

3. Are there multiple endings or secrets I can miss?

While Little Nightmares has a primary narrative arc, several secrets and optional collectibles are missable in a single run. To capture everything and unlock certain achievements, a second playthrough aimed at exploration helps.

4. What’s the best approach for puzzles that seem impossible?

Slow down, inspect the environment, and try manipulating objects you initially overlooked. Many puzzles require combining multiple items or creating makeshift platforms. If stuck, step back and look for color cues or shadow patterns that hint at the solution.

5. Do I need to worry about trophies and achievements during my first playthrough?

Not necessarily. Complete the story first to get comfortable with mechanics. Then use a focused run to chase trophies and achievements, especially ones tied to collectibles or stealth challenges.

Conclusion

This little nightmares walkthrough is built to help players of all skill levels—whether you’re hunting every rune and mask, aiming for perfect stealth runs, or simply trying to enjoy the eerie world without constant frustration. The key takeaways: be patient, study enemy patterns, explore off the beaten path for collectibles, and use environmental cues to solve puzzles. With the tips above, you’ll navigate the Maw with more confidence and fewer restarts—happy sneaking and discovering.