This article was created to show the content of the game Little Nightmares and the DLC Secrets of the Maw, which was modified or not included in the final version of the game. But since these elements of the game did not make it into the final version, they cannot be mistaken for canon.
Original Version of the Game
Original name for Little Nightmares
In the early stages, the game had the working title of Hunger, which emphasized the game's themes of greed and consumption as well as the hunger Six encounters throughout the game. However, when it was realized that fans would have trouble finding the game due to the filtered search results which likely showed Hunger Games, the book series by Suzanne Collins, the game title was changed to Little Nightmares.
Game format
In an interview with Tarsier Studios, published in the three hundred and second issue of EDGE magazine, it was mentioned that Hunger was originally supposed to be released in 2D.[1]
Characters
Six
Six washed one of the guests.
Six was originally brought to the Maw as a Guests catering worker. Her task was to wash the visitors of the Maw, as evidenced by one of the concept art. Thus briefly referring to Hayao Miyazaki's anime Spirited Away.
As seen in the Gamescom 2016 demo, Six initially was shown having the ability to whistle to attract the attention of nearby characters.[2] Some animations of this mechanic can still be found in the game files. For unknown reasons, it was cut out of the gameplay. However, this mechanism got to be remained for the playable character: Mono in Little Nightmares II.
Nomes
An early trailer for the Hunger version shows that the Nomes originally had a different headgear instead of a cone. It was cylindrical, resembling a barrel.[3] It had two slits for the eyes and a long nose, which made the Nomes resembling the Metrognomes from the cancelled game The City of Metronome.
In a later trailer for the game, it was shown that Six had previously had the opportunity to save a Nome, who was locked in a bank. Perhaps she could also use it to solve puzzles.[4] This mechanism gets remained in the Runaway Kid's escape in the Hideaway, which he rescues a couple of Nomes, later helping him solve various puzzles and ultimately power a large furnace.
Throughout the development of the game, the Nomes had different recordings of their voice. For example, in the first trailers, the Nome's voice was high and an unnatural squeaky, until it was replaced by a distinctive rumbling.
Children
There is a concept art depicting sketches of children's models. In total, five children were depicted and only the one on the far left and the one in the middle were used. The first unused boy has curly hair and was dressed in clothes that looked like a prison uniform. The second child is a girl who had long wavy hair and a dress resembling pajamas. The third child is a boy that was dressed in torn pants with his fly open and in a shirt. Portraits of these children appear mainly in the Residence, and as five individual coloured portraits in a room from Very Little Nightmares.
The Janitor
As shown in the trailer for the earlier version of the Hunger game, the Janitor had to be present in other levels of the game, appearing in the Kitchen and in the Guest Area.[3] This was supposedly changed for the reason that the character was appearing too many times, displacing other enemies into the background.
Earlier, the Janitor was supposed to catch Six eating meat with his hands, and not with the help of a cage in which there was a bait.[5]
the Janitor's design remains overall unchanged. However, concept art reveals the Janitor's eye sockets would have been visible as his sagging skin is pulled back. This portrait appears in the Janitor's private room. This mask also appears in one of the rooms in the Hospital from Little Nightmares II.
Leeches
Concept arts depict leeches with two legs. There are unused animations of the leeches standing up, running, and even flipping. These were scrapped for unknown reasons. The animations can be seen here.
The Twin Chefs
Along with the Shoe Monster, the Twin Chefs are presented in the game's demo at Gamescom 2016.
At an early stage in the game, the Twin Chefs had a slightly different appearance. Their skin was supposed to be not so pale, and also they did not have hair.[3] In addition, there were three, not two cooks, as in the final version. This can be seen in the early concept art, presented below. The Twin Chefs' concept art portraits are also present in the game's concept art menu, with their appearance remaining overall identical to that in-game.
The game files contain several animations for Chefs that were not used in the game. Some of their actions that were supposed to be reproduced - The Chef pulls out a bug from under his mask, wipes the floor, turns the pulley, lifts or moves objects with the help of a rope.
.gif "AjarLimitedImperatorangel-mobile (1).gif (1.85 MB)")
The Third Chef
Originally, there were meant to be three chefs in The Maw. The Third Chef can be seen in teaser trailers for Hunger and as an Easter egg via portraits in Little Nightmares.
The Shoe Monster
In the demo version, presented at Gamescom 2016, the Shoe Monster's house was not in the Lair, but in the Kitchen, where Six would go through a room with a meat grinder.[2]
The Wax Bellman
At Gamescom 2016, the Wax Bellman, portrayed by one of the costumed people, who could be seen observing through a two-way mirror.[6] A similar mirror is found in the bathroom of the Guest Area, which Six can break to reveal a hidden room with a single wooden chair. That room may have been used by the Wax Bellman to spy on the guests.
Although the actual character does not appear in-game, the Wax Bellman appears in both Little Nightmares as paintings and Very Little Nightmares in one of the existing boxes.
Portraits
Before the game was released, many portraits that would be used as background elements were put into the games code. Some were removed after being added to the code. Reasoning includes rating issues, not fitting the characters themes, and just because they didn't want them to be used. It was revealed through these portraits that anthropomorphic characters do not exist in the Little Nightmares universe.
The pig character's head is seen in a newspaper mounted on a wall.
Chapters
The Prison
The early version and the final version of the Prison remains overall the same .
The Lair
Originally as shown in trailers and screenshots the Janitor was supposed to appear in his room and Six would have to avoid him. This was removed for unknown reasons.
The Kitchen
The Kitchen is the main playable area in the demo presented at Gamescom 2016. In the demo, Six had to go into the kitchen through the ventilation that led into the Chef's bedroom. Also, the initial ventilation in the room with the meat grinder was to lead into the premises of the Shoe Monster.[2]
As shown in an early trailer, the Janitor was supposed to get into the hall, where the Twin Chefs washed the dishes.[3]
.png "KitchenConceptArt (1).png (2.37 MB)")
The Guest Area
The Janitor was originally going to be present in an empty dining area. This encounter is similar to the Janitor's encounter in the Hideaway.[3]
Like the first cut Janitor's encounter in the Prison, Six was originally going to be located under the Guests when they were boarding the Maw.[5]
The Residence
In the trailer for the third chapter of the DLC known as "The Residence", it was shown that initially, the Lady's Quarters should have been a little brighter and more elegant. For example, instead of broken statues in the gallery, there should have been sculptures similar to the statues of the Lady, the corridor leading to the doll room looked cleaner and brighter due to the lighting everywhere. A Bully, depicted in the picture in the room where a table was set for letters, was painted to its full height, and the broken mirror that the Lady looked almost throughout the chapter would have been completely absent.[7]
Various portraits seen in promotional content leading up to the release of the Residence are noticeably absent. In the library section, a handful of book covers were changed, and object in the room were removed.
One of the concept art shows that the Lady's family tree, consisting of portraits of herself and her ancestors, was to be placed in the Residence.
The Bathhouse
The Bathhouse is an area that has only been alluded to through a single piece of concept art. It is unknown where and how this would have been integrated into the game.
Unknown chapters
The following are screenshots of chapters that were not seen in Little Nightmares.
