How to Catch the Sneaky Gnome in Little Nightmares 3 — Grab the Lightbulb and Power Chapter 3’s Elevator
If you’re stuck in Chapter 3 (Carnivale) of Little Nightmares 3 and need the gnome to get the elevator working, here’s a clear, step-by-step guide. It covers where the gnome appears, how to coax him out, where he leads you, and how to get the light bulb that powers the lift.
How to follow the gnome in Little Nightmares 3
The gnome first appears in the very first room of Chapter 3, Carnivale. First, he scurries into the next room; call on your companion for a boost to open the door, and be careful of the bear trap at the back of that area. Then, you’ll find the gnome hiding in the drawer on the right—pull it open to reveal him.
After that, the gnome hides in a lounge chair. Don’t attack him; instead, jump on the seat a few times to force him to flee. When he crawls behind a bottle inside a cabinet, use Low’s arrow to hit the bottle and send him running again.
Next, he escapes through a hole in the wall and drops down a ladder. To reach that ladder, pull the large cart with hanging dolls to the right. The gap to the table looks wide, but you can grab the cart and pull yourself up to make the jump.
Climb the ladder and go through the ventilation shaft. When you drop into the hallway you’ll see multiple routes: on the left is an inactive elevator that’s missing a light-bulb plug, on the right is a breakable glass door (with a doll collectible behind it), and straight down a dim hallway the gnome waits. Follow him down that hallway.
Find the lightbulb
The gnome leads you to a dark room with a large button. If you try to grab him there, he’ll run again. Instead, use Alone’s wrench to hit the button; doing so lights the fireplace. As soon as the fireplace is lit, the gnome returns and hands you the light bulb—this is the electrical plug you need for the elevator.
You can then “catch” the gnome for a short, cute scene (this is purely cosmetic; there’s no extra reward).
Activate the elevator
Carry the light bulb to the inactive elevator on the left side of the hallway. Plug the bulb into the elevator’s socket, and the lift will power on. Take the elevator upward to reach the next area, which contains the Chapter 3 button puzzle.
Quick tips
- Move with the companion when you need a boost; teamwork is required for some doors and jumps.
- If the gnome hides, look for interactive objects (drawers, seats, bottles) and use the correct tool or action.
- Keep an eye on the environment: traps and breakable glass are easy to miss, but they matter for navigation and collectibles.
