REANIMAL

Thanks to a wonderful concept, exceptional level design, well-thought-out mechanics that are executed even better, and a spectacular audiovisual presentation that creates a deep atmosphere you don’t want to leave, Reanimal stands as one of the most memorable experiences of 2026 so far—one that we believe already deserves a secured place on the lists of the year’s very best. Tarsier Studios proves that they truly understand their craft better than anyone, and that the wisest course of action is simply to let them work, so all that immense creativity can flourish and be brought to life for all of us to enjoy.

Reanimal is a horror story, a journey through hell made up of the simple, elegant gameplay that Tarsier has honed to a feather's edge over the last decade.

Reanimal is bold and uncompromising evolution of Tarsier’s signature style, darker, stranger, and far less forgiving than anything that came before. I was repulsed, I was unsettled, and I loved it.

Reanimal is exactly what you might expect from the original Little Nightmares team, and yet, wondrous in its own right. Like venturing down the rabbit hole of unrelenting terror, it's an experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Sometimes it’s difficult to create something terrifying and disturbing without resorting to cheap jump scares, but when the grotesque and horror come together as one, works like Reanimal are born. Tarsier Studios’ latest title has managed to surpass the original Little Nightmares in every way, adding a cooperative mode and refining level design, sound, and an atmosphere that many of the industry’s most popular horror titles could only dream of.

REANIMAL feels like the work of a studio unshackled. While based on the foundations originally designed and created by Tarsier Studios, the team has built on them with confidence and creative conviction. This is a game that understands what made the studio’s earlier work resonate, while refusing to be defined by it. Through its confident mechanical evolution, grounded and oppressive world design, and a thematic focus that’s as unsettling as it is confrontational, REANIMAL establishes its own identity; one that’s harsher, more ambitious, and more emotionally affecting than anything Tarsier has made before.

Reanimal is yet another great creation brought to us by Tarsier Studios which vastly improves upon key elements found in the Little Nightmares series. It is indeed a fantastic experience for players who enjoy suspense horror, mystery and puzzle solving games.

REANIMAL is a game that takes everything Tarsier perfected in Little Nightmares and sharpens it into something darker, more relentless, and emotionally punishing. It rewards patience, observation, and careful thinking, but it doesn’t coddle you—the world is cruel and the horror lingers long after each encounter. It’s a more ruthless evolution of the formula, delivering a tense, interconnected journey that stands on its own while building on Tarsier’s legacy.

Reanimal goes far beyond being just an inspiration from The Little Nightmares. Developed by Tarsier Studios, the project shows a clear sense of identity and the confidence to explore new ideas. Instead of simply repeating mechanics that worked in the past, the studio expands its formula by introducing combat and building a brand new universe with its own tone and personality. The result is an experience that respects its roots while carving out a distinct path, with enough strength and originality to stand on its own and potentially grow into a franchise just as memorable as the one that inspired it.

Reanimal easily surpasses Little Nightmares 3. Although the recently released game was perfectly fine, it was the Swedish developers who took a step forward, which proved necessary to keep the idea fresh and simply not boring.

Reanimal may come from the same flock as Little Nightmares, but in many ways it’s a different beast. The simple puzzle platforming won’t ask too much from you and your co-op partner, but it doesn’t need to when there’s such a strong focus on tone. Confronting themes and well-implemented spooky visuals help to create a mesmerising and horrific world that you’ll be equal parts happy to see the back of and devastated to leave behind.

Reanimal is a standout addition to the survival horror genre, building upon the successful foundation established by Little Nightmares while confidently carving out its own identity. By refining the tense atmosphere, environmental storytelling, and unsettling creature design that made its predecessor so memorable, it delivers a more focused and immersive experience. The result is not only a meaningful evolution of a proven formula, but also one of the most impressive indie releases of the year.

Whether intentionally or not, Tarsier Studios delivered everything I expected from Little Nightmares 3 in Reanimal. The game offers greater gameplay depth, beautiful visuals, and an intense atmosphere, all with solo or local/online co-op gameplay.

REANIMAL feels in every way like the natural successor to the first two Little Nightmares games, yet it manages to establish enough of its own identity to avoid feeling like a simple retread. Tarsier Studios proves they still perfectly master the DNA of this formula, elevating the experience in subtle but meaningful ways through a more intense atmosphere, new gameplay elements, and a more cohesive world.

Reanimal is a great horror story from the creators of Little Nightmares, a step beyond in its original formula that manages to thrill thanks to a very well-crafted atmosphere, now in cooperative mode.

Reanimal is a short thrill ride, packed with stylish albeit somewhat repetitive set pieces, and truly nightmarish imagery. Despite its obvious connective tissue to Tarsier's previous franchise, it does enough to never feel derivative, and instead comes off as more of an evolution.

REANIMAL, while not perfect, does an excellent job of building on what Tarsier does best—portraying childhood fears as their most intense expressions.

Reanimal is a well-executed blend of a terrifying, grim atmosphere and a fresh twist on gameplay: co-op and 3D environments. The game masterfully handles exploration, puzzle-solving, and preying upon our deepest fears. Complementing this is a cooperative mode that fits the formula perfectly. It doesn't aim to break the mold, but stands as a worthy successor to the original Little Nightmares.

Reanimal marks Tarsier’s return to its most natural territory: a dramatic, oppressive horror that takes the legacy of Little Nightmares and pulls it into a darker, more psychological direction. Atmosphere, art direction and the use of co-op are the true driving forces of the experience, turning escape into a tense dialogue between two tiny bodies crushed by a distorted world…There are still stumbles in the readability of certain mechanics and in the limitations of the AI during single-player, along with a cast of figures that is not always as memorable as the environments that contain them. Flaws that, however, do not undermine the strength of a coherent and recognizable work, one that marks a new nightmare for Tarsier worthy of the name the studio has built for itself.

Reanimal is a bleak, atmospheric adventure that feels like a confident evolution of Tarsier Studios’ signature horror design, blending environmental storytelling, light dialogue, and tense stealth into a more exploratory, hub-driven structure. Whether played solo or in co-op, its unsettling world, deliberate pacing, and smart use of items slowly cohere into a haunting experience that rewards patience and attention, even if the lead's bad luck can be exhausting.

REANIMAL represents a visceral and larger-scale evolution of the formula established by Tarsier Studios in Little Nightmares. While the title disappoints due to its brevity, it shines through its world design, which utilizes visual communication to guide the player organically through an intriguing horror universe. The experience is further elevated by an exemplary cooperative mode, featuring accessible options like Friend's Pass and local co-op.

Reanimal continues the tradition of Little Nightmares and garnishes it with disturbingly fascinating gore elements. The atmosphere and creature design are top notch, and the couch co-op option is the icing on the cake. Only the game length could be longer.

REANIMAL delivers a stunning, fast-paced co-op horror adventure, visually captivating and brimming with conceptual power. It maintains a relentless rhythm and impressive scenario variety, especially for local play. However, its simple platforming and puzzles, alongside a broader lack of genre innovation, prevent it from truly breaking new ground.

Reanimal has a dark story, carefully crafted for a deep exploration into the concept of dehumanization using animals as symbols. The gameplay is fully 3D and features improved combat, but falls short in its platforming and puzzles. The visuals are outstanding, creating an eye-catching dark atmosphere and world with high-fidelity graphics and perfect performance. Sound design and soundtracks harmonize with the visuals to further immerse the player in its darkness. Reanimal has both improvements and drawbacks, with enough shortcomings to place it slightly below Little Nightmares 2.

Reanimal truly lives up to expectations. Its narrative and gameplay are immersive, amplifying the scope that defines Tarsier Studios. Every aspect feels deliberately connected, particularly the well-structured locations and the co-op mode, which created far more pleasant memories than Little Nightmares III.

Reanimal is a simple game with a challenging subject matter. Those looking for a fun co-op experience should look elsewhere, as it is neither great as a shared experience nor fun. But it is thought-provoking and stimulating, and if you can stomach combat suicide, animal harm, and more – all proxies for the effects of war on the people who wage it and the victims of that destruction – Tarsier has created something worth wrestling with.

The third horror game from Tarsier Studios is easily their best, unlocking a whole new levels of fear and tension that are clearly enhanced by the presence of co-op play.

REANIMAL's more 3-dimensional approach to its horror puzzle-adventure gameplay really supercharges the scares and sense of exploration.

REANIMAL feels like a natural, brilliant evolution of the Tarsier formula: more mature, more surprising, more layered, with co-op that’s genuinely well thought-out and an atmosphere that gets under your skin. A gorgeous nightmare, unsettling… and brutally effective, even if there’s that slight “been there, done that” vibe that’s starting to weigh on it. Has Tarsier maybe reached the end of what this recipe can offer?

Reanimal is both beautiful and horrifying, carving out a unique identity. The blend of co-op mechanics and atmospheric storytelling mixed with nightmarish creature design creates an experience you won't soon forget. Despite playing solo, I enjoyed my time with Reanimal but felt I would've appreciated the gameplay much more with someone I know to help me navigate the island. Ultimately, Tarsier's penchant for telling bone-chilling horror stories is why they continue to make a lasting impression.

Short but memorable, Reanimal stands out as an atmospheric horror experience that is as disturbing as it is masterful. Tarsier Studios delivers a dark journey with a strong identity, whose simple gameplay serves an adventure that is as unsettling as it is memorable.

One of the most darkly beautiful games you’ll ever play – albeit in a very similar way to the Little Nightmares franchise games – Reanimal is a short but deeply immersive, edge-of-the-seat experience, at once touching and terrifying. Its world is hauntingly macabre, its stealth sections truly tense, its chases thrilling and its puzzles simple yet strangely rewarding. It (unobtrusively) holds your hand a fair bit, but you’ll be grateful for a hand to hold as it takes you deep into the more disturbing corners of 20th Century history, promising more dark DLC revelations to this story to come.

Reanimal may be brief, but it leaves an impression. The game has no friction in terms of gameplay, reserving it all for a story that requires significant reflection to wrap your head around. Your mileage may vary, but I found its bleakness rewarding and evocative.

REANIMAL stands as both a confident continuation of Tarsier Studios’ haunting design philosophy and a cautious step into new territory. While its ambitious scope occasionally exposes cracks through rushed narrative beats and safe puzzle design, its oppressive atmosphere, striking visuals, and linked-up co-op gameplay carry the experience from beginning to end. For some, it may not reach the same tightly crafted heights as Little Nightmares, but it successfully captures that same uneasy magic that made those games special. It isn’t perfect, much like all things in this vast expanse of the medium or the horror genre, but it’s a bold and unsettling co-op journey that shows Tarsier’s signature style is still very much alive.

Reanimal is a beautiful and twisted experience that any horror fan should enjoy, be it alone or with a friend for the ride.

Putting those minor gripes aside, Reanimal is a breath of fresh air. It’s a roughly 7-hour experience chock-full of exciting and tense moments that will have you on the edge of your seat for most of the runtime. It’s a true evolution of the Little Nightmares formula, and while some technical issues can frustrate at times, and it loses a bit of its tension as it draws to a close, it’s still an experience that I would easily recommend to any horror fan.

One thing's for sure: Tarsier's "little nightmares" have grown, and while they use virtually the same basic gameplay and narrative ingredients, the impact of the images they reveal is much bloodier and more physical, completely unfiltered. If you've played all the Little Nightmares, including the third, and enjoyed them, there's almost no doubt that Reanimal will blow your mind. As always, the hidden horrors, the profound meanings, and the social messages remain powerful and intense beneath the almost "childish" appearance of a direction and art style that blends cartoons and hyperrealism. You have to immerse yourself in the title's dark world, however, and gameplay alone won't be enough to guide you: it's very simple, basic, and less stimulating than usual. Unlike the narrative, which is several notches above the rest.

Reanimal aimed to represent Tarsier Studios’ coming of age and to create a spiritual successor to Little Nightmares. While it draws on some of the conventions of their previous work, it is clear that the vision here is decidedly more mature: it strips away the charming imagery that permeates the dark fairy tale overseen by Bandai Namco, resulting in an adolescent nightmare that is far more unsettling, typical of someone beginning to grow up and leaving childhood behind. The protagonists are older and angrier; they are able to rebel against the horror, refuse to be overwhelmed, and often fight back with a level of force and aggression equal to —if not greater than— that of their enemies. It is an intriguing first piece of the puzzle, boasting a remarkable visual imagination, yet for nearly half of its short lifespan it still seems to be searching for its own identity.

REANIMAL follows directly in the footsteps of the studio's previous titles. Far from trying to reinvent the wheel, Tarsier simply does what it does best: immersing us in a dark and unsettling experience, driven by an uncompromising minimalism. Of course, this doesn't prevent the creators of Little Nightmares from refining their formula, with welcome additions and adjustments here and there. But beware of the feeling of déjà vu that is slowly but surely starting to creep in…

It feels like we've been waiting for it for a long time, but Little Nightmares dev Tarsier Studios has finally delivered its next game. Unsurprisingly, Reanimal feels very much like Little Nightmares in all but name. While it doesn't have the strongest narrative, stellar visuals, an eerie atmosphere and excellent environmental puzzles all more than make up for it.

Seeing Reanimal through in one sitting made me feel like I'd accompanied the siblings on their journey, holding their tiny, innocent hands as they uncovered horrors beyond comprehension. The conclusion of Reanimal leaves the door open for further explanation, so the incoming DLC for the game has me genuinely excited. Unfortunately, I am still left with a bunch of questions, and with no release date for the DLC, I'm in a state of purgatory. The imagery and implications linger in my mind much like the siblings' nightmares. While Reanimal is certainly unsettling, it's also quite beautiful. It shines a light on the importance of companionship--while you may face moments of uncertainty, and unsafety, you're not alone. And that's invaluable.

Much like the many peculiar pigs scattered across its levels, Reanimal is a beautifully rendered yet grotesque beast that may seem tame at first glance but is more than it lets on and truly something special.

REANIMAL is a short and dark experience that retains the DNA of Little Nightmares, relying on heavy atmosphere, simple puzzles, and terrifying monsters. Focusing on cooperative gameplay, the game stands out for its art direction and immersion, but suffers from technical polish, bugs, and limitations in the post-game. Still, it's worthwhile for fans of the genre.

REANIMAL is a beautiful horror journey that uses subtlety to its advantage. The lack of dialogue and cutscenes is traded for worldbuilding, while the gameplay highlights more thrilling chases rather than action-packed combat. Both are used to great effect, even in spite of some major issues with exploration and a few glitches here and there. If you're a fan of the horror genre, Little Nightmares, or have a friend to play with, though, REANIMAL is a must-buy.

Reanimal is a stylistically and atmospherically excellent, varied horror platformer. You can also experience it across platforms in local and cross-platform co-op. The puzzles are somewhat lacking, but the action is particularly intense. However, this doesn't detract from a gripping horror experience, as good as Little Nightmares 3 should have been.

Reanimal is a game that I sense may be divisive. Its confusing world and short runtime don’t exactly set it up for universal success, but it’s hard not to come away from the game feeling entertained and impressed. It’s a jarring adventure but one that is held together by some utterly brilliant set pieces that make it a worthwhile co-op experience. I sense that Tarsier Studios has something fascinating to say with this one. I just wish I could work out what it was.

Reanimal is not a loud horror ride. It is a quiet, unsettling, and sometimes painful nightmare. But one that lingers long after it’s over.

Reanimal is a very cinematic experience, in which platform and co-op mechanics are simply an addition. The plot takes centre stage here, and the themes and experiences suggested by the authors are probably more mature and serious than those in Little Nightmares. Reanimal is definitely a ‘big nightmare’ and the most bizarre, atmospheric game you will be able to play this year.

By improving upon its work from the Little Nightmares series, Tarsier Studios has crafted its greatest horror game yet. Reanimal is an impressive, smooth mix of action, platforming, and top-of-the-line presentation. It’s a very gripping and intense experience, both in solo play and co-op.

Reanimal is Little Nightmares with another name and THQ Nordic as editor, for better or worse. It introduces some interesting new features and it is quite fun, but it doesn't take any risks and its animal fable about human violence is a little bit confusing.

The vision behind Reanimal is clear: no complicated puzzles or storylines, but a streamlined, atmospheric fever dream with detailed visuals (and monsters) that linger in your mind for a long time. Tarsier Studios could have padded the game with more environments or more simplistic puzzles, but that might only have detracted from the experience. As a result, Reanimal is somewhat on the simple and short side, but it continues to haunt your thoughts long after you’ve finished playing.

REANIMAL feels like a natural extension to the Little Nightmares franchise. It boasts stunning visuals, strong atmosphere and several genuinely memorable moments. However, uneven pacing, a dull first chapter, clunky controls, technical issues and poor PS5 performance hold it back from true greatness. It's a good horror adventure overall, but one that's more likely to be remembered for its frustrations than its brilliance.

There’s nothing groundbreaking about Reanimal, but what it does, it does very well. There are still some nagging frustrations in Tarsier’s design that have again reared their heads, but don’t let them interfere with your enjoyment of this moody world.

REANIMAL is a triumph of aesthetics over substance. Tarsier Studios proves they remain the masters of 'vibes' and picturesque horror, yet by expanding the scope, they deliver a vast world where freedom is an illusion, and the gameplay settles into a ‘running sim’ that grows in scale but struggles to evolve its core ideas.

Reanimal breathes fresh life into the genre with its new gameplay mechanics and immense world. However, its story, centered around domestic violence and childhood trauma, is overly veiled. On the other hand, the incredible world design, music, and valuable cinematic narrative choices, such as the bus stop scene, enhance the game's appeal. Despite everything, Reanimal is a game worth playing, but it fails to live up to the immense expectations placed upon it.

Reanimal understands horror on a visual and emotional level, but isn’t able to support it with the amount of friction in the game. When it works, it’s great; when it doesn’t, the cracks are impossible to ignore.

Once more, Tarsier proves it knows how to craft a horror setting that feels torn from the darkest corners of a child’s imagination. Compared to the Little Nightmares games, Reanimal features a far more dynamic camera that heightens tension and amplifies its intense chases and moments of awe. However, these striking set pieces are the exception in an experience that remains largely reminiscent of the studio’s previous work. As a result, Reanimal stands as a satisfying new entry, but one that ultimately plays things a little too safe.

“A mature work” is probably a phrase you’re tired of hearing. Yet, Reanimal certainly gives that impression at first glance. Despite its characters, the game isn’t childish at all. With its monstrously disturbing atmosphere, deeply meta gameplay, and art direction worthy of the most terrifying nightmares, Reanimal has something special and does exactly what you’d expect. That said, it remains a game that hasn’t quite matured in terms of its execution. Conventional and rarely transcendent, Reanimal’s gameplay lacks that little something extra to elevate it to the top. So, while it’s certainly a game that’s mature for its age, it still has a few things to learn to truly join the ranks of the greats.

Reanimal is a whole beast of its own from Tarsier Studios, but only vaguely beyond the surface. It's a dark yet tasteful turn into more mature horror, with a striking art style, and a tremendous level of world building. However, its gameplay doesn't quite feel like the improved pivot every other aspect Reanimal has, as it's what we've come to expect from the studio. It's still an unnerving spectacle to trudge through, but it just feels a little too familiar to be impactful.

Reanimal is a short audiovisual masterpiece that makes even Little Nightmares 3 look like a complex tactical adventure game.

A darkly atmospheric horror puzzle game from the original developers of Little Nightmares, that’s undermined by dull puzzles and too much trial and error.

Spooky, surreal setting and co-op might be enough for some, but the gameplay is neither engaging nor frictionless, and there’s little new here to justify how limp it plays.

And, yes, the handful of marquee moments spent running from or tussling with gargantuan creatures are spectacular. I will never turn my back on a pelican again as long as I live. Throughout, Reanimal drip-feeds clues to compelling mysteries surrounding the nature of its world and the children’s place within it. A shame, then, that it whiffs its apparent swing at recapturing the gut-punch of Little Nightmares II’s ending.