Come hell and high water
By Paul Hunter
I have a huge appreciation for Tarsier’s signature brand of horror, so I was curious what their first big project after Little Nightmares would look like. Reanimal ended up being exactly what I was hoping for: a grim, weird, and oddly beautiful game that somehow even better than their Little Nightmares offerings.
Reanimal incorporates their traditional gameplay of working through 3D spaces, avoiding all kinds of monstrosities as you climb and sneak between rooms, but this time you also steer between islands. It is also built from the ground up for co-op, but you can also play solo while controlling both characters. With a tight 6 to 8 hour campaign, it's the perfect weekend horror binge especially with a friend.
So, let's dive in and explore all that this game has to offer!
Once again, most of the storytelling is done through the incredibly detailed artwork, although there are short exchanges and optional gallery unlocks that help build a picture over time. It seems like whatever ruined this island happened quickly as the objects sitting in dilapidated streets and houses are like leftovers from routines that stopped in an instant. Each island works like its own contained story chapter in that wider fall, focusing on a different part of the community and how the disaster twisted it.
What really stuck with me is how strong the bond is between the siblings, and it's hard not to get emotional seeing one of them reach for the other after a close call. By the time you reach the ending it's pretty clear that this is the strongest horror story Tarsier has ever given us.
It wouldn't be a Tarsier horror game without stealth and chase sections sitting at the heart of the action. Many enemies are skin-suit bodies that surge toward you in groups, so you spend a lot of time hiding behind cover and carefully watching their patrol routes. You'll also quite often leverage your partner to hold a lever or draw the enemy attention while you slip away unnoticed.
The great news about co-op is that you can play split-screen local or go online to host a session. Even better, the game includes a Friend Pass to let your bud join without buying a second copy.
The enemy designs are pure nightmare fuel. The skin-suit creatures never stop being gross, especially when they stack up in doorways or slide over each other in tight spaces. Larger monsters each have their own disgusting features that make each appearance feel special. I really liked how the game uses scale, like how sometimes the kids are just a speck on the screen while a massive figure looms in the background. Or other times you are right up close, watching every twitch in a creature’s movement. Camera work really pushes the tension but don't worry as it still gives you a good view of platforms and hazards.
Audio is just as terrifying with the soundtrack using long, moody pieces that follow you through whole sections, then slams a heavier beat on top when you have to run. Environmental audio is superb, too, whether it's distant metal bangs or the eerie sound of skin-suit bodies scraping across floors. There is not a ton of dialogue, but the lines that are there always match the mood, be it scary or somber.
Running on PS5, the game was smooth for most of the campaign, although I did notice a few small stutters in co-op and one or two odd visual quirks around fog and water edges, but they never took me out of the experience.
Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
Developer: Tarsier Studios
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Genre: Survival Horror Adventure
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
I have a huge appreciation for Tarsier’s signature brand of horror, so I was curious what their first big project after Little Nightmares would look like. Reanimal ended up being exactly what I was hoping for: a grim, weird, and oddly beautiful game that somehow even better than their Little Nightmares offerings.
Reanimal incorporates their traditional gameplay of working through 3D spaces, avoiding all kinds of monstrosities as you climb and sneak between rooms, but this time you also steer between islands. It is also built from the ground up for co-op, but you can also play solo while controlling both characters. With a tight 6 to 8 hour campaign, it's the perfect weekend horror binge especially with a friend.
So, let's dive in and explore all that this game has to offer!
Story and Narrative
Reanimal starts with a brother and sister steering their small boat back to an island home that they barely recognise. A massive catastrophe has ripped their birthplace into a chain of separate islands, and three friends never made it out. The story sets up the plan to chase after the people you care about while you try to piece together how everything went so wrong.Once again, most of the storytelling is done through the incredibly detailed artwork, although there are short exchanges and optional gallery unlocks that help build a picture over time. It seems like whatever ruined this island happened quickly as the objects sitting in dilapidated streets and houses are like leftovers from routines that stopped in an instant. Each island works like its own contained story chapter in that wider fall, focusing on a different part of the community and how the disaster twisted it.
What really stuck with me is how strong the bond is between the siblings, and it's hard not to get emotional seeing one of them reach for the other after a close call. By the time you reach the ending it's pretty clear that this is the strongest horror story Tarsier has ever given us.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Reanimal's gameplay will be familiar to those who have played Little Nightmares, so it's easy to get into. It's a cinematic platformer that will have you climbing, jumping, shimmying, and cracking environmental puzzles while twisted enemies hunt around you. When you take the boat out you are threading through foggy channels and wreckage, plotting paths while keeping an eye on shapes moving in the murky waters.It wouldn't be a Tarsier horror game without stealth and chase sections sitting at the heart of the action. Many enemies are skin-suit bodies that surge toward you in groups, so you spend a lot of time hiding behind cover and carefully watching their patrol routes. You'll also quite often leverage your partner to hold a lever or draw the enemy attention while you slip away unnoticed.
The great news about co-op is that you can play split-screen local or go online to host a session. Even better, the game includes a Friend Pass to let your bud join without buying a second copy.
Presentation and Audio
Reanimal visually is stunning, easily the best yet from Tarsier. The islands feel nasty and dangerous, from flooded streets to half-collapsed barns absolutely nothing looks welcoming. There are so many little touches that hint at life used to be normal before the collapse, like laundry still hanging in ruined yards or children’s drawings hung up in halls.The enemy designs are pure nightmare fuel. The skin-suit creatures never stop being gross, especially when they stack up in doorways or slide over each other in tight spaces. Larger monsters each have their own disgusting features that make each appearance feel special. I really liked how the game uses scale, like how sometimes the kids are just a speck on the screen while a massive figure looms in the background. Or other times you are right up close, watching every twitch in a creature’s movement. Camera work really pushes the tension but don't worry as it still gives you a good view of platforms and hazards.
Audio is just as terrifying with the soundtrack using long, moody pieces that follow you through whole sections, then slams a heavier beat on top when you have to run. Environmental audio is superb, too, whether it's distant metal bangs or the eerie sound of skin-suit bodies scraping across floors. There is not a ton of dialogue, but the lines that are there always match the mood, be it scary or somber.
Running on PS5, the game was smooth for most of the campaign, although I did notice a few small stutters in co-op and one or two odd visual quirks around fog and water edges, but they never took me out of the experience.
The Verdict
Reanimal stands out as a serious horror highlight, tying a bleak, personal story to tense 3D platforming and a dark presentation that never lets up. The campaign is tight and deliberate, and perfect for playing with friends through couch co-op or online using the free Friend Pass. Playing solo also works well as it's easy to command your AI buddy and bosses are quite manageable alone, too. There's a few small technical hiccups here and there, but overall this is a must-play experience for horror fans.Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing
REANIMAL details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2Developer: Tarsier Studios
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Genre: Survival Horror Adventure
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.