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Game Information

Game Title: Reanimal

Platforms:

• PC (Feb 13, 2026)
• PlayStation 5 (Feb 13, 2026)
• Xbox Series X/S (Feb 13, 2026)

Trailer:

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Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 81 average - 85% recommended
Metacritic - 81 Average - Based on 34 Reviews (PS5 Version)

Critic Reviews


4News.it - Riccardo Amalfitano - Italian - 7.8 / 10

Reanimal represents the natural and daring evolution of Tarsier Studios, taking the fragile and surreal essence of Little Nightmares and transforming it into a more expansive and explicitly horror-filled, disturbing, brutal, and relational cooperative horror game (without betraying its melancholic and childlike soul), perfect for those seeking shared tension on an island of living nightmares. Despite some narrative crypticism and minimalist combat that is not for everyone, the result is an unforgettable adventure (albeit rather short) that will appeal to fans of the genre. It is a title that is best played in pairs, where the tension of having to protect (and depend on) another person amplifies the journey.

AltChar - Emina Zulić - 9 / 10

Tarsier Studios returns with a spiritual successor to Little Nightmares that captures everything that made those games special - and makes it even better.

Analog Stick Gaming - Jordan Andow - 9 / 10

Ultimately, the game's few technical issues are completely overshadowed by Reanimals' excellence across world design, environmental storytelling, and set-piece moments, not to mention its eerie use of audio, especially via headphones.

CGMagazine - Marcus Kenneth - 7 / 10

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.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 84 / 100

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Cerealkillerz - Chris Hoke - German - 8.4 / 10

Reanimal is a game whose greatest strength clearly lies in its atmosphere. The world feels denser, more oppressive, and emotionally more intense than in Little Nightmares III. Anyone looking for a horror adventure that prioritizes mood over complex puzzles will find a very compelling experience here.

The varied and sometimes disturbing mask designs, the minimalist storytelling, and the charming German voice acting give the game a distinct identity. At the same time, technical shortcomings such as merely average visuals and somewhat imprecise controls prevent it from receiving a higher score.

Despite these criticisms, Reanimal remains a remarkable game that stands out primarily because of its atmosphere and visual identity. It is not a perfect title, but one that demonstrates how powerfully atmosphere alone can carry a gaming experience.

But to answer the initial question: even if the score doesn't reflect it, I like this game more than Little Nightmares 3.

Cubed3 - Adam Riley - 9 / 10

REANIMAL on Nintendo Switch 2 marks a striking reinvention for Tarsier Studios, taking the studio's talent for intimate horror and expanding it into a richer, more confident adventure. Tight controls, a smartly reactive camera and impressive AI make every escape and puzzle feel fair, while the island's layered design blends openness with subtle guidance to create a world that rewards curiosity without losing momentum. It's a bold step beyond the Little Nightmares formula and a clear statement of what Tarsier can achieve on its own terms.

Digitale Anime - Raouf Belhamra - Arabic - 9 / 10

"A terrifying yet captivating experience"
REANIMAL represents a confident step forward for Tarsier Studios, deepening the philosophy of vulnerability and suffocation without falling into the trap of repetition. Through thoughtful collaboration and meticulously crafted visual and sound design, the game delivers a psychologically unsettling and artistically cohesive experience. A horror experience designed to disturb and linger in the memory.

Digitec Magazine - Kevin Hofer - German - 3 / 5

Reanimal's cinematic camera work, outstanding sound design, and varied set pieces pull me into a suffocating world steeped in horror. From a gameplay perspective, however, the experience falls short of its potential. Trying to equally accommodate both single-player and co-op seems to limit creative freedom. There's a noticeable lack of ambition when it comes to meaningfully evolving the established formula or experimenting with new ideas.

GAMES.CH - Benjamin Braun - German - 80%

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GRYOnline.pl - Dariusz Matusiak - Polish - 8 / 10

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.

Game8 - Allisandra Reyes - 86 / 100

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.

GameOnly - Przemysław Naglik - Polish - 4.25 / 5

REANIMAL is just a better Little Nightmares. The game introduces many important improvements and features a well-implemented co-op mode. If only the playtime were two hours longer, it would be absolutely PERFECT!

GamePro - Dennis Müller - German - 65 / 100

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Gameliner - Bram Noteboom - Dutch - 4 / 5

REANIMAL is a dark, unforgettable horror experience that showcases Tarsier Studios at their best, even if familiar frustrations and a steep price for its short runtime remain, making it an unleashed beast worth embracing if you can accept those flaws.

Gamer Social Club - Harry Glynn Jones - 9 / 10

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.

Gaming Boulevard - Lander Van der Biest - 8.5 / 10

REANIMAL is Tarsier Studios at their darkest, and at their most confident. It takes familiar ideas and expands them into something bigger, scarier, and more deliberate. It's not perfect, but its atmosphere, co-op design, and standout set pieces left a strong impression. One of the most memorable modern horror games I've played in a while.

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 9 / 10

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.

Generación Xbox - Frank Montes - Spanish - 90 / 100

If you love the Little Nightmares series , you'll find something very special here: it not only draws on its essence, but elevates it and takes it a step further, a must-have in the Xbox catalog.

Hinsusta - Pascal Kaap - German - 9 / 10

REANIMAL is not a horror game you casually play on the side. It is an experience. One that gets under your skin, that suffocates you, and doesn't let go even after you've turned it off. The Swedish studio impressively demonstrates how modern horror can truly work: relying less on cheap jump scares and more on atmosphere, psychological pressure, and a constant feeling of unease.

Just Play it - Abdelillah MOHAMED AZIZI - Arabic - 9 / 10

Reanimal is a fresh and distinctive entry in the lineage of horror games that Tarsier Studios is known for, featuring a more realistic approach alongside impressive cinematic and artistic direction. The game stands out for its deeply mysterious narrative, which gives players the freedom to interpret it in their own way, as well as for its varied gameplay, new ideas, and finely crafted sound design. While it remains faithful to the core essence that defines the studio's work, the story's heavy ambiguity may not appeal to everyone.

KonsoliFIN - Petri Leskinen - Finnish - 4 / 5

Reanimal is an audiovisual masterpiece and in many ways more interesting than its twin game, Little Nightmares 3, but it doesn't quite reach the level of a classic status like the opening part of Little Nightmares.

Loot Level Chill - Steve Chambers - 8.5 / 10

Reanimal is Tarsier Studios doing exactly what it does best: tense, physiological horror with a (un)healthy dose of gore and body-horror.

MondoXbox - Mirko Rossi - Italian - 9 / 10

REANIMAL is a high-quality horror adventure that elevates Tarsier Studios' signature elements to new heights. Blending distinctive gameplay with deliberately cryptic storytelling, it delivers an experience that is both gripping and deeply unsettling. Grotesque design, meticulous direction, and a strong co-op mode enhance the formula, making this new IP a meaningful evolution and an essential addition for horror fans.

Nintendo Life - Nile Bowie - 9 / 10

With Reanimal, Tarsier Studios delivers its darkest, boldest work yet. Expanding on the Little Nightmares formula with non-linear exploration, striking audiovisual design, and bombastic set pieces, this is an imaginative horror experience that confidently delivers its vision while offering accessible co-op play that fans of the developer have long clamoured for.

PC Gamer - Shaun Prescott - 74 / 100

Reanimal doesn't meaningfully develop Tarsier's approach to gameplay in the Little Nightmares games, but it's a grim sight to behold, and a worthwhile horror adventure.

PSX Brasil - Francisco Maia - Portuguese - 85 / 100

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.

Pizza Fria - Higor Phelipe Neto Nicoli - Portuguese - 8.5 / 10

REANIMAL represents a step in maturity for Tarsier Studios. Although the first part of the campaign may feel overly familiar to those who have followed the studio's previous work, the experience grows consistently by introducing new mechanics, expanding the role of cooperation, and investing in a more raw and direct setting.

PlayStation Universe - Tommy Holloway - 8.5 / 10

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.

Prima Games - Ali Hashmi - 8.5 / 10

While its gameplay remains familiar, REANIMAL elevates itself through its dense atmosphere, an unwavering commitment to delivering a consistently tense horror experience you cannot take your eyes off, genuine emotional weight driven by voiced characters with deeply personal stakes, and impressive technical polish, standing as Tarsier's most cohesive and fully realized project to date.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 8 / 10

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.

ReGame It - Taha Omar - Arabic - 9.5 / 10

With Reanimal, Tarsier Studios builds on Little Nightmares, combining psychological horror with immersive cooperative gameplay. Polished visuals, cinematic pacing, and refined mechanics create a cohesive experience. Layered mysteries and an open-ended narrative hint at a larger world, making it a strong foundation for a potential series.

República DG - André Custódio - Portuguese - 8.7 / 10

After a long hiatus since Little Nightmares 2, Tarsier's return is more than expected: Reanimal is an ambitious and disturbing horror adventure that pushes the studio's creativity to its limits.

SECTOR.sk - Matúš Štrba - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

Reanimal delivers a tense, visually striking survival-horror experience in the vein of Little Nightmares. Its cooperative gameplay, claustrophobic levels, and subtle storytelling keep players on edge, while hidden collectibles extend the 6'8 hour runtime. Though it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it refines the series' formula with style and atmosphere.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 6 / 10

It's neither punishing nor oppressively surreal, offering nothing that hasn't been done before better and quirkier. Atmosphere can only go so far I'm afraid.

TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 8 / 10

Tarsier's Reanimal is a fun and creepy adventure to spend alone or with a friend for a few hours. The co-op experience doesn't add much, but you'll be able to bounce ideas off the deeper story as you're escaping from hellish birds

The GameSlayer - Christian Bognar - 8.5 / 10

Tarsier Studios has crafted a work of art and a bigger, more dramatic, version of Little Nightmares that showcases how far this type of game can go. It's so disturbing in its themes, unsettling in its pivotal moments, coated in dreadful atmosphere, and mesmerizing from start to finish. It unfortunately fails in its gameplay elements, as it has no complex puzzles, boring combat encounters, and is just all around pretty simple.

The Outerhaven Productions - Keith Mitchell - 4.5 / 5

Reanimal is Tarsier Studios at its darkest and most uncompromising. This is not a continuation of Little Nightmares, but a bolder, more disturbing evolution that proves Tarsier is fully unleashed.

VDGMS - Darren Andrew - 9 / 10

REANIMAL is the Little Nightmares 2 sequel that fans deserved, which is simply indicative of how much dark platformers are engrained in the DNA of Tarsier Studios. REANIMAL is exactly the type of psychological horror that you'd expect from the minds behind Little Nightmares 1 and 2, which is great baseline to start from. What wasn't expected was just how much a slight perspective change would evolve the experience. Tarsier now have more freedom to greatly increase the scale, broaden their environmental storytelling and even go into darker territory than before. As a result, this epic adventure through hell is much more immersive than their previous work, as REANIMAL shakes up the status quo of the genre.

Xbox Achievements - Josh Wise - 70%

In the new puzzle-platformer from Tarsier Studios, Reanimal, you get to drive an ice cream van. That may come as a shock, given that this developer m...

 

[Baemono]

Is it day one GP ?

 

[adamsapple]

Is it day one GP ?

No.

 

[sloppyjoe_gamer]

Is it day one GP ?

No cheap ass, you have to buy it.
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JK
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Maybe

 

[Arachnid]

If it's half as good as Little Nightmares 2, I'm fkn in