Few studios understand atmospheric horror quite like Tarsier Studios, and now they return with REANIMAL, a co-op horror adventure launching on Xbox Series X|S (and on Play Anywhere), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Published by THQ Nordic, this unsettling new experience invites players into a disturbing world of childhood fear, twisted creatures, and fragile hope.
If you’ve been following upcoming releases this year, you may already recognise REANIMAL from our Best Games of February 2026 roundup. And now it’s finally here.
At A Glance
- Game: REANIMAL
- Developer: Tarsier Studios
- Publisher: THQ Nordic
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
- Genre: Co-op Horror Adventure
- Players: Single-player, Local Co-op, Online Co-op
- Standard Edition: £39.99
- Deluxe Edition: £49.99
A Dark Journey Between Hope And Horror
In REANIMAL, players step into the roles of two orphaned siblings searching for their missing friends on a nightmarish island. What begins as a desperate rescue mission quickly becomes something far more disturbing, as the children confront creatures born from trauma, memory, and fear.
Tarsier’s signature storytelling style is unmistakable here – minimal dialogue, heavy atmosphere, and environmental storytelling that slowly reveals the truth behind the world around you. The journey unfolds across fragmented locations filled with secrets, where every discovery adds another piece to a deeply unsettling puzzle.
Despite the darkness, REANIMAL is also a story about resilience and companionship, balancing dread with emotional weight.
Share The Scare
Unlike many horror adventures, REANIMAL is built with cooperative play at its core. The game can be experienced solo with AI assistance, but it truly shines when two players work together.
A shared, directed camera system keeps both characters close together, increasing tension and forcing cooperation as players explore both land and sea, including sections where the siblings travel by boat between eerie locations.
This design choice reinforces the emotional theme of the game: survival through connection.
Tarsier Studios Returns To Horror
As the creators behind the beloved Little Nightmares games, Tarsier Studios have built a reputation for crafting unsettling worlds filled with symbolic monsters and vulnerable protagonists. REANIMAL pushes that identity further, presenting new creature designs inspired by childhood trauma and fractured memories.
The visual style remains strikingly cinematic, with grotesque enemies, crumbling environments, and haunting lighting helping to create a world that feels both surreal and painfully personal.
It’s horror that lingers long after you put the controller down.
“The REANIMAL experience is a clear reflection of who Tarsier is – a group of individuals with a shared sensibility that feel privileged to have been able to work together on a game like this,” said Oliver Merlöv, Managing Director, Tarsier Studios. “We believe the more personal the art, the more attention poured into every detail, the more worthy a game is of player’s time. We can’t wait for them to play REANIMAL!”
Editions Available At Launch
Players can jump into REANIMAL with two versions of the game available from day one.
The Standard Edition (£39.99) includes the full base game, while the Deluxe Edition (£49.99) adds a Season Pass that expands the story across three future DLC chapters arriving throughout 2026 and early 2027.
The Deluxe package also includes the Foxhead and Muttonhead Masks DLC, offering cosmetic disguises for the sibling protagonists.
Key Features Summary
- Co-op horror adventure from the creators of Little Nightmares
- Playable solo, local co-op, or online co-op
- Shared camera system designed to heighten tension
- Cinematic horror world filled with disturbing creatures
- Story-driven exploration across a mysterious island
- Season Pass content planned through 2026-2027
A Haunting New Adventure Begins
REANIMAL feels like a natural evolution of Tarsier Studios’ horror storytelling, bigger in scope, more cooperative in design, and just as emotionally unsettling.
Whether played alone or alongside a friend, this is shaping up to be one of the most memorable horror releases of the year. Our full review will divulge more very soon.
If you’re ready to confront the darkness together, REANIMAL is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Play Anywhere, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Unfortunately, REANIMAL is not part of Game Pass at launch.
Just remember – nobody should face the nightmare alone.
