Tarsier Studios Capture the Magic Again
The original Little Nightmares was released back in 2017 by Tarsier Studios. It followed a little girl, Six, as she pulled on her yellow raincoat and travelled through a world of nightmares and monsters.
It was a huge success, proving to be a game that inspired cosplays, sequels, and comic books. The third game in that series was released in 2025, but it was no longer made by Tarsier Studios, as they felt they wanted to work on something else.
REANIMAL is that new game, and it has been hugely anticipated by fans wondering whether the developers could capture that initial magic again. After playing through it both solo and in multiplayer, I can confidently say yes, they have. Here is why.
Slippery Narratives
At first, REANIMAL might feel like it shares the same vibe as the Little Nightmares games, but to me, it is an entirely more ambitious and mature prospect. Its story is slippery and complex, leaving you constantly wondering what has happened to the world you are exploring and why it is full of such horror.
The game starts on the water, in a boat, following a brother and sister who are venturing back to an island they once called home. There is minimal but effective dialogue from the two siblings as they begin their journey to rescue the other children they left behind.
Some might find this narrative journey confusing at times, as nothing is handed to you on a plate. This is the kind of game that will have you joining online discussion groups with other fans to dissect the meaning of what has happened and what ultimately takes place between the brother and sister. It reflects on war, death, loneliness, and despair in equal measure. It is an experience where the world lingers with you for a long time after you finish, urging you to go back and try to gain a better understanding of what you have just seen. I loved it, and there were so many moments that made me desperate to talk to someone else who had finished the game.
Solo vs. Multiplayer: The Atmosphere
REANIMAL can be played alone or with a friend, either online or locally. There is a friend pass system as well, so you’ll have no excuse to not drag another along for the ride. Both ways of playing, whether that be solo or with another, work perfectly, but personally, I prefer playing solo; the intense atmosphere is much more effective when my friend isn’t ruining it by telling me they have just run out of clean socks.
Environmental Guidance
The gameplay is simple, much like it was in the Little Nightmares titles. You move around this world with your partner by crouching, performing simple platforming, and solving environmental puzzles together. You carry objects and interact with items. You can boost each other up onto ledges and open vents for one another to squeeze through.
This exploration and gameplay occurs without any maps or text to help you. Instead, the environments point you in the right direction, using light and the focus of the fixed camera to highlight clues showing the way forward. I only got stuck once in an open-world section, but I was the idiot who simply didn’t explore the area thoroughly enough to progress.
Inventive Horrors
There are, of course, monsters, and they are both inventive and terrifying. One creature is a horrendous ice cream seller, and another is a demonic seagull that chases you across a crumbling landscape. Each section of the game features a sort of set-piece chase scene, including a runaway truck encounter, a desperate sprint through a lighthouse and a farm, and a huge tank fight. These sections have clearly evolved from the Little Nightmares games; the developers set their goals much higher and have achieved them with excellence throughout.
Sublime Lighting and Genius Interiors
Visually, REANIMAL is brilliant. In fact, it’s so good, I’ll say that again – REANIMAL is brilliant. The world is weird, frightening, and relaxing all in the same breath. The monster design is superb, constantly keeping things varied and unique. I am not going to give specific examples because I wouldn’t want things spoiled for me and I don’t want to do that to you. What you do need to know is that the lighting design is sublime, and the detail in the interiors is simply genius. Your characters can also find different masks and collectables throughout the game, which are wonderful additions. I didn’t get anywhere near finding half of them during my initial playthrough, giving me another excellent reason to go back.
The soundtrack is subtle, sinister, and successful at all times. There are a couple of standout moments, including a piano piece near the end that is incredibly effective and shocking. The voiceover is used sparingly but to great effect, and the sound design throughout is of the highest standard.
Raising the Bar for Horror Adventures
Is REANIMAL everything I had been looking forward to? YES!
REANIMAL is a big step up from the Little Nightmares games in terms of story and world-building. This feels more mature, more epic, and, at times, much more terrifying. I would say that you should try not to get frustrated by the narrative; rather, let it wash over you and think about the many meanings it could conjure afterwards. And yes, whilst the core gameplay itself isn’t drastically different from what has come before, there are so many amazing set pieces that raise the bar once more. Visually and aurally, you won’t find a better-designed game, in my opinion.
So what are you waiting for? Grab a friend, or just turn out the lights as you play on your own, and enter the wonderful world of REANIMAL.
Important Links
Share The Fear In REANIMAL – https://www.thexboxhub.com/share-the-fear-in-reanimal/
REANIMAL: A New Horror Adventure from the Creators of Little Nightmares | Trailer and 2026 Release Confirmed – https://www.thexboxhub.com/reanimal-a-new-horror-adventure-from-the-creators-of-little-nightmares/
Buy the Standard Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/reanimal/9N67DHNP2M0T/0010
Or go Deluxe – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/reanimal-digital-deluxe-edition/9NB3XVDJHSM8/0010/9XM6W2PPF64V
