Last Updated on Feb 24, 2026 @ 12:55:33 PM.
Tarsier Studios is a developer well and truly rooted in the co-op, platforming genre. With previous games including LittleBigPlanet and Little Nightmares 1 & 2, it’s easy to get excited by its latest offering, Reanimal, a horror game in a similar vein to the aforementioned Bandai Namco published games, but somehow, even more batshit crazy, dark, twisted and unbelievably chock-full of body horror – and that’s a damn good thing.
If you were to ask ten people what the story of Reanimal is about, you’d likely get 10 varied answers. During your time with the game it isn’t cramming exposition and lore down your throat, with the majority of the storytelling done on screen, in front of your eyes. From seeing twisted versions of humans climbing out of even more twisted versions of humans, gigantic spiders who spawn kids and much more besides, the environmental world building IS the story unfolding, and its very much left to you, and your exploration to piece it together. What is known by everyone though? The world is a feast for your eyes.
You’ll explore tumultuous sea’s, desolate and destroyed towns, warzones and body-strewn hospitals, all whilst doing your best to escort the two protagonists (and the friends you save along the way) to relative safety, a goal that continues to evade you just when you think you’ve accomplished it. The entire experience is a dark and dank affair, meant in the best way, with Reanimal never wasting a moment to make you feel uncomfortable, and always attempting to get that next scare.
A game like Reanimal lives and dies on its ability to draw in the player and make them believe the world in front of them, and I’m glad to say that during my time with it, I bought in to what Tarsier were trying to do. The lack of a HUD was a masterstroke, as there was never a wasted pixel on screen. No need for arrows or help for the puzzles, as both exploration and puzzles were more than intuitive. On the odd occasion you may get lost, just look out for a red flashing light in the distance. Whether it’s a floating buoy flashing away or a light in a corridor, go that way and you’re progressing, just make sure you do it carefully, you never know what’s around the corner.
The gameplay is pretty light, if we’re being honest, with the majority of it centred around lifting your partner up ledges, holding switches until they can move through a door, under a revolving fan or something else equally as egregious. This simplicity could be a criticism, but on the other hand, it left me plenty of time to enjoy the world, rather than focusing on what I should be doing, pressing, thinking of next. And some of the puzzles will have you scratching your head for a moment, so if you’re playing with another human (the way the game deserves to be experienced), you best hope they’ve seen something you’ve missed.
Interspersed with the ‘simplistic’ gameplay and the incredibly immersive environment are some sensationally bone-chilling chase sequences. Without giving away any spoilers, these will have you on the edge of your seat as you hope to get away in one piece with your partner. Either of you make a misstep? Well it’s curtains for both of you and you start again. Find your way through and escape though? Well you’ll have a few moments to collect your thoughts, discuss what the hell you just escaped from and hope you don’t run into it again. But if nothing else, these moments break up the pacing and keep you on your toes, keep your heart rate up and make you realise no matter what, you’re never really safe in Reanimal.
On the face of it, Reanimal looks to be Little Nightmares dialled up to eleven. Far more disgusting body horror, a more twisted and ‘ridiculous’ story, the right amount of scares and some seriously impressive set pieces.
Oh, and the name making zero sense? One brain-melting ending later and you’ll understand exactly what it means, even if you’re not entirely sure what just happened over the last eight hours.
Reanimal
The creators of Little Nightmares™ I & II have returned to take you on a darker, more terrifying journey than ever before. In this horror adventure game, a brother & sister go through hell to rescue their missing friends and escape the island that they used to call home.
Summary
Reanimal is equal parts horrifying and daunting. Fun in ways only horror gamers can appreciate, you’ll spend as much time exploring the beautifully designed world from Tarsier, as you will trying to escape it, and its disgusting, body horror inhabitants. Decent puzzles, good platforming and some seriously impressive world design await if you can deal with some simple, if not repetitive gameplay.
HOURS PLAYED: 9
PLAYED ON: PS5
- Immersive world-building and a total lack of a HUD is a HUGE plus in the age of sensory assault from games these days.
- Chase sequences are over-the-top madness that you'll never forget.
- This is Tarsier Studios completelty unshackled.
- Simplistic gameplay can get repetitive at times.
- If you're not 100% dialled in, you'll miss key moments of the story playing out in blink-and-you'll-miss it sequences.
For more from us, check out our review of Heart of the Forest, or Ride 6, the premium new motorcycle experience!
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
