Review: Reanimal (PS5) – First-Rate Terrors Thrive in This Haunting Spectacle

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Reanimal is the best thing Tarsier Studios has ever done, and it’s not even close.

Though similar in appearance to the previous Little Nightmares games, this new release from the Swedish developers is a significant improvement. They’ve perfected the blend of action and platforming and created a truly terrifying atmosphere with stunning visuals and sound design. Reanimal is a gripping and unique horror experience – a prime example of the genre at its finest.

Reanimal builds on the successful formula of the first two Little Nightmares games, offering a more polished experience in a fresh environment. Gameplay stays true to the series’ roots, focusing on platforming, stealth, tense chases, and occasional, simple combat.

The game flows seamlessly from one moment to the next, never dwelling on any single element for too long. The entire six-hour experience feels carefully crafted and polished, with every minute clearly receiving meticulous attention.

You play as a brother and sister working together to escape a dangerous island, either alone or with a friend in local or online co-op. The story is intentionally open to your own understanding, told through mysterious cutscenes and minimal conversation between the characters.

The game is engaging, particularly how it changes settings, but it feels somewhat unclear overall.

This isn’t a drawback, as Reanimal offers compelling gameplay. You and your sister navigate the island by boat, forging a route forward. When blocked, you venture into the island’s interior to confront the creatures that dwell there.

The game features thrilling chases and challenging puzzles where grotesque monsters emerge from and vanish into corpses scattered throughout the levels. Players must rely on stealth, finding ways to either distract or eliminate these creatures. Between these intense encounters, you’ll have brief moments of straightforward exploration and simple environmental challenges.

Okay, so Reanimal definitely gives me Little Nightmares vibes – you could honestly use the same description for all three games. But what really makes Reanimal special is that it just keeps things moving. It’s not slow in one place and fast in another; the pacing is consistently good and keeps things interesting throughout the whole game.

Reanimal stays engaging by constantly evolving – it never lets things get stale. You’ll always face new challenges, with puzzles, monsters, and chases that are different each time you play.

The game culminates in a truly spectacular final act that perfectly showcases everything it has to offer. It combines familiar gameplay elements with fresh challenges, making the entire experience incredibly satisfying and rewarding. Reanimal finishes strong with its most impressive sequence, proving the journey was well worth taking.

The game’s main weakness is a recurring issue found in previous Tarsier Studios titles: sections that rely heavily on trial and error. While it’s possible to complete the game without failing, some challenges seem intentionally designed to take three or four attempts to overcome.

Sometimes, you’ll face challenges or enemies where you absolutely need to know what’s coming to react effectively. Without that prior knowledge, you might find yourself reloading a save point four or five times just to figure out the solution and finally succeed.

Occasionally, problems aren’t your doing. We noticed a few minor bugs with the on-screen prompts. Specifically, the icon showing you’re about to hit an enemy doesn’t always appear when aiming. While not a major issue, it can occasionally disrupt the experience, and it’s something that could be easily fixed.

Reanimal is visually and aurally stunning. Its unique art style blends brief bursts of color with a generally dark and imposing aesthetic. The graphics themselves evolve and change alongside the story as you progress through each chapter.

The game’s unsettling music and strange sounds create a truly creepy atmosphere. It keeps you constantly on edge, making even seemingly safe moments feel tense. This combination of visuals and audio delivers a complete horror experience, where the things you don’t see are just as scary as what’s happening on screen.

Tarsier Studios has truly hit its stride with its latest horror game, delivering a much more polished and effective experience than anything they’ve made before. This is their best horror title yet.

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2026-02-11 19:07