Reanimal review — Tarsier's darker, bolder nightmare

Reanimal review: a darker, bolder evolution from Tarsier Studios

The woods in Reanimal are full of surprises. You will encounter human cadavers that slither like snakes, gigantic talking pigs, and, at one point, a forlorn, supersized whale resigned to an agonizingly slow death. These monstrous beings inhabit a realm that looks familiar yet defies spatial logic: forest gives way to open ocean, which segues into a decrepit, towering city. It feels like Aesop's Fables filtered through the nightmare visions of Lars von Trier and J.G. Ballard.

Premise and gameplay

Playing as two children (simply called "Boy" and "Girl"), alone or in local/online co-op, Reanimal expands on the premise Tarsier Studios explored in the Little Nightmares series: the timeless terror of children pursued by larger, looming monsters. But this title shifts perspective and pace. The camera is more fluid and dynamic, less like peering into a dollhouse and more like directing characters across a miniature film set.

Controls are straightforward. Both children can jump and grab objects; later they gain a crowbar useful for prying doors or striking small enemies. The game features light environmental puzzles and platforming challenges that rarely halt momentum. If you've played Little Nightmares or Playdead's Limbo and Inside, many of Reanimal's beats will feel familiar.

Atmosphere, detail, and character moments

Reanimal excels in small, revealing details. The protagonists reassure one another as they enter new rooms. After each death — whether by a monstrous bite or a sheer drop — the pair are shown hugging on restart. That tiny ritual of comfort reinforces the bond between them and heightens the emotional stakes.

• The game alternates frantic flight sequences with moments where the children take the initiative and chase enemies.
• It enjoys the suspense of enemies loping off-screen, prompting players to follow them into inky shadows.
• Set pieces range from a hydroelectric facility and blood-red corridors to a crumbling coastal city and a ruined theater.

For every panicked sequence fleeing a gigantic sheep, there is a moment when the youngsters become the hunters.

Wartime allegory and darker themes

Reanimal takes time to reveal its political and historical undercurrents. A key turning point arrives with the arrival of a soldier wearing a World War I–style Brodie helmet, followed by discoveries of coastal artillery. The wartime motifs here feel more explicit than in Tarsier's earlier work. One particularly gruesome sequence forces you to evade a sniper: fail to find cover quickly enough and the child's body is ripped apart by a bullet. These moments push the game into a harsher, more adult register.

Tonally, Reanimal avoids the jingoistic spectacle of mainstream shooters. Its solemn dread better aligns with atmospheric titles such as Death Stranding and more recent survival-horror efforts like Conscript and Hell Is Us. The result is an action-platformer that treats wartime horror with quiet, uncompromising severity.

Visuals, polish, and shortcomings

The game delivers powerful, macabre imagery: bodies merge into other bodies, children are forced to wield grown-up weapons, and popular entertainment becomes a stage for grotesque set pieces. Yet Reanimal is not flawless. It doesn't achieve the airtight polish of Playdead's best work. Transitions between scenes can feel abrupt. I encountered a few glitches that required reloading. The heavy use of darkness and layered perspectives sometimes makes it hard to distinguish foreground from background, which led to accidental falls.

Still, these issues do not erase what is frequently bold and brilliant in the experience. Since 2017, Tarsier has specialized in children's nightmares for adults; Reanimal continues that tradition while pushing into darker, more explicit territory.

Why it matters in gaming news

Reanimal is notable in current gaming news for its willingness to marry unsettling atmosphere with political allegory. It speaks both to the horrors of the 20th century and to contemporary conflicts, reminding players that large-scale violence continues to shape our world. The game also contributes to discussions about how games handle mature themes through metaphor and design.

Verdict and release

Reanimal does not flinch. It offers a parade of atrocities that are hard to look away from, balanced by intimate moments of human tenderness. While it falls just short of perfection due to occasional technical and clarity issues, it remains a frequently powerful and original entry in the action-platformer and horror genres.

Reanimal launches February 13 on PS5, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.

Author: Lewis Gordon