PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews

Sometimes it’s difficult to create something terrifying and disturbing without resorting to cheap jump scares, but when the grotesque and horror come together as one, works like Reanimal are born. Tarsier Studios’ latest title has managed to surpass the original Little Nightmares in every way, adding a cooperative mode and refining level design, sound, and an atmosphere that many of the industry’s most popular horror titles could only dream of.

REANIMAL feels like the work of a studio unshackled. While based on the foundations originally designed and created by Tarsier Studios, the team has built on them with confidence and creative conviction. This is a game that understands what made the studio’s earlier work resonate, while refusing to be defined by it. Through its confident mechanical evolution, grounded and oppressive world design, and a thematic focus that’s as unsettling as it is confrontational, REANIMAL establishes its own identity; one that’s harsher, more ambitious, and more emotionally affecting than anything Tarsier has made before.

Reanimal is yet another great creation brought to us by Tarsier Studios which vastly improves upon key elements found in the Little Nightmares series. It is indeed a fantastic experience for players who enjoy suspense horror, mystery and puzzle solving games.

Reanimal is exactly what you might expect from the original Little Nightmares team, and yet, wondrous in its own right. Like venturing down the rabbit hole of unrelenting terror, it's an experience that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Reanimal is bold and uncompromising evolution of Tarsier’s signature style, darker, stranger, and far less forgiving than anything that came before. I was repulsed, I was unsettled, and I loved it.

Reanimal is a horror story, a journey through hell made up of the simple, elegant gameplay that Tarsier has honed to a feather's edge over the last decade.

Thanks to a wonderful concept, exceptional level design, well-thought-out mechanics that are executed even better, and a spectacular audiovisual presentation that creates a deep atmosphere you don’t want to leave, Reanimal stands as one of the most memorable experiences of 2026 so far—one that we believe already deserves a secured place on the lists of the year’s very best. Tarsier Studios proves that they truly understand their craft better than anyone, and that the wisest course of action is simply to let them work, so all that immense creativity can flourish and be brought to life for all of us to enjoy.

Reanimal once again showcases Tarsier Studios' ability to unsettle players with bleak environments and grotesque creatures, while delivering a game you won't want to put down despite how disturbing it can be. It also offers an experience that may linger with you long after the credits roll.

REANIMAL is a game that takes everything Tarsier perfected in Little Nightmares and sharpens it into something darker, more relentless, and emotionally punishing. It rewards patience, observation, and careful thinking, but it doesn’t coddle you—the world is cruel and the horror lingers long after each encounter. It’s a more ruthless evolution of the formula, delivering a tense, interconnected journey that stands on its own while building on Tarsier’s legacy.

Reanimal goes far beyond being just an inspiration from The Little Nightmares. Developed by Tarsier Studios, the project shows a clear sense of identity and the confidence to explore new ideas. Instead of simply repeating mechanics that worked in the past, the studio expands its formula by introducing combat and building a brand new universe with its own tone and personality. The result is an experience that respects its roots while carving out a distinct path, with enough strength and originality to stand on its own and potentially grow into a franchise just as memorable as the one that inspired it.