Tarsier Studios Finally Fixes the Co-op Gap: Reanimal Confirms Friend Pass and Crossplay

The Bottom Line: Tarsier Studios is finally delivering the feature fans have begged for since the first Little Nightmares: full, frictionless co-op. Reanimal will launch with cross-platform support and a Friend Pass system, though the latter might miss the February 13, 2026, Day One window. This is a massive shift for a studio that previously restricted players to solo runs or AI companions.

We’ve spent years navigating the unsettling environments of Tarsier’s previous titles, often wishing we could bring a friend along for the ride without forcing them to buy a second copy. With Reanimal, the studio is moving away from the "solitary horror" niche and leaning into the "social horror" space occupied by hits like It Takes Two. Our analysis suggests this will significantly lower the barrier to entry, potentially making this Tarsier’s biggest launch to date.

Feature Breakdown: How You’ll Play

Unlike the Little Nightmares series, which infamously lacked online co-op (even in the sequel where you had a constant AI companion), Reanimal is built from the ground up for two players. We’re looking at a rare "Triple Threat" of connectivity options:

The Friend Pass Catch

We believe the inclusion of a Friend Pass is the real game-changer here. For the uninitiated, this allows one player who owns the game to invite a friend to play the entire campaign for free. It’s a pro-consumer move that we rarely see outside of Hazelight Studios' titles.

However, keep your expectations in check for launch day. Tarsier has signaled that the Friend Pass might not be live on the February 13 release date. They’ve promised an updated FAQ at least two weeks before launch to clarify the timing. If it’s not there Day One, we expect a minor backlash from the community, as this is the most anticipated QoL feature on the roadmap.

Breaking the "Platform Jail"

One of our biggest gripes with modern co-op titles is the "platform jail" effect—where you can’t play with friends because they’re on console and you’re on PC. Reanimal avoids this pitfall entirely. By supporting full crossplay across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, Tarsier is ensuring the player base isn't fragmented. This is a significant upgrade from the Little Nightmares era, where the lack of any multiplayer felt like a missed opportunity to evolve the genre.

Our Take: A Mature Move for Tarsier

The move to include splitscreen is also a major win for the "couch co-op" crowd, a demographic often ignored by modern horror developers. By playing as a brother and sister on a terrifying island, the mechanical synergy between two human players will likely make the puzzles far more engaging than the AI-assisted tasks we saw in Little Nightmares 2.

We’ll be monitoring the Steam community hub for that final FAQ. If Tarsier can stick the landing with a Day One Friend Pass, they’ve got a massive hit on their hands. If it gets delayed, expect a bit of a rough start for those planning to duo the campaign on a budget.