REANIMAL Review: Tarsier Studios' 5/5 Masterpiece Sets New Standard

Tarsier Studios Reclaims the Horror Throne

When Tarsier Studios walked away from the Little Nightmares franchise after the second entry, the industry held its breath. Could they capture that same lightning in a bottle twice? After putting REANIMAL through its paces, our take is definitive: they haven't just matched their previous work; they’ve surpassed it. This isn't just another spooky platformer; it’s a 5/5 masterpiece that signals a more mature, ambitious direction for the studio.

The game follows a brother and sister returning to a cursed island to rescue the children they left behind. It’s a dark, "slippery" narrative that refuses to hold your hand. We believe this is a game-changer for environmental storytelling—it deals with heavy themes like war, death, and despair without feeling exploitative. Expect to spend hours in discord threads or forums just trying to piece together the ending.

Gameplay: Fixed Cameras and Environmental Genius

The core loop will feel familiar to veterans of the genre, but the execution is significantly tighter. You’ll be boosting each other over ledges and solving environmental puzzles that rely on logic rather than text prompts. The fixed camera angles aren't just a stylistic choice; they act as a guide, using lighting to "highlight clues" and point you toward the next objective.

Solo vs. Co-op: The Friend Pass Win

One of the biggest QoL wins here is the Friend Pass system. You can drag a buddy through this nightmare even if they don't own the game. While the co-op is seamless, our lead analyst actually recommends a solo run for your first playthrough. The atmosphere is thick enough to cut with a knife, and having a friend complain about their laundry over voice chat can kill the tension. That said, the "open-world" section provides a nice change of pace, even if it requires a bit more thorough exploration to avoid getting stuck.

Inventive Horrors and Sublime Tech

The monster design in REANIMAL is genuinely disturbing. We’re talking about a "horrendous ice cream seller" and a "demonic seagull" that turn simple traversal into high-stakes chase sequences. These set pieces—ranging from runaway trucks to lighthouse sprints—feel like a massive step up in scale from Tarsier's previous titles.

Technical Performance

• Visuals: The lighting design is nothing short of sublime. The level of detail in the genius interiors makes every room feel lived-in and terrifying.
• Audio: The sound design is top-tier. A specific piano piece near the end provides a "shocking" emotional beat that lingers long after the credits roll.
• Collectibles: For the completionists, the various masks and hidden items scattered throughout provide high replay value.

The Verdict: A New Bar for Adventure Horror

REANIMAL is the evolution we’ve been waiting for. It’s more epic, more terrifying, and visually superior to its predecessors. While the ambiguity of the story might frustrate those who prefer a "plate-fed" narrative, we find the complexity refreshing. It’s currently sitting pretty as an "Elite Eleven" Xbox Game of the Year contender for 2025/2026. If you have any interest in atmospheric horror, this is a mandatory play.

Quick Specs & Accessibility

• Game Pass: Not available on Day One.
• Xbox Play Anywhere: Enabled.
• Format Support: Cross-platform availability on all major consoles and PC.