REANIMAL Review – A Claustrophobic Co‑op Horror That Nails Atmosphere
I played REANIMAL from Tarsier Studios — a moody co‑op horror that leans into dread, tight puzzles and tactile monster design. Gorgeous, unsettling, but not without launch hiccups (friends pass, performance).
I jumped into REANIMAL with low expectations and a spare pair of nerves — Tarsier Studios doesn’t do cosy. What grabbed me immediately was the mood: damp, dimly lit, and oddly intimate. It’s clearly a spiritual sibling to Little Nightmares but darker, slower and far more claustrophobic. The hook is simple: two siblings, an island that’s gone wrong, and a constant sense that the world is closing in. If you like horror that simmers instead of shrieks, REANIMAL will keep you thinking long after you turn it off.
Drifting Through Dread and Small Triumphs
REANIMAL plays like a slow, careful march through a world that wants you to hesitate. You spend most of your time sneaking, solving environmental puzzles, and guiding two fragile protagonists through cramped ruins and soggy docks. Controls are intentionally weighty — you feel every grab, shove and shimmy — which increases tension but occasionally makes platforming fiddly. Combat is minimal; this is a game about avoidance, improvisation and the little victories (finding a mask, lighting an altar, rescuing a trapped friend). In solo play the AI companion is serviceable but keeps you aware of how much better some scenes feel in co‑op. Boat segments break the pace in a welcome way, giving you time to breathe and to piece together story fragments found in the world.
The Masks, the Monsters, and the Little Twists That Bite
What sets REANIMAL apart from a hundred gloomy adventure titles is its design language: monsters feel like corrupted childhood memories, and collectibles such as masks and altars are woven into both gameplay and lore. The mask system gives you small, tangible goals beyond the main path — some masks require careful exploration to obtain, and the way they tie back to characters’ pasts is satisfyingly creepy. Enemy encounters are rarely cheap; instead they’re staged to provoke panic and bad choices, which is far more effective than cheap jump scares. The game’s co‑op focus is interesting because it forces shared responsibility: one of you might bait a creature while the other solves a puzzle under pressure. That dynamic produces memorable moments, but also highlights the current launch downside: missing friend‑pass support on PC at release strained the intended experience for many players.
A Soundscape and Look That Mess With Your Head
On the technical and presentation side, REANIMAL is a mixed bag that leans pretty heavily toward style. Visually it’s exquisite: texture, lighting and character silhouettes work together to sell the island’s decay. Sound design is arguably the star — creaks, distant water, and ill‑timed music cues build dread in ways the visuals don’t have to explain. Performance varies: I encountered stutters on certain setups and several Steam users reported frame drops on Steam Deck until they dialed settings down. Ultrawide support is missing at launch for those who care, and a few players noted the need to tweak graphics options. Accessibility is decent: options for subtitles and control remapping are present, but some sections could use more explicit hints for less patient players.
Pacing, Length and Replays
REANIMAL doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s on the shorter side — a tight narrative clock that rewards a focused run and exploration for completionists who hunt every mask and poster. If you’re a collector, be warned: some masks demand specific actions or single‑run conditions. There’s a Season Pass bundled in the Digital Deluxe Edition with DLC promised, which softens the bite if you want longer term content. Replay value comes from chasing missed collectables, alternate co‑op approaches and the joy of seeing how different players handle the same claustrophobic set pieces. All told, it’s a compact, polished experience with a few rough technical edges and a launch controversy that dampened first impressions for some.
REANIMAL is a confident, artful horror that nails mood and co‑op tension even when the seams show. I had moments of genuine unease and a few small triumphs that made me grin like an idiot — which is the best compliment I can give. If you’re into atmospheric, story‑driven horror and don’t mind a shorter runtime (or can wait a bit for full PC friend‑pass parity), buy this. If you need perfect launch features and maximum runtime for your money, maybe hold off until patches and DLC roll out.
Pros
- Masterful atmosphere and sound design that build sustained dread
- Co‑op mechanics create tense, memorable moments
- Beautiful, tactile art direction and imaginative monster designs
- Collectibles and masks add bite‑sized goals beyond the main story
Cons
- Missing PC Friend Pass at launch damaged the co‑op promise
- Short runtime for the price and a few performance hiccups
- No ultrawide support and some clunky platforming moments
Player Opinion
Player reactions are a mix of praise and frustration. Many reviewers gush about the atmosphere, creaky sound design and how REANIMAL feels like the Little Nightmares successor fans wanted — darker, meaner and more oppressive in tone. Collectors are delighted by masks and altars, while Steam Deck users mention having to lower settings to avoid framerate drops. However, a recurring criticism centers on the absent Friend Pass for PC at launch: several players pre‑bought to play with friends and felt let down when the feature wasn’t ready. Some also call the game short for the price and cite occasional bugs or stuttering. In short: if you value mood and co‑op tension, players recommend it; if you needed the advertised friend pass day one, expect annoyance until it lands.