Reanimal Review: Tarsier Drops the Dollhouse for a War-Torn Nightmare
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Tarsier Studios trades the domestic horror of Little Nightmares for a grim wartime nightmare in Reanimal, a cooperative horror adventure published by THQ Nordic that leans into bleak atmospheres and macabre puzzle-solving.
Developer Tarsier Studios is back with Reanimal, published by THQ Nordic, stepping away from the familiar confines of Little Nightmares to deliver a grimier, more bestial horror experience. As noted in the recent review by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell over at Rock Paper Shotgun, the game trades domestic surrealism for a desolate landscape soaked in wartime imagery, minefields, and ruined landscapes. Players control an orphan boy and girl traversing a hostile world by motorboat and foot, leaning into the distinct brand of childhood defiance that made the studio's previous work so memorable. Whether you are playing solo with a solid AI companion or teaming up with a friend in co-op, the core dynamic remains rooted in the terrifying vulnerability of being small in a world built for giants.
While the tone shifts away from the whimsical toybox callbacks of Little Nightmares toward the bleak, atmospheric dread of Playdead's Inside, Reanimal retains that signature Tarsier knack for macabre puzzle-solving. The protagonists do not just survive the horrors around them, but actively vandalize their environment using whatever crude tools come to hand, from crowbars to improvised disguises. It is an unapologetically grotesque setting where adults act as towering, hysterical obstacles and every environment feels ancient and unyielding. Even if critics note that the departure from previous formulas is a bit tentative at times, the resulting journey offers plenty of striking imagery for horror fans looking for their next co-op or single-player obsession.
For anyone following modern horror titles across PC and consoles, Reanimal represents an interesting evolution for a studio that clearly understands how to build tension without relying on tired tropes. It leans heavily into the environmental storytelling and cinematic camera work that players on Twitch and YouTube love to dissect and share. You can dive deeper into the full breakdown and read the original critique over at Rock Paper Shotgun to see if this grim voyage deserves a spot in your rotation.
Tags: Reanimal, Tarsier Studios, Horror, PC Gaming, Co-op
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun