Right, So Reanimal's Co-Op is a Bit of a Puzzler, But That Friend's Pass? A Proper Magic Trick!
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Reanimal, Tarsier Studios' latest horror, brings surprisingly accessible co-op to the table with crossplay and an awesome 'Friend's Pass,' letting you drag a pal into its spooky depths even if they don't own the game – though getting started might feel a tad lonely at first.
Alright, team, settle in. I've been poking around with Tarsier Studios' latest spooky venture, *Reanimal*, and let me tell you, it's a bit like trying to read a spellbook written in a forgotten dialect. You know Tarsier, right? The wizards behind the wonderfully unsettling *Little Nightmares* series. This time, they've gone and thrown us into another grim world, but with a twist: co-op. Both local and online, with crossplay even. And get this – a 'Friend's Pass' system that lets you drag a mate into the digital abyss even if they haven't coughed up the cash for the full game. Bloody brilliant, that, on the surface. But, like any good magic trick, there are a few fiddly bits to get it working just right. Especially since you start off feeling quite, shall we say, *alone*.
Now, a fair dinkum tip of the hat here to the original detectives over at Polygon.com, specifically Ford James, whose excellent guide laid the groundwork for my own curious explorations into *Reanimal*'s cooperative quirks.
Let's kick things off with the easiest conjuration: local co-op. The good old couch play, a true classic. If you've got two controllers and a mate brave enough to sit next to you while existential horror unfolds on screen, you're pretty much set. Head to the main menu, hit 'Co-op,' then 'Local.' Player one gets to be the main chap, the boy, steering the boat (quite literally at first, as we'll get to). Player two steps into the well-worn shoes of the girl, playing more of a supporting role – think of her as your trusty apprentice, perhaps with slightly less direct control over the grand narrative. Wanna swap? Just chuck the controllers at each other. Simple, effective, and guarantees at least one jump scare will be aimed directly at the person next to you.
Now, for the slightly more intricate incantations of online play. This is where *Reanimal* shows off some clever design, allowing you to buddy up with pals far and wide, even across different magical contraptions – I mean, consoles. If you're hosting, you simply choose 'Host Online' from the co-op menu. The game then spits out a five-character code, like a secret password to your personal nightmare. Whisper that code to your friend, they punch it into the 'Join Online' option, and boom! You're in. Crossplay, I'm genuinely chuffed to report, seems to work by default with this method. Our intrepid field tests (well, my digital pals and I) saw it working smoothly between a PlayStation 5 and a Nintendo Switch 2. No faffing about with arcane settings, which is always a relief.
Of course, there's always the classic method of inviting a friend straight from your platform's friends list – be it Steam, PlayStation Network, or Nintendo Switch Online. Look for the 'invite' option chilling out below that mystical code. PS5 players even get a fancy QR code option, which is a neat little touch for sending a direct link, especially if you haven't formally added your prospective co-op victim to your digital inner circle yet. But here’s the kicker, and this is where many a player might start wondering if their magic isn't quite working: the host, the boy, starts the game entirely alone, rowing a boat for a minute or two. Don't panic, mate! Your co-op partner, the girl, isn't lost in the void; she's merely waiting for her dramatic entrance, usually being rescued from a watery predicament. It's a narrative choice, you see, to really sell that sense of initial isolation. Clever, that.
Ah, the 'Friend's Pass.' This is where Tarsier Studios really earns some serious wizarding points in my book. Imagine you’ve brewed a potent potion, and you want to share a sip with a mate without them having to brew their own batch. That's essentially what this system does for *Reanimal*. Only one player needs to own the full game, and their friend can join the online co-op experience for free by simply downloading the *Reanimal* demo.
Now, a quick bit of mild skepticism (you know me). At the time of writing, this particular bit of generosity is only available for PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 players. Sorry, my Xbox Series X and PC comrades, you're currently left out in the cold. The developers have muttered sweet nothings about it 'coming soon,' but until I see it with my own eyes, I'll keep my enchanted spectacles on. Promises are like unverified spells sometimes – they sound great, but the execution can be a bit... wobbly. Still, the intent is brilliant. It lowers the barrier to entry, encourages word-of-mouth, and shows a genuine commitment to letting players experience the game with their chosen companion. To get it working, the friend who doesn't own the game simply grabs the demo. Then, the player with the full game acts as the host, following the same online co-op steps – either via the five-character code or a platform invite. It's a genuinely consumer-friendly move, reminiscent of games like *It Takes Two*, and frankly, we need more of this sort of thinking in the industry. It’s about sharing experiences, not just selling copies, which is a surprisingly refreshing philosophy in our current gaming landscape.
So there you have it, fellow adventurers. *Reanimal* offers a solid, if slightly initially confusing, co-op experience. Once you get past the solo boat ride and understand the Friend's Pass mechanics, it’s a genuinely clever setup for a horror game. It asks you to share the fear, to rely on another player, which in a survival horror, can only amp up the tension. And hey, a company actually making it *easier* to play with friends? That's a spell I can get behind. Just try not to get *too* spooked out there, eh? Keep your wits about you, and maybe don't look under that bed.
Tags: Reanimal, Co-op, Survival Horror, Crossplay, Friend's Pass
Original article: Polygon