Tarsier Studios, the original minds behind Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares II, are back with a new terrifying adventure experience with REANIMAL. I want to thank Tarsier Studios and THQ Nordic for sending over a review code for me to experience this new look of terror.
REANIMAL follows Boy and Girl, siblings who are trying to find their friends on the island they once called home. The island has turned into the stuff of nightmares, full of monsters, ominous locations, and darker secrets.
Now, onto the game itself! When it comes to the controls, if you are familiar with Little Nightmares, the controls are pretty similar, but you should allow yourself some time to adjust and get used to the mechanics.
The sound design of this game is amazing; headphones are a must if you want to experience the uneasiness and horror. The soundtrack also helps add to the tension when it’s needed.
What sells the game is the art, 100% the dark twisted world these kids need to survive, it’s beyond a fever dream. The locations are haunting, the environment ominous, and the monsters and creature designs that put these kinds of games on the map are absolutely stellar!
Gameplay-wise, REANIMAL can be played solo or co-op. Boy and Girl have their own weapons and light source while exploring the dark. There are enviromental puzzels to solve and platforming to be done that requires the siblings to help one another. As you explore the world, you can find new masks that you can wear, along with hidden concept art that you can view at the main menu.
Overall, I enjoyed REANIMAL; it’s nightmarishly beautiful, stunning, and tense. On my scale of 1-10, REANIMAL is a 10 and a must for fans of Little Nightmares. There are plans post-launch for three DLCs that will expand on the story, revealing darker secrets!
REANIMAL comes out on February 13th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
