Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5 (tested), Xbox Series X/S
Price: $39 / £34 / AU$54
Release Date: February 13, 2026
Genre: Horror
Ask your average gamer what horror game they can’t wait to play in February 2026, and I think it’s fair to say Resident Evil Requiem will be the near-universal first-choice answer. But hiding in a dark corner nearby is Reanimal, and this highly cinematic spooker shouldn't be ignored.
Releasing on Friday, February 13 (a very fitting release date), it comes from Tarsier Studios, the team behind the first two Little Nightmares games (but not the critically panned third installment). The Swedish team may no longer be the stewards of the Little Nightmare IP, but Reanimal is very much cut from the same cloth. It’s a spiritual successor in every sense.
That means it offers the same intriguing (but uncomfortably sinister) contrast between small-in-stature playable characters and large human-sized levels that literally tower over Reanimal’s two protagonists, a nameless sibling duo. This aesthetic philosophy remains as immediately striking and sinister as it was way back in 2017 in the first Little Nightmares game.
In fact, Reanimal might be the spookiest game I’ve played in months. The game’s compelling combination of atmospheric, shadow-blanketed locations and horrific, warped creatures that relentlessly hunt you down had my heart rate quickening right from the start.
It speaks to how much I enjoyed my time with Reanimal that my chief complaint is simply that there wasn’t nearly enough of it.
Darkness around every corner
Minimalism is a core pillar of Reanimal. Without much in the way of narrative setup, you’re immediately thrown into the game’s warped world, playing as one of a brother/sister team, as they attempt to reunite with their lost friends and find a way to escape a very unsettling island.
As noted, the game unabashedly pinches the style of Little Nightmares, casting you as a pint-sized protagonist dwarfed by the world around them. As with Little Nightmares, in Reanimal, you immediately feel vulnerable as the world engulfs you, leaving you nearly powerless. And that’s even before you encounter the army of warped enemies. Once you come into contact with the game’s first ill-proportioned antagonist, the fear factor increases.
As the name suggests, the biggest new idea that Reanimal brings to its mostly linear levels is mutated, horrifying animals. There’s a sheep that is anything but cuddly, an oversized pig who warns you to “get out” of their barn, and a demented pelican that I’m still having nightmares about.
By taking creatures often presented as “cute” and turning them into warped monsters, Reanimal puts a frightening spin on the animal kingdom.
The visuals and impressive sound design harmonize to create a sense of atmosphere and terror that is unnerving but deeply immersive. Even as somebody who loves horror in all its forms, there were a few spots where I only reluctantly pressed on, terrified to see what spooky sight would greet me around the corner. And seriously, that mutated pelican can go to hell!
Don’t get scared alone
As noted, Reanimal centers on two protagonists adventuring together. Little Nightmares 2 was the same. But the difference here is that both are playable, allowing you to experience Reanimal from start to finish in co-op. That’s a great option if you don’t want to face the horrors on your own.
I have mixed feelings about the inclusion of co-op. I’m always in favor of more co-op games, but unlike say It Takes Two or Split Fiction, Reanimal is surprisingly sparse when it comes to cooperative puzzles. For most of the adventure, you and your co-op partner are performing the same tasks simultaneously, rather than actively working in sync to overcome obstacles.
There’s also no denying that playing alongside a friend or family member lessens the horror. It’s hard to feel truly immersed or creeped out when you have a buddy sitting next to you, cracking jokes to defuse the tension. Considering how the atmosphere and feeling of dread are Reanimal’s strongest assets, I recommend braving this dark experience alone, if you dare.
Fortunately, co-op is merely optional. The whole game can be completed solo, with your sibling character controlled by the game’s AI. Even more thankfully, the AI does a good job of not getting in your way, and there’s a dedicated button to command them to perform tasks as needed.
A short (but spooky) journey
I was a little shocked when I rolled credits on Reanimal. Maybe I should have seen the warning signs, as the finale is definitely the most bombastic sequence in the whole game. But the minimalistic narrative was reaching an interesting point, and I certainly didn’t feel ready to end my haunting exploration of its various mist-covered locations. I wanted much more.
Of course, there’s merit to leaving players wanting more rather than wearing them out with a bloated runtime. However, Reanimal clocks in at around four to five hours, which feels unsatisfyingly short to me. And I wouldn’t class my playthrough as particularly rushed. There are a few more open sections set on a lake, and I searched for hidden secrets at every opportunity.
Tarsier Studios has already confirmed a trio of DLC chapters, which should beef up the average playtime (if you opt to purchase the Season Pass), but the base experience could certainly have benefited from expansion.
I don’t subscribe to the “dollar per hour” method of measuring game length that some players prefer, but priced at $39, Reanimal does end far too soon.
Still, the playtime Reanimal offers is generally of high quality, and the pacing never lags, with each section offering at least one memorable set piece. The gameplay fundamentals don’t really evolve beyond basic platforming, frantic chase sequences, and tense stealth encounters, but the game’s world is so memorable that I adored creeping through each chapter.
Even if I'm now put off from visiting a farm park for life.
Reanimal launches February 13 on Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
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