Reanimal is out to consume you!

The woods in Reanimal are a treasure trove of the bizarre. You’ll stumble upon human corpses that slither like serpents, enormous talking pigs, and even a massive, sorrowful whale resigned to a slow demise. This strange menagerie inhabits a world that resembles our own yet defies the laws of physics: a forest that opens into an ocean, which then leads to a crumbling, towering city. It’s a blend of Aesop’s Fables and the unsettling visions of filmmakers like Lars von Trier and J.G. Ballard.

In Reanimal, you can play as either a boy or a girl, solo or in local/online co-op, building on the themes Tarsier Studios explored in the Little Nightmares series: the primal fear of children being chased by larger, menacing creatures. However, the camera in this action-platformer is more fluid and dynamic, making it feel less like you’re peering into a dollhouse and more like you’re guiding characters through a miniature film set. Unlike the previous games, which had a touch of storybook charm, Reanimal dives deeper into darkness, making it grittier and more impactful.

The adventure kicks off on the water, where you navigate by dimly lit buoys until you reach a beach, where you’ll rummage through washed-up suitcases to find a key. From there, you’ll enter what appears to be a hydroelectric facility, solving light puzzles as you progress—nothing too challenging to slow you down. The duo you control, simply named “Boy” and “Girl,” can jump and grab objects, and later, they’ll wield a crowbar to pry open doors or fend off smaller foes. If you’ve played either of the Little Nightmares games or titles from Playdead, like Limbo or Inside, the gameplay will feel instantly familiar.

The game shines in its finely crafted details: the child protagonists support each other as they explore new rooms. After each death—whether at the jaws of a monstrous enemy or from a fatal fall—you see them hug, the only comfort in their grim reality.

Yet these kids are resilient. For every frantic escape from a giant sheep down a blood-red corridor, there are moments when they take the initiative to chase after threats. Reanimal, reminiscent of classics like 1991’s Another World, cleverly shows enemies lurking just out of sight, beckoning you to follow them into the darkness.

As you progress, the game gradually reveals its hauntingly macabre imagery. A pivotal moment occurs when a soldier in a World War I Brodie helmet appears, followed by scenes of coastal artillery. Tarsier has previously hinted at wartime themes in Little Nightmares, such as the pile of shoes symbolizing the belongings left behind by victims of war. In Reanimal, the allegory is more direct: at one harrowing moment, you must dodge a sniper’s bullets, and if you fail to find cover, the child’s body is gruesomely torn apart.

Tarsier’s latest work operates in a different emotional space compared to the jingoistic warfare of mainstream shooters. Its somber tone evokes the trench warfare of Death Stranding and the finely tuned dread found in survival-horror titles like Conscript.

However, despite its many strengths, Reanimal doesn’t quite reach greatness. It lacks the polished finesse of Playdead’s titles, with some scene transitions feeling abrupt and occasional glitches requiring a reload. The game’s darkness and perspective choices can make it difficult to distinguish between foreground and background, leading to some accidental falls.

These issues don’t significantly detract from what is often a bold and brilliant experience. Since 2017, Tarsier has been crafting nightmares for adults, and despite its youthful protagonists, Reanimal embodies the anxieties of adulthood. It resonates with the horrors of the 20th century and our current reality, where large-scale conflicts between nations have regrettably resurfaced.

I’m still pondering the deeper meanings woven into the story. Regardless of the conclusions I draw, the striking imagery Tarsier conjures is undeniable. Bodies—human or otherwise—merge into one another; children are forced to wield the weapons of adults, often at great peril. The game also explores the spectacle of entertainment, delivering unforgettable moments in both cinematic and theatrical forms.

Reanimal doesn’t shy away from its themes; this action-platformer presents a relentless parade of atrocities that you can’t look away from. Reanimal launches on February 13th for PS5, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.