Reanimal is the spiritual successor many fans have been waiting for, coming from Tarsier Studios, the original creators of Little Nightmares. Released on February 13, 2026, it represents a darker, more visceral evolution of the “tiny children in a big, scary world” subgenre. On the Xbox Series X, it serves as a showcase for high-end atmospheric horror, delivering a level of dread that feels both familiar and terrifyingly new.
The narrative centers on two orphaned siblings, a brother and sister; who must navigate a fractured, nightmarish island to rescue their missing friends. While Little Nightmares often felt like a surreal fever dream, Reanimal grounds its horror in a more direct, albeit still wordless, emotional core.
The story is told through haunting environments, the desperate gestures of the children, and the grotesque designs of the “reanimated” animal-human hybrids that stalk them. There is a palpable sense of “horror with hope” here; every location tells a fragmented story of a past incident that twisted this home into a hellscape, making your quest for redemption feel both
Gameplay retains the signature puzzle-platforming and stealth of Tarsier’s previous work but introduces a game-changing “co-op first” philosophy. Whether playing locally or online (using the “Friend’s Pass” which requires only one copy), the shared, directed camera heightens the claustrophobia by forcing players to stay together. Puzzles often require genuine coordination with one sibling distracting a monster while the other retrieves a key. Besides battling enemies and grabbing items together, the game also has both characters collectively trying to get through a door or move a really heavy object.
There is a sense of dependency that feels very much at home here and not as much of a gimmick as I initially thought it would have been. The movement feels heavier and more deliberate, which is a nice change of pace when compared to the developer’s earlier works. A standout addition is the 3D boat travel, allowing you to pilot a small vessel across the archipelago. This breaks up the linear 2.5D segments and adds a layer of exploration that makes the world feel vast and intimidating.
On the Xbox Series X, Reanimal is a visual masterpiece utilizing Unreal Engine 5 to create some of the most unsettling textures and lighting seen this generation. The game offers two distinct modes: Performance Mode, which targets a smooth 60 FPS with dynamic 4K scaling (often hovering between 1080p and 2160p), and Quality Mode, which locks at 30 FPS to deliver a more stable native 4K experience with enhanced ray-traced shadows. While the visuals are breathtaking, there are some performance issues here and there when it comes to the heavy shadows and when there is a lot of movement on screen. One of the highlights of this title though is the lighting. The use of lighting in this game is some of the best I have seen on the Xbox Series X, especially when it comes to games that have a heavy emphasis on co-op.
The audio design is perhaps the game’s most effective tool for inducing anxiety. Instead of traditional melodies, the soundtrack relies on a cacophony of industrial drones, untuned strings, and distorted animal cries that perfectly match the “farm horror” aesthetic. On a good surround sound or spatial audio setup, the Xbox Series X delivers a terrifyingly immersive experience; you’ll hear the wet slap of a creature’s limbs behind you or the distant, muffled radio broadcasts that hint at a world gone mad. The sound effects provide visceral feedback, from the slam of a heavy metal door to the horrendous sounds coming from the unholy inhabitants of the world that the siblings and their friends have found themselves in.
Reanimal is a triumphant return for Tarsier Studios, proving they didn’t need the Little Nightmares name to define the genre they helped create. By leaning into cooperative play and a more grounded, harrowing art style, they have crafted an experience that feels like a “grown-up” version of their earlier work. This game feels not only more adult, but feels more complete. With the previous games they’ve done it felt repetitive and there wasn’t a whole lot of action. This game proves that they can deliver a complete experience with a lot of action elements, great cop-op gameplay, and a game that truly feels like a complete horror package. It is a must-play for horror fans on the Xbox Series X, offering a rare blend of mechanical polish and genuine, skin-crawling atmosphere. It successfully steps out of the shadow of its predecessors to establish a new, even more terrifying identity.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
In addition to writing articles, Ryan Byers also creates content for his YouTube channel called "Obscure Games and Consoles", collects video games, and dabbles in video game development.