Reanimal was announced back in August 2024, is now finally out. It comes from the creators of Little Nightmares 1 & 2, and has us stepping into a dark, depressing world. I’ve had my eyes on this game since it was shown, and I am happy to be reviewing it. You can pick it up on Steam for £34.99 or grab the Deluxe Edition at the price of £49.99. That will snag you the season pass, and two additional masks. Honestly, though, seems a little steep.
We’re just animals still learning to behave
Gameplay
We are thrown into the world of Reanimal without any context. One of our main protagonists awake on a boat floating across a black ocean with nothing but red glowing life buoys to guide him. Shortly after, we save our second protagonist from the dark sea. And proceed onward with our journey. Just like their other franchise, players will have to piece together the story through the various hints and symbolism placed in the world of Reanimal.
Gameplay wise, the player will interact with objects, run, and sneak past enemies, just as they did in Little Nightmares. However, combat is more abundant in Reanimal. I know Little Nightmares 2 introduced it, but Reanimal improves on it even more with its bosses. And to main spoiler free later levels. The game does feature some minor dialogue, which adds an interesting depth. Nothing groundbreaking, but at the moments where they do speak, it feels a lot more impactful. Rather than the characters talking nonsense as they run. The world is a little more open, offering that little extra when it comes to exploration. Not a lot but it is a nice addition.
Graphics & Audio
Reanimal nails down the silent, gloomy atmosphere with a hint of threat the entire time. Even in outdoor or well-lit areas, there’s a drape of rainy day-like gloom to it. Environments are detailed with an appropriate amount of clutter and really set the eerie mood, like you could almost smell the musty, damp rooms. Enemy designs are also grotesque and excellent at making your skin crawl, particularly like the very early on slithering skin creatures (you’ll know them when you see them). I love even the small details, such as seeing loads of individual popcorn falling out of a popcorn cup, or the water effects when something explodes in the sea.
While there is very little dialogue and music, the silent background with small sound effects from environmental things and amped music for chase scenes really makes the eerie loneliness more poignant.
Longevity
My play through took about 4 hours to finish and this was with some heavy exploring. Since I was trying to uncover both story hints, and collectables. These collectables are masks and art work. Reanimal has 31 achievements to unlock, and by looking at them the game offers a secret ending. This I did not unlock. For those who own the season pass, can expect more content at some point.
Final Thoughts
Reanimal is an excellently crafted dark narrative horror, that just never stopped for me. The game’s lack of words creates such a surreal experience, all while keep you immersed in its world. Boss fights are engaging and fun, and levels stand out in their own unique was, besides looking similar at times. Our protagonists relay their emotions perfectly, with or without words. Compared to the Little Nightmares games, Reanimal offers the same brilliant experience and dials it up further. Creating a world you wish to know more about and explore, but when you’re in, you want out. Which I love. Monsters are eye-catchingly grotesque, and equally terrifying when doing a chase scene.
This is not a game I would suggest to those, who aren’t good with dark themes. Such as suicide, animal abuse and other things. If you have played Tarsier Studios, other work, then you might already be familiar with some themes. With that said, I’m giving Reanimal, the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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