Summary
During this week’s Gamescom Opening Night Live, Tarsier Studios pulled back the curtain on its newest IP,Reanimal, with a trailer dripping in grotesque animal body horror. Developed by the team behind the much-belovedLittle NightmaresandLittle Nightmares 2,theReanimal’s announcement trailer revealed the title to be another survival-horror platformer.Tarsier Studios had teased the titlefor some time, leading many fans to anticipate its reveal at Gamescom. Many were likely expecting the teases to accompany a title that departed from the norm. However,ReanimalisLittle Nightmaresin all but name, and that’s great.
Reanimalis a cooperative survival-horror platformer that pits players against a range of grotesque and horrifying monsters. During its reveal trailer, its co-protagonists, a brother and sister, can be seen fleeing from all manner of dangers, solving puzzles, and traversing unique environments. While the trailer was slim in story details, it more than made up for it in atmosphere and gameplay. However, many of its core mechanics likely appeared familiar to fans of Tarsier Studios’ flagship IP,Little Nightmares, which seemingly boasts a similar gameplay loop.
Reanimal Seemingly Shares Key Features with Little Nightmares
Viewers of Gamescom Opening Night Live would be forgiven for mistakingReanimalfor a newLittle Nightmarestitle, as the two appear very similar from a gameplay perspective. Had it not been for anewLittle Nightmares 3trailerlater that night, and the fact that Reanimal has its own name, the misconception could have endured. The title’s reveal trailer boasted similar visuals, environments, enemies, and ambiance to the beloved franchise, and its cryptic spoken dialogue left fans questioning what exactly they were witnessing. What’s more,Reanimal’s co-protagonists and major mechanics appear to be taken directly fromLittle Nightmare’s proven formula.
Reanimal’s level design, objectives, and mechanics are likely shared withLittle Nightmares. The brother and sister protagonists run, hide, and sneak their way through a variety of corridors, evading malformed and mutated enemies. No puzzles were depicted inReanimal’s reveal trailer, but it’s safe to assume players will come across similar pressure and combat puzzles as those found in theLittle Nightmaresfranchise. However,Reanimaldid stand out fromLittle Nightmaresin one key area, which the game’s official description confirmed following its listing on Steam.
Reanimal is Set to Deliver a Much Darker Experience than Little Nightmares
Reanimalmay featureLittle Nightmares’defining features, but its world, enemies, and narrative are something entirely different. The game’s official summary, which can be found on Steam and other platforms, sheds light on just how different its vision of horror is set to be. Going so far as to outrightly compareReanimaltoLittle NightmaresandLittle Nightmares 2, Tarsier Studios states that the title is a darker, more terrifying journey than they’ve ever delivered before.Reanimalfollows a brother and sister as they go through hell to rescue friends scattered across their island home, before escaping its horrors together. What exactly has happened to fill this island with horrifying sheep monsters and deformed human-like creatures remains unknown, but fans are sure to encounter far worse when the title officially launches.
It’s great thatReanimalis essentially a darkerLittle Nightmares. The franchise has proven itself to be an excellentsurvival-horror platformer, amassing a loyal fanbase. WithLittle Nightmares 3,the studio set to continue the series' complex mythos while maintaining its cutesy appeal.Reanimaloffers the developers the chance to deliver a more mature and graphic take onLittle Nightmares’formula, without altering their flagship IP.Reanimalis currently without a release window, meaning fans may have to wait a while before the title’s other key differences surface. Until then, fans of Tarsier Studios' unique approach to horror can look forward toLittle Nightmares 3, which is set to release in 2025.
Little Nightmares III
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on a new adventure in the unique world of Little Nightmares.In Little Nightmares III, you follow the journey of Low & Alone, as they search for a path that could lead them out of the Nowhere.Trapped within the Spiral, a cluster of disturbing places, the two friends will have to work together to survive in a dangerous world full of delusions and escape the grasp of an even greater threat lurking in the shadows.For the first time in the franchise, face your childhood fears together with a friend using online co-op, or solo with an AI companion.Face your childhood fears togetherChoose from two brand-new characters, each equipped with their own iconic items.Play solo with an AI or with your friend using online co-op and work together to solve intricate puzzles and defend yourself against smaller enemies .Navigate through a brand-new world of delusionsEmbark on an adventure through the Spiral, a cluster of dystopian lands.Discover places as diverse as the mysterious desert of Necropolis, an unsettling fun fair, a gloomy factory, and who knows what else.Run away from a new cast of foes ranging from ominous beetles to a giant baby, and so many more.
