"I thought you were dead." These opening words set the tone for Reanimal, a horror puzzle-platformer that feels like a fever dream stitched together from your darkest childhood fears.

While it treads familiar ground for fans of Tarsier Studios' previous work on Little Nightmares, this game refines the formula into something so visually arresting and atmospherically dense that it becomes impossible to look away, even when you want to. It is a grim fairytale that proves childhood terror is a universal language, spoken here with a fluency that is both impressive and unsettling.

A World of Decay and Distortion

The game drops you into a desolated world where adults are gangly, terrifying monstrosities and the environment itself feels hostile. The architecture is a character in its own right—concrete and steel groaning under the weight of decay. You play as orphaned siblings navigating this nightmare, solving light exploration puzzles that, while not revolutionary, serve to pull you deeper into the narrative.

• The "Crate Review" Test: In the spirit of the old "crate review system," Reanimal doesn't reinvent the wheel. You will push boxes and shimmy through gaps. Yet, the execution is so polished that the mechanical repetition fades into the background.
• Co-op Terror: Unlike its spiritual predecessors, Reanimal introduces co-op play, allowing you to share the horror. Surprisingly, this doesn't dilute the fear; it just gives you someone to cling to when the lights go out.
• The Pelican Moment: Without spoiling too much, there is an encounter with a pelican that will ensure you never look at the bird the same way again. It is a masterclass in tension and grotesque design.

The Verdict

The game is not without its flaws. The ending may not land with the same gut-punch as Little Nightmares II, and the pacing occasionally stumbles. However, the sheer artistry on display—the lighting, the sound design, the "wretched" visuals—elevates it beyond a simple platformer.

Reanimal is a journey through a distorted funhouse mirror that reflects our most primal anxieties. It is difficult to put down, not because it is fun in the traditional sense, but because it is fascinatingly, horribly beautiful.You will leave this game unsettled, but undeniably impressed.