Swedish developer Tarsier Studios released their new game, REANIMAL , on February 13, 2026. Known as the developers behind the “Little Nightmares” series, which has sold over 20 million copies, REANIMAL returns with a completely new IP. The game garnered significant attention immediately after its release, receiving mixed reviews from critics and a Steam “review bomb” controversy.
Tarsier Studios, the father of the legendary ‘Little Nightmares’ series
Malmö, Sweden-based Tarsier Studios is the original developer of Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares 2, released in 2017 and 2021, respectively. Both titles established themselves as indie horror icons, showcasing child-centric survival horror, brooding environments, and environmental narrative-driven storytelling.
The series has also been a huge commercial success. The first game sold over one million copies within a year of its release, and has since surpassed three million copies in cumulative sales. As of June 2025, the series has sold over 20 million copies, an unprecedented feat for the genre.
In 2019, Tarsier Studios was acquired by Embracer Group. In 2021, the studio made another momentous decision: they announced they would conclude the “Little Nightmares” series and embark on developing an entirely new IP.
Bandai Namco Entertainment, which holds the intellectual property rights to the series, entrusted the development of the sequel, “Little Nightmares 3,” to Supermassive Games, and Tarsier began building their own new world. The first fruit of this endeavor is “REANIMAL.”
The siblings return to the twisted island
“REANIMAL” is set on a remote island that was once the home of the protagonist siblings. The brother and sister return to the island to rescue three missing friends, but it is no longer the peaceful home they remember. The island is twisted and corrupted, and monsters seemingly born from past traumas roam the land.
The game’s narrative revolves around an environmental narrative. Players explore an abandoned amusement park, a time-frozen home, and gloomy outdoor landscapes, piecing together a fragmented story. The monsters are designed to reflect the siblings’ past traumas, and the developers have stated that “the impact of war on humanity” is a central theme. The game offers two alternative endings.
Cooperative horror where you share the fear together
“REANIMAL” features a structure that organically combines puzzle, stealth, and exploration elements. The two protagonists are constantly placed in situations where they need each other’s help, and cooperation becomes the key to survival. In single-player mode, AI controls companion characters, while multiplayer supports both online and local two-player co-op.
While the previous “Little Nightmares” series was based on a side-scrolling perspective, “REANIMAL” adopts a fixed 3D camera. The most significant change is the “Dynamic Shared Camera,” which constantly captures both characters on screen. The developers explained that this system maximizes claustrophobia and tension, creating a unique experience where players can share the horror during cooperative play.
After the mid-game, you can freely explore the island using a boat. This allows for non-linear gameplay, allowing you to explore hidden areas off the main path, a significant expansion on the series’ relatively linear progression.
The developers revealed that they were inspired by “It Takes Two,” “The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker,” and “Silent Hill 2.” “REANIMAL”‘s unique atmosphere, where the warmth of collaboration coexists with the chill of psychological horror, was formed under the influence of these three titles.
Launch Controversy: Steam Review Bomb Due to Absence of ‘Friend’s Pass’
On March 22, 2023, Tarsier Studios first hinted at the game’s existence by sharing a mysterious screenshot on their official social media accounts. This was followed by a formal announcement by THQ Nordic at Gamescom in August 2024. A demo was revealed at Steam Next Fest in October 2025, and a release date was confirmed for February 13, 2026, in November 2025.
The launch of “REANIMAL” began with considerable controversy. On February 13th, the day of its release, Steam reviews were filled with “Mostly Negative” reviews. The reason for this was not the game’s content, but the lack of a “Friend’s Pass.”
Friend’s Pass is a system that allows users who have purchased the game to invite non-purchased friends to online co-op for free. This is a popular approach in co-op-focused titles like “It Takes To” and “Split Fiction.” Tarsier Studios promised to provide a Friend’s Pass in advance, and many gamers pre-ordered the game in anticipation.
However, on launch day, the PC and Xbox Series X|S versions did not offer the Friends’ Pass. While the PS5 and Switch 2 were supported normally, PC gamers felt betrayed. Initial Steam reviews were only about 33-36% positive.
THQ Nordic responded immediately. They posted a Steam announcement stating, “Friend’s Pass is coming to PC, and we’re prioritizing it.” Friend’s Pass was then distributed normally the same day. Tarsier Studios also apologized, stating, “This was not an intentional decision, but rather a technical delay.” After the Friend’s Pass was restored, the review climate quickly turned around.
Critics say it’s “a masterpiece that surpasses Little Nightmares.”
Despite the review bombshell, the reaction from professional critics was largely favorable.
The critic score on Metacritic ranges from 79 to 84 points depending on the platform, and on OpenCritic, the average score is 81 points , giving an 85% recommendation rate. The user score is 8.1 points (based on 155 reviews) .
From a comparative perspective, it is similar to ‘Little Nightmares 1’ (78-83 points) and ‘Little Nightmares 2’ (79-83 points), and is significantly higher than ‘Little Nightmares 3′ (69-72 points), developed by Supermassive Games. In other words, as an original sequel created directly by the original creator, it is evaluated as having sufficiently maintained the series’ standard.
Critics generally praised the game for its atmosphere and art direction , the brooding and beautiful visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5, the creature design , the sound design , and the cooperative gameplay . Some reviewers even praised the game, saying it “leaves a lasting impression on you longer than any other horror game.”
On the other hand, the shortcomings pointed out were the short play time (about 3-4 hours for main clear, about 8 hours including major additional elements), the limitations of AI partners in single player , and the lack of gameplay innovation compared to ‘Little Nightmares’, which some critics pointed out.
Despite the successful sales, what about the DLC and future plans?
Despite these unforeseen incidents, the game achieved a peak concurrent player count of over 24,000 within 24 hours of its release, surpassing Little Nightmares 3’s record of approximately 22,000. According to market analysis platform Gamalytic, it is estimated that it sold over 270,000 copies on Steam alone within a week of its release, generating over $8.7 million (approximately 11.5 billion won) in revenue .
Development of the DLC expansion pack , “The Expanded World,” has been anticipated since its release. It will consist of three chapters, with the first chapter currently in development and targeted for release in the summer of 2026. The Digital Deluxe Edition ($59.99) includes the base game, the season pass, and exclusive mask items (Foxhead and Muttonhead).
REANIMAL inherits the spirit of the Little Nightmares series while expanding the sense of horror through a new axis of cooperation. It demonstrates how fear experienced together can be even more powerful than fear experienced alone.
The review bombshell on launch day stemmed from a communication failure, not a quality issue, and reviews quickly normalized after the Friend’s Pass was restored. While the short playtime remains a drawback, the general consensus is that the depth and lingering impact delivered during that time rivals those of full-length titles.
If you’re a fan of horror adventures, especially the Little Nightmares series, REANIMAL is one of the best indie horror games of the first half of 2026 that you shouldn’t miss.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2129530/REANIMAL/
