For a while, I struggled to pinpoint what made my experience with *Reanimal* so captivating. When Tarsier Studios, the creators of the original *Little Nightmares* and its sequel, first announced the game, its striking resemblance to their previous work – a series now handled by Supermassive – was undeniable. I played both Supermassive’s *Little Nightmares 3* and Tarsier’s *Reanimal* in the same week. Despite my time with *Reanimal* being limited to a roughly 20-minute demo, it left a far stronger impression on me than *Little Nightmares 3*.
While I did enjoy *Little Nightmares 3*, praising its beautiful visuals and the fresh addition of co-op in my review, it felt largely familiar. However, the *Reanimal* demo, now publicly accessible during Steam Next Fest, utterly floored me with its innovation.
For days, I pondered why *Reanimal* felt significantly more immersive and impactful. Both games boast exceptional, rich audio design, masterfully utilizing creaks, echoes, and unnerving silence. Their puzzle structures are also broadly similar, featuring optional co-op (or an AI companion) as players navigate a perilous world filled with diverse and menacing monsters.
So, what elevates *Reanimal* beyond just another *Little Nightmares* clone? It’s the sheer, palpable griminess of its world. *Little Nightmares 3*, and even its predecessor, *Little Nightmares 2*, strayed from the intensely morbid and skin-crawling ‘Residents’ of the first game. The *Reanimal* demo, however, feels like a triumphant return to Tarsier’s original vision, even after they seemed to temper some of their horror elements in their 2021 sequel. Supermassive pushed this sanitization further, making the world feel cleaner than its unsettling origins demanded. I’ve longed for a game that would reclaim those dark roots, and *Reanimal* seems poised to deliver. Its slithering, skin-like creatures, murky black waters, pervasive sense of dread, and overwhelming mystery create an atmosphere that feels truly authentic to that desired grim aesthetic.
Since my *Little Nightmares 3* review, my phone has been buzzing with Reddit notifications, revealing numerous players who resonate with my concerns about the series’ increasingly sanitized tone. If you share these sentiments, I strongly urge you to try the *Reanimal* demo; I’m confident it will resonate deeply with you.
Beyond the signature creepiness Tarsier is known for, *Reanimal* introduces several distinct features that set it apart. Notably, characters now speak. While infrequent, the brief dialogue in the demo significantly enhanced the experience and felt perfectly integrated due to its sparse application.
Another significant alteration is the dynamic camera work. While *Little Nightmares* typically confines itself to a side-scrolling 2.5D perspective, occasionally shifting to follow players through tunnels, *Reanimal*’s demo revealed a far more fluid and dynamic viewpoint. The camera sometimes pulls back dramatically, while at other moments, it adopts a close, third-person over-the-shoulder perspective. This shifting dynamic allows Tarsier to explore more complex puzzle designs and expand exploration possibilities, potentially carving out a distinct identity separate from its *Little Nightmares* heritage.
Initially, I hesitated to draw comparisons, but the similarities are simply too evident to overlook. More critically, it’s *Reanimal*’s distinctions that truly stand out, and highlighting this connective tissue underscores why it’s such an exciting prospect. This realization was my dominant thought as I eagerly completed the demo. This isn’t just *Little Nightmares 4*, nor is it ‘the true *Little Nightmares 3*’ as some Reddit users have suggested. Instead, it represents Tarsier’s evolution, building upon the lessons learned from creating *Little Nightmares*. While it will undoubtedly appeal to the same audience, *Reanimal* promises a darker, more perilous, and ultimately more unforgettable experience.
The article also features a gallery titled “27 Best Horror Games To Play In The Dark In 2025” showcasing various horror game images.