Reanimal, the new horror release from the team behind the original Little Nightmares games, arrives on Xbox Series X|S on Friday 13 February. Early reviews for the title are now live, with critics broadly aligned on several strengths and a handful of recurring criticisms.

Across previews and full reviews, the game’s atmosphere and visual design attract consistent praise. Commentators highlight an artful, often nightmarish aesthetic that evokes the studio’s earlier work, with layered environments that create a sustained sense of unease. Sound design also features repeatedly in positive notes, cited for complementing the visuals and heightening tension.

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Gameplay responses are more mixed. Several outlets laud moments of inventive environmental horror and set-piece design, while others point to relatively simple puzzles and a lack of mechanical depth. A number of critics describe the overall experience as tightly curated and cinematic, but warn that the pacing and puzzle variety may feel thin to players seeking longer, more complex playtime.

Length emerges as a common sticking point. Multiple reviews observe that the main campaign resolves in a comparatively short span, leaving some players wanting more content or additional challenge. Reviewers who recommend the game tend to qualify that endorsement by noting that Reanimal will likely be most satisfying to fans of the studio’s previous titles and those prioritising atmosphere over prolonged gameplay.

Critical comparisons to Little Nightmares appear regularly, with some critics regarding Reanimal as a refined evolution of the studio’s established style and others seeing it as too familiar. The consensus framing places Reanimal as a strong stylistic entry that may divide players based on expectations for scope and mechanical complexity.

Reanimal will be available digitally via the Microsoft Store on Xbox Series X|S and through UK retailers including GAME and Amazon UK from launch day. Further aggregated scores and extended reviews are expected to follow as more outlets publish full impressions in the coming days.

Sources include early coverage and reviews collated since the review embargo lifted, with additional context drawn from publisher and retailer release listings.