REANIMAL: The Prisoner Review: Tarsier delivers another disturbing horror adventure with a haunting atmosphere, but few minor yet frustrating drawbacks hold it back
Tarsier Studios has returned to its disturbing world of Reanimal with its first DLC chapter titled The Prisoner, which released on 8th August, 2026. It feels like a natural continuation of the nightmare rather than a completely new experience. Set against a war-ravaged city, the DLC introduces two new protagonists, The Prisoner and The Soldier.
The early reception has been strongly positive. Steam currently lists the DLC as Very Positive, although a recurring complaint from players is its short runtime. Critics have similarly praised the atmosphere, visual storytelling, new mechanics and memorable horror encounters, while frequently wishing there were more of them.
For me, however, is an enjoyable but imperfect expansion that deserves both praise and criticism. Read more to find out!
A World Drowning in Darkness
The atmosphere is arguably the DLC’s greatest strength. REANIMAL: The Prisoner takes us through ruined streets, underground stations, devastated buildings and areas being torn apart by war. The setting which feels like the World War period feels even more hopeless than the base game, creating the impression that civilization itself is collapsing around these characters.
Several reviewers have praised this environmental storytelling. The trenches, ruined buildings and devastated streets act as an effective way of communicating the story without lengthy exposition. But there is a downside to all that darkness. Everything is extremely dark, sometimes to the point where simply travelling becomes frustrating. It may well be intentional, representing a world that is decaying into something even worse, but there were moments when I was struggling to see where I was going rather than feeling scared.
The audio design helps considerably. The soundscape knows when to stay quiet and when to make you feel that something terrible is approaching, particularly during the game’s chase sequences.
Familiar Gameplay with Some Excellent New Ideas
At its core, REANIMAL: The Prisoner sticks closely to the gameplay formula of the main game. You explore, solve environmental puzzles, avoid enemies and occasionally fight your way through dangerous situations.
The Prisoner’s camera is the most interesting addition. It can illuminate dark areas with its flash and temporarily stun enemies. The Soldier also gets a melee weapon later on, giving both characters slightly different abilities.
The problem is that progression can sometimes be frustratingly unclear. The DLC does not always tell you where to go or what you are supposed to do next. There were moments when I genuinely felt frustrated trying to figure out the intended route.
So there is a strange balance here: the game can be satisfying when you figure something out yourself, but wandering around aimlessly because the game failed to communicate its intention is considerably less fun.
The Horror Is At Its Best During the Chases
The flamethrower-wielding Soldier is one of the standout threats. Rather than simply throwing another enemy at you, Tarsier uses him to turn familiar environments into places you desperately want to escape. Multiple reviewers singled out this encounter as one of the DLC’s best moments.
And then comes my personal highlight: the final section with the gun-equipped bike.
It is easily the most fun part of the entire DLC. After all the slow exploration, darkness and tense encounters, suddenly tearing through the environment with a weapon turns the final stretch into a chaotic blast. It is the kind of sequence that makes you sit back and think, “Okay, this is awesome.”
Another Mystery, Not Another Explanation
Storytelling remains deliberately minimal. The Soldier and Prisoner receive little conventional exposition, and their purpose, history and relationship are left largely unexplained.
That is not necessarily a weakness. In fact, it is probably one of the reasons the world works. The ending continues that approach. Rather than giving us a neat conclusion, it leaves behind another mystery.
Final Verdict
REANIMAL: The Prisoner is a solid first chapter for Tarsier’s expanded story. It does not dramatically reinvent the formula. The expansion might have been as fun as the base game, but its unclear progression, excessive darkness and short runtime can be frustrating for some players.
But the atmosphere remains fantastic, the audio design is excellent, the war-torn setting is beautifully miserable. And among the positive aspects of the game, the flamethrower encounter is memorable, and the gun-bike finale is an absolute blast.
Most importantly, the ending gives us a mystery rather than simply closing the book. That makes me want to see what happens next.
Review for ReAnimal: The Prisoner 7/10.
