Ethan Crossfield 
Reanimal has unexpectedly released The Prisoner, its first story expansion, giving players a new co-op horror chapter to explore immediately. The DLC expands the game’s unsettling world with new characters, locations, threats, and three chapters, while two additional story packs remain planned.
What Happened With Reanimal’s The Prisoner DLC
The Prisoner was revealed during the THQ Nordic Showcase 2026 and is now available as the first part of Reanimal’s planned Expanded World. The expansion follows the Soldier and the Prisoner as they attempt to survive the devastation of war. Both characters are playable within Reanimal’s co-op-focused structure, keeping teamwork at the center of the experience.
The DLC adds three chapters to complete, along with new areas and altered versions of familiar locations. It also introduces fresh story developments and a new boss, the Flamethrower Soldier. The expansion continues Reanimal’s minimalist, interpretive approach to storytelling rather than presenting its narrative in a straightforward fashion.
Why This Matters for Co-Op Horror Fans
Reanimal arrived in February from the developers behind Little Nightmares and Little Nightmares II, quickly becoming one of the year’s more prominent horror releases. Its 80 OpenCritic score places it among the stronger horror offerings of 2026 so far, a year that has also included major releases such as Resident Evil Requiem and Directive 8020.
The Prisoner gives Reanimal a way to build on that momentum without changing its core identity. Players still need to cooperate with a friend while navigating a nightmarish world, but the expansion adds another pair of characters and a war-ravaged setting to the game’s otherwise deliberately mysterious experience. That makes the release particularly relevant for players who have already completed the base game and want more story-driven co-op horror.
What to Watch Next for Reanimal
The Prisoner is a relatively short addition, with the source material estimating that it can be completed in a couple of hours. Its role is therefore less about delivering a massive standalone campaign and more about opening the next segment of Reanimal’s broader narrative.
Two further story DLCs are planned, although their names and feature details have not yet been announced. The second expansion is scheduled for a release window between October and December 2026, while the third is planned for between January and March 2027. Together, the three releases make up The Expanded World, which is divided into separate chapters.
Key points for players
- The Prisoner is Reanimal’s first story DLC and is available now.
- The expansion adds the Soldier and the Prisoner as playable characters.
- New content includes three chapters, locations, twists, and the Flamethrower Soldier boss.
- The DLC is designed around Reanimal’s existing co-op gameplay.
- Two more story expansions are planned for late 2026 and early 2027.
Reanimal’s announced DLC schedule
| Expansion | Release window | Known details |
|---|---|---|
| The Prisoner | Available now | First story DLC; adds two playable characters and three chapters |
| DLC 2 | October–December 2026 | Additional Expanded World chapter; further details unannounced |
| DLC 3 | January–March 2027 | Additional Expanded World chapter; further details unannounced |
Expert View
The Prisoner is a smart way to keep Reanimal visible in a crowded horror year. Its short runtime may limit its value for players seeking a full-length campaign, but the shadow drop removes the usual wait and immediately gives existing co-op groups a reason to return. The larger test will be whether the next two chapters add meaningful variety while preserving the tense, interpretive style that helped distinguish Reanimal from more conventional horror releases.
