Horror games have come a long way. They started as simple text adventures, moved to fixed-camera survival horror, and evolved into action-heavy experiences.
Over time, horror has taken many different forms, but the goal has always been the same: to scare players.
Recently, a unique type of horror game has gained popularity—“cute” horror. Cute horror games use the same scary elements as traditional horror, but they have a cartoon-like or handmade aesthetic.
If things go as planned, 2025 could be a major year for this style of horror. Several highly anticipated games in this genre are set to release, including The Midnight Walk, Little Nightmares 3, and Reanimal.
Key Takeaways
- The Midnight Walk releases May 8, 2025, with VR support on PS5 and PC, featuring a handcrafted claymation horror world.
- Little Nightmares 3 adds online co-op and is now developed by Supermassive Games, delayed to 2025.
- Reanimal, a spiritual successor to Little Nightmares, was announced in 2024 by Tarsier Studios but likely won’t be released in 2025.
The Midnight Walk Brings Claymation Horror
One of the biggest upcoming games in this style is The Midnight Walk, which will be released on May 8, 2025. Developed by MoonHood and published by Fast Travel Games, this game stands out because its entire world is made of clay.
Every character, monster, and environment was sculpted by hand and then scanned into the game. This stop-motion animation style gives the game a look similar to Tim Burton’s films.
Sony revealed The Midnight Walk during its February 2024 State of Play event, and its visual style caught many people’s attention. It’s coming to PlayStation 5 and PC; it will also have full VR support for PlayStation VR2 and PC VR headsets.
The game follows The Burnt One, a strange character who rises from their grave and starts an eerie journey. Along the way, they meet Potboy, a small lantern creature that can produce fire. The two must travel through a dark world filled with fire-hungry monsters.
The game is divided into five chapters, each telling a different story.
Players will have to explore, interact with characters, and avoid terrifying creatures. Some monsters can be distracted by Potboy’s flame, whereas others require stealth to avoid. There may also be sequences where players need to protect Potboy, though the exact gameplay mechanics are not fully revealed.
For those who want a more immersive experience, The Midnight Walk has VR features that take advantage of PlayStation VR2’s eye-tracking technology. This lets players look and move around to interact with their surroundings, which feels more real.
The game is available for preorder on the PlayStation Store for $40, with a 10% discount for PlayStation Plus subscribers. PC players can add it to their Steam wishlist, though preorders are not yet available for that platform.
Little Nightmares 3 Brings Co-Op Horror
The Little Nightmares series has been one of the most well-known cute horror franchises. Its eerie atmosphere, small child-like protagonists, and terrifying enemies have made it stand out.
Tarsier Studios developed the first two games, but in 2021, Tarsier left the series after being acquired by Embracer Group. This meant that a new team had to take over development.
For Little Nightmares 3, Bandai Namco turned to Supermassive Games, the studio behind Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures Anthology. The game was first revealed during Gamescom Opening Night Live in 2023, where it was confirmed that players would be able to experience it in co-op mode for the first time.
Little Nightmares 3 is different from the earlier games because it now has a two-player online co-op mode, meaning friends can play together instead of just solving puzzles or sneaking around alone. Players will control two new characters, though details about the story are still limited.
The game was originally planned for a 2024 release, but in May 2024, it was delayed to 2025.
No specific release date has been given yet, but the delay shows that Supermassive Games is taking extra time to make sure the game is high quality. From the footage shown so far, the game still has the same eerie tone and visual style as its predecessors.
Reanimal Could Be the Real Successor to Little Nightmares
While Little Nightmares 3 is continuing the franchise, Tarsier Studios is working on its own horror game. In August 2024, Tarsier announced Reanimal, which seems to be a spiritual successor to Little Nightmares.
Like its previous games, Reanimal has a surreal horror aesthetic, but it appears to be even darker in tone. Early footage suggests that the game will feature co-op gameplay, just like Little Nightmares 3. This could create competition between the two games since Tarsier’s new project may attract longtime fans of its earlier work.
Since Reanimal was only recently announced, it’s unlikely to be released in 2025. However, fans are paying close attention to its development. If Tarsier can bring back the magic of its previous games, Reanimal could become one of the most popular horror games of the decade.
2025 Will Be a Major Year for Cute Horror
Horror games no longer need realistic graphics or grotesque monsters to be terrifying. The success of “cute” horror games proves that creepy environments and disturbing stories can be just as effective when mixed with playful or artistic visuals.
The Midnight Walk introduces a handcrafted, stop-motion horror world. Little Nightmares 3 adds co-op gameplay. Reanimal could be the true successor to Little Nightmares.
With these releases, 2025 is set to be a defining year for this sub-genre. Fans can look forward to guiding Potboy through the darkness, surviving Little Nightmares 3, or anticipating Reanimal.
