Beast of Reincarnation review

Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation, an action-RPG departure from the studio’s Pokémon franchise, launched on August 4, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. The game follows protagonist Emma and her wolf companion Koo through a post-apocalyptic vision of Japan, where they battle corrupted monsters called Nushi to save a poisoned world.

The game draws inspiration from popular action titles including Souls-like games, Sekiro, and Monster Hunter, featuring parry-based real-time combat mechanics alongside turn-based elements. It offers three difficulty options—Story Mode for narrative-focused players with forgiving parry timing, Normal Mode for the intended balanced experience, and a harder difficulty level. A notable feature includes a “cinematic mode” that locks cutscene frame rates to 24 fps.

Critical reception has been mixed. The game currently holds a 74 Metacritic score based on 27 reviews, with notable scores including IGN’s 6/10 and Famitsu’s 35/40. Critics praise the “exhilarating combat and traversal” and character development, particularly highlighting the dynamic between Emma and Koo. However, reviewers cite inconsistent execution, criticizing flat character performances, robotic animations, bland environments, and overall lack of polish that undermines the ambitious story and art direction.

The game features progression systems including skill trees for both characters, weapon upgrades using Amber currency, and collectible items like generator devices and electronic brains that unlock various upgrades. Reviews describe Beast of Reincarnation as “messy and muddled” yet “salvaged” by its combat mechanics, with critics generally concluding the experience is competent but struggles to establish a distinct identity among its inspirations.

Beast of Reincarnation review

Sources