All the Details on Beast of Reincarnation, the New Action RPG from Pokémon Developers

Many gamers might not know that Game Freak, the studio primarily known for its Pokémon RPGs, occasionally ventures beyond the world of Pikachu and pals. While these outings are rare, the team has collaborated with publishers to create unique titles like the card game Pocket Card Jockey and the platformer Tembo the Badass Elephant. However, their latest project, Beast of Reincarnation, is set to be their most ambitious endeavor yet, launching on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S later this year. Here’s what we know about this exciting new RPG.

Beast of Reincarnation centers on Emma, a young woman navigating a lush, post-apocalyptic Japan set 2000 years in the future. Accompanied by Koo, a dog affected by the same rampant overgrowth that has engulfed the land, Emma is not alone in her journey. Together, they battle through a world filled with creatures and robots that roam the remnants of a civilization blending science fiction and fantasy.

The “blight” that has transformed this world appears as overgrowth, visibly affecting Koo and allowing Emma to seal it within herself. Although they are outcasts in this new society, their mission is to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation, requiring them to fight and absorb the powers of monsters known as the “Nushi” to gain strength. Emma’s ability to absorb the blight also lets her manipulate the environment, as seen in trailers where she creates pathways with vines and raises plants during combat.

Players will engage in fast-paced, action-oriented combat as Emma, wielding a sword, dodging, parrying, and utilizing ranged attacks with a crossbow. Additionally, Emma can command Koo to assist in battles, maintaining the theme of the bond between humans and animals, reminiscent of Pokémon.

As you progress, you’ll primarily control Emma, enhancing her abilities through a skill tree while also finding ways to upgrade Koo’s skills. You can choose to charge into battles with your sword drawn, approach situations stealthily, or send Koo in for a surprise attack, setting up for your own follow-up strike.

Development for Beast of Reincarnation began around 2020 as part of an internal initiative called “Gear Project,” which encourages Game Freak staff to pitch original game concepts. Director Kota Furushima expressed a desire for the game to evoke feelings of “loneliness, isolation, and warmth.”

While Game Freak has faced technical challenges with previous titles like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Beast of Reincarnation aims for a higher level of visual fidelity and scope. Concerns about performance are valid, but it appears Game Freak is collaborating with several external developers to bring their vision to life, as the studio is relatively small for a project of this magnitude.

Furushima noted, “We managed to seek out a lot of partner companies to work with us, studios that can realize the vision of this game in the way that we wanted to make it, so we’re lucky to have a lot of people working on it externally as well.”

Beast of Reincarnation is not an open-world game; instead, it features stages that are larger in scale than those found in titles like Devil May Cry. Furushima described the gameplay as a blend of linear and open-world elements, emphasizing a journey with a clear beginning, middle, and end, akin to a road movie. While the game consists of distinct stages, they offer ample opportunities for exploration and interaction with diverse environments.

Mark your calendars: Beast of Reincarnation launches on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on August 3. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will have the chance to dive into the game on day one through the service.