At today’s Xbox Developer Direct showcase, we got a new look at Beast of Reincarnation, a surreal action RPG in development at Game Freak, who are best known as the primary developer of Pokémon videogames. In addition to revealing more details about Beast of Reincarnation’s story and gameplay, Game Freak put a date on the action RPG: it’s out this summer.
Beast of Reincarnation was first unveiled last June, and its unique visual identity really speaks to me. The beautiful Japanese countryside, mystical elements, and samurai protagonist (complete with wide-brimmed kasa) remind me of Sucker Punch’s Ghost of Tsushima/Yotei, but the postapocalyptic world is also suffused with overgrown, rusted megastructures and gangly automatons that call to mind Square Enix’s beloved Nier series. And let me be clear: Nier is beloved to me.
The NieR connection isn’t just visual: Beast of Reincarnation is similarly set thousands of years into Earth’s future, where humanity is struggling against a plague of evil magical plants, as well as a distinctly Yoko Taro-flavored race of transhumanist robots gone wrong.
“The Golems are beings created when former humans transferred their souls into mechanical bodies in order to survive the harsh world,” explained director and writer Kota Furushima. “Their souls have deteriorated, causing them to lose control.”
That’s basically the plot of 2010’s Nier (Gestalt/Replicant), but here it’s a side story: Those evil plants, and our protagonist’s ability to seal them away, sound like the main focus of the plot. It seems much more open-ended than I expected, featuring not just character action light/heavy combos plus Sekiro parrying, but also stealth, ranged combat with bows and crossbows, as well as an active command system for special abilities that resembles Mass Effect or Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
It’s the sort of experimental, PS2-esque Japanese action game that we’ve been seeing a lot more of in the 2020s after a long dry spell, and I’m very much here for it. You can wishlist Beast of Reincarnation on Steam ahead of its release this summer.
2026 games: All the upcoming games
Best PC games: Our all-time favorites
Free PC games: Freebie fest
Best FPS games: Finest gunplay
Best RPGs: Grand adventures
Best co-op games: Better together
It’s exciting to see new developments in the action RPG genre, especially with such intriguing titles on the horizon. The anticipation for Beast of Reincarnation is definitely building!
Absolutely! The blend of action and RPG elements in Beast of Reincarnation seems promising, especially given Game Freak’s track record. It’ll be interesting to see how they incorporate unique storytelling, similar to what fans loved in Nier.
I totally agree! The combination of action and RPG elements really does look intriguing. It’ll be interesting to see how the story unfolds, especially given Game Freak’s unique storytelling style.
I’m glad you think so! The art style and storytelling elements in Beast of Reincarnation also seem to hint at a deep emotional experience, much like Nier. It’ll be exciting to see how they blend those RPG elements with the action gameplay!
to resonate well with fans of Nier. I noticed that both games share a focus on deep emotional narratives, which adds a compelling layer to the gameplay. It’ll be interesting to see how the mechanics of Beast of Reincarnation compare to Nier’s unique combat system!
Absolutely, the emotional storytelling aspect is a huge draw for both games. It’s interesting to see how “Beast of Reincarnation” might explore similar themes, especially with its unique setting and character dynamics. Fans of Nier will likely appreciate those narrative layers!