Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation impresses with combat depth but struggles with narrative cohesion
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Beast of Reincarnation, an action RPG from Pokémon developer Game Freak, has drawn a mixed critical response that highlights both the strength of its combat and a struggle to unify its many influences into a coherent whole. The title marks the studio's most ambitious attempt at a blockbuster outside its flagship franchise, set in a nature-ravaged, post-apocalyptic Japan where players control the swordswoman Emma, afflicted by a plant-based curse, accompanied by her canine companion Koo. The reception matters because it tests whether Game Freak can successfully diversify beyond Pokémon into the crowded action RPG genre.
The combat system blends Souls-like parrying and checkpoint mechanics with elements drawn from Monster Hunter, Shadow of the Colossus and Sekiro, layered with traversal puzzles and survival features such as cooking, positioning it as a more forgiving alternative to FromSoftware's notoriously punishing games. Reviewers have broadly praised the combat depth and Game Freak's confident presentation as proof of the studio's technical ambition, but many have questioned whether the game's blend of borrowed ideas and narrative elements coheres into a satisfying overall experience.
- Game Freak's new action RPG earns praise for combat but mixed reviews overall
- Blends Souls-like, Monster Hunter and Sekiro influences with survival mechanics
- Set in post-apocalyptic Japan, following swordswoman Emma and companion Koo
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Beast of Reincarnation is a new action role-playing game made by Game Freak, the Japanese studio best known for creating the Pokémon series. It marks the studio's biggest attempt to build a major title outside that franchise. Players take control of a swordswoman named Emma, who is affected by a plant-based curse, as she journeys through a version of Japan devastated by nature, accompanied by her dog companion, Koo.
The game combines combat and design ideas drawn from several well-known titles, including the challenging "Souls-like" style pioneered by FromSoftware, as well as elements reminiscent of Monster Hunter, Shadow of the Colossus and Sekiro. It also includes exploration puzzles and survival features such as cooking, and is described as a more forgiving alternative to the notoriously difficult games that inspired it.
The story matters because it raises the question of whether Game Freak, a studio strongly associated with one long-running franchise, can succeed with an entirely different kind of game. Early critical reaction has been mixed, with reviewers broadly praising the combat and presentation while disagreeing over whether the game's many borrowed influences and storytelling approach come together into a coherent whole.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates for the game's ambition argue that Game Freak deserves credit for daring to step outside its comfort zone and attempt a genre-blending action RPG at all, rather than playing it safe with another creature-collector. They point to the combat system, which thoughtfully synthesises Souls-like precision with Monster Hunter's weight and Sekiro's rhythm, as proof the studio has genuine action-design chops, and argue that borrowing liberally from beloved influences while adding accessible touches like cooking and traversal puzzles is a legitimate way to build something that feels familiar yet distinct. For these critics, the flashes of philosophical depth and narrative ambition beneath the post-apocalyptic premise show a studio reaching for something meaningful, even if imperfectly executed.
The case against
Critics who find the game wanting argue that ambition alone cannot excuse a lack of cohesion, and that stitching together mechanics from half a dozen acclaimed titles without fully digesting any of them results in a game that feels more like a patchwork than a vision. They point to the jarring tonal whiplash between conventional cutscene exposition and quieter environmental storytelling as evidence the narrative was never given a consistent voice, undermining player immersion in Emma and Koo's journey. For these reviewers, a title this openly derivative needed a stronger unifying authorial hand to justify its many borrowed parts, and its failure to fully realise any single idea is a legitimate structural weakness rather than a minor flaw.
Coverage
- GameSpot — Beast Of Reincarnation High Level Gameplay
- Polygon — Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation splits critics despite thin story consensus
- Polygon — Weapon locations in Beast of Reincarnation
- Polygon — Skill points shared between Emma and Koo shape early build choices
- Polygon — Weapons combat guide adds detail on parrying, guarding and ripostes
- Polygon — How to solve the ‘Origin of the Ringing’ fire puzzle in Beast of Reincarnation
- The Guardian — Beast of Reincarnation review – a taxing reflection of human-made damage
- Eurogamer — Beast of Reincarnation review – Game Freak riffs on Sekiro and Monster Hunter with mixed results
- GamesRadar+ — Beast of Reincarnation review: “The Pokemon dev knocks it out the park with a stunningly confident sci-fi action RPG”
- GamesRadar+ — How to use recipes and cook food in Beast of Reincarnation
- GamesRadar+ — How to upgrade weapons in Beast of Reincarnation
- GamesRadar+ — Rangifer weakness and boss fight strategy in Beast of Reincarnation
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