What comes to mind when you hear the name Game Freak? The likely answer is the Pokémon franchise. The studio has long been the driving force behind Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s wildly popular monster-battling franchise. This longstanding association has led many gamers to assume Game Freak is a Nintendo first-party developer, when in reality, it is not. Over the years, the studio has occasionally stepped out of the Pokémon shadow to create original titles with other publishers. Their latest project, Beast of Reincarnation, has the makings of something truly special.
The reveal of the action RPG during the Xbox Games Showcase took many fans by surprise. While Game Freak has previously experimented with smaller-scale projects, Beast of Reincarnation marks the studio’s first serious foray into fully 3D visuals.
The game made an immediate impression with its striking presentation, steeped in a strong Japanese aesthetic and post-apocalyptic atmosphere. The reveal trailer, despite some rough frame rates, was refreshingly honest and managed to capture the attention of many.
Beast of Reincarnation follows the story of a young woman named Emma and her loyal wolf companion Koo, as they battle against towering monsters in a ruined, post-apocalyptic Japan. The premise promises a deep, emotional journey set in a haunting yet beautifully realised world.
While Game Freak has not explicitly labelled the game as Soulslike, they describe Beast of Reincarnation as a 1v1 action RPG built around challenging technical combat, a notable departure from the turn-based battles they are known for. With Beast of Reincarnation, Game Freak seems poised to prove that it’s capable of much more than just pocket monsters.
Scheduled for release in 2026, the game is confirmed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Microsoft ecosystem players will also be pleased to know that the game will be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
