Beast of Reincarnation Reviews
This Beast of Reincarnation review began with a question about the Soulslike label. After approximately thirty hours, I think that label still misses the point. This is a more welcoming and experimental action RPG. It is interested in teaching players rather than testing how much frustration they will tolerate. That accessibility comes with compromises. Enemy variety never keeps pace with the sophistication of the combat, and technical problems became increasingly difficult to ignore. Even so, I kept wanting one more fight. Game Freak built a combat foundation that grows into a playground for experimentation. Do not come expecting Elden Ring. Come expecting an action RPG that is more interested in making you feel capable than making you feel defeated.
Beast of Reincarnation delivers rewarding combat, memorable boss encounters, and imaginative world-building, but its slow narrative, inconsistent technical performance, and unrefined camera and lock-on systems undermine an otherwise promising action RPG. Its ambition is evident, even if the execution falls short.
A unique art style that blends post-apocalyptic imagery with traditional Japanese aesthetics makes the game feel almost like Princess Mononoke set centuries into the future. Alongside its attractive visuals, the gameplay—built around the protagonist’s unusual plant-based abilities, such as high jumps and aerial movement—is fairly intriguing. However, the repetitive boss and monster patterns make it difficult to stay engaged for long play sessions, and the quality of the character’s movement animations feels somewhat lacking. The game also lacks the kind of cinematic direction often seen in AAA titles, which makes it harder to become fully immersed in the story.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Beast of Reincarnation leaves the unmistakable mark of a bold yet unfinished project: the idea is there, the direction too, and at times Game Freak shows surprising confidence in stepping outside its creative comfort zone. But every spark is held back by rough design choices, a story that never takes off, and a gameplay loop that fades too quickly. The combat, however, is sharp, responsive, layered — sometimes even thrilling. It’s here that you glimpse what the game could have been: a fresh start, a sign of maturity for a studio long defined by a single brand. In the end, it’s a fascinating but uneven work, capable of both surprising and disappointing, suspended between strong ideas and clear limitations. Worth a look for anyone curious to see Game Freak truly experiment, even if it never becomes fully memorable.
Review in Italian | Read full review
With several interesting ideas, the fun of Beast of Reincarnation runs into technical limitations and excessive repetition, resulting in an experience full of ups and downs.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Despite its narrative shortcomings, Beast of Reincarnation is an ambitious and rewarding action RPG that deserves to be on the radar of genre fans.
Beast of Reincarnation hides one of the best parry systems of the year beneath a stillness that sometimes weighs too heavy. When it all clicks, it's pure elegance; when it doesn't, you feel every extra second of silence.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Beast of Reincarnation is one of the most enjoyable action games to come out this year. It’s a fun but challenging JRPG that takes you on an adventure through gorgeous vistas for a solid 20-25 hours. It struggles a bit with overstaying its welcome in some sections, but the journey is ultimately very satisfying. Game Freak has put on an impressive showing with this one, and I’m now excited to see what other projects they might have in store for us next.
Its combination of atmosphere and discovery, even at the expense of a little jank, ultimately gives Beast of Reincarnation a distinct experience that more polished games lack. There is plenty of room for refinement, but Game Freak has nevertheless delivered a solid action RPG.
Beast of Reincarnation is is Game Freak's first real foray outside their comfort zone, and despite some missteps where pacing is concerned, it shows massive potential.
Beast of Reincarnation is GAME FREAK's latest endeavor, showing the studio is more than capable of moving beyond the creature-collecting genre. With an excellent story and gameplay systems that work cohesively, it stands as another highlight of 2026.
Game Freak have smartly embraced their strengths working on the Pokemon franchise for over 30 years. Beast of Reincarnation combines some of the best features of souls-likes with some of the best features of Pokemon creating a refreshing genre fusion. Beast of Reincarnation might look like just another Action-RPG with bonfires and parries, but between the Pokemon inspired combat with a trusty companion at your side that gives the real time combat a turn based feel, the blighted traversal, the hauntingly beautiful post apocalyptic world, as well as many other souls-like staples, Beast of Reincarnation is a must play for any fan of the genre.
Beast of Reincarnation was one of the biggest surprises I have experienced in recent years. Game Freak has delivered something completely different from what most players expect from the studio, demonstrating an ambition that few imagined they would see outside of Pokémon. The relationship between Emma and Ko is the game's greatest strength. Ko is far more than a gameplay mechanic, playing an essential role in combat, progression, and the narrative itself. It is rare to find a duo this well integrated, where one character influences both how you play and how you experience the journey. The combat system is equally rewarding once you understand its philosophy. Its emphasis on parrying, the strategic use of Ko's abilities, and the progression built around the Nushi's powers create a satisfying learning curve that rewards mastery rather than simple stat growth. There are still areas that keep the game from reaching perfection. PC optimization needs improvement, the Nushi encounters could offer greater variety, the skill tree could communicate its upgrades more clearly, and some invisible boundaries reduce the sense of freedom during exploration. Even so, Beast of Reincarnation stands out because of the strong identity it builds throughout the campaign. Its combination of precise combat, vertical exploration, memorable protagonists, and a richly detailed world allows it to stand out in an extremely competitive genre. Emma and Ko's journey is one of the most memorable gaming experiences I have had in 2026 and easily ranks among the year's most ambitious and surprising releases.
Game Freak has crafted a very good action, role-playing game in Beast of Reincarnation, and minor gameplay quirks and a so-so story don't detract from the fun.
Beast of Reincarnation isn't a bad game. In fact, thanks to its combat system and some aesthetic elements, I'd say it's good. But it's not a great game. Its best ideas are wasted, its world is very derivative, its narrative has terrible pacing, and it can eventually become repetitive. I'm sure many players will love Emma's relationship with Kuu and will get a lot of enjoyment out of their encounters with golems and creatures, but we've seen all of this before, and better.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
However, the game's core strength lies in its spectacular combat, which becomes increasingly multifaceted and impressive as the game progresses, thanks to numerous active and passive skills.
Review in German | Read full review
Beast of Reincarnation proves that Game Freak's talent extends far beyond their usual franchise, delivering a visually spectacular and emotionally resonant action-adventure. With its engaging parry-driven combat and the beautifully crafted bond between Emma and Koo, it is a phenomenal package that will make you think about your experience long after finishing the game.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Beast of Reincarnation es un sólido juego de acción en tercera persona que combina la influencia de Sekiro, Nier y Pokémon en un solo paquete que se deslumbra por su diseño de arte y se queda un poco rezagado en un límite técnico que es difícil de superar.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Beast of Reincarnation is proof of what talented studios can achieve when they're no longer constrained by the demands of large corporations and are free to create something truly their own. There's a world of difference between simply delivering an assigned project and being given the freedom to spread your wings. This game is a perfect example of the latter, and we can only hope more development teams get the chance to do the same.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
While playing Beast of Reincarnation, you can tell that a lot of care went into its development and that the game has potential. However, its extreme repetitiveness in several areas, combined with a narrative that is not particularly engaging, ends up hurting its lengthy 30-hour campaign. This issue could have been avoided if the game were shorter or offered more variety of enemies and areas.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review