Beast of Reincarnation

While I wouldn’t put Beast of Reincarnation at the top of my recommendations for 2026, it’s still a pretty good action-adventure title, and easily one of Game Freak’s best titles yet. Even amid all its hurdles and speed bumps, it’s both a road trip to remember and one that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

'Beast of Reincarnation' is a decent effort to evolve past Game Freak’s status as “the Pokémon developer.” The combat has plenty of bite to it and the stunning world had me barking up all kinds of trees. The seeds of a fascinating story were planted, but the underdeveloped cast left what could’ve been a more emotionally impactful conclusion feeling neutered.

Do not be misled: Beast of Reincarnation is tonally further away from the hypersexualised Stellar Blade than, I dunno, Pac-Man, despite feeling like an answer to its popularity. I knew the Pokémon studio's first blockbuster action RPG would be imperfect, but I also didn't expect it to be so fun and distinctive.

Despite being rooted in conflict and grief, Beast of Reincarnation doesn’t culminate in a nihilistic afterthought. Rather, it uses whichever energy it has left to muster a glimmer of hope – like the sight of a flower blooming on an empty, barraged field.

Despite a few stumbles here and there, and a dose of overdesign, Beast of Reincarnation is a bold strike into something new for Game Freak, and a genuine foundation that I hope the studio continues to build upon.

Beast of Reincarnation sounds great on paper, but is ultimately a hollow set of empty promises that fails to launch.

The final act of Beast of Reincarnation, with its telegraphed revelations and color-by-numbers moments, left me feeling… nothing. But the ensuing New Game+ notification stopped me from uninstalling the game after the credits rolled. I don’t know if I’ll return to play more, but if I do, it won’t be because of Emma, but rather, what Emma’s sword can do.