What is Beast of Reincarnation, the New IP Coming From Pokemon Developer Game Freak?

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I was really surprised to see that Game Freak, the developers famous for the Pokémon series, were making Beast of Reincarnation. For decades, Game Freak has been the driving force behind every major Pokémon game. This new title marks a huge turning point – it’s their first big, nonPokémon* game, and that’s a really significant moment.

While it might seem like Beast of Reincarnation could be similar to Pokémon, that’s definitely not the case. Visually, it’s much more reminiscent of Princess Mononoke. Instead of traditional turn-based battles, it features fast-paced, action-oriented combat inspired by Sekiro, with a focus on slashing, dodging, and blocking. The game is also significantly darker in tone and features a somber art style compared to anything Game Freak has created previously. Although still shrouded in mystery, the reveal trailer and initial story details offer a lot to consider.

What is Beast of Reincarnation About?

  • Beast of Reincarnation release date: TBA 2026

With a planned release in 2026, we can expect to learn more about Beast of Reincarnation soon. For now, details are limited, but we know the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic future seemingly caused by the beast itself, which appeared in the distant past. The Beast of Reincarnation spreads a destructive “blight” that corrupts all life. It’s visually represented as an elk-like creature that drastically accelerates both the growth and decay of plants it comes into contact with.

As a huge Pokémon fan, I couldn’t help but notice how much the Beast of Reincarnation reminds me of the Forest Spirit from Princess Mononoke. The way it looks and the whole idea of rebirth feels very similar, and it honestly feels like Game Freak was intentionally giving a nod to Studio Ghibli with this design. It’s a beautiful homage, if you ask me!

In Beast of Reincarnation, you play as Emma the Sealer, an outcast who journeys across a beautiful world with her dog, Koo. Their mission is to save humanity from extinction, potentially by defeating a powerful creature known as the Beast of Reincarnation. While the story is still mysterious, it appears to explore deep ideas about the relationship between people and nature, and the difficult truths about death and decay. It’s a much more thought-provoking game than something like Pokémon.

What Is Beast of Reincarnation’s Gameplay Like?

Emma, one of the characters in “Blighted,” has the power to control plants, which helps her in both battles and when navigating the game world. The game’s trailer shows her creating a vine bridge and using vines as a grapple hook to reach a boss, a move that strongly resembles a similar mechanic in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This isn’t the only similarity – Beast of Reincarnation also appears to share Sekiro’s fighting style and how it handles blocking and parrying attacks.

Many games have taken inspiration from Sekiro, but Beast of Reincarnation aims to stand out with its unique abilities focused on plants and dogs. The game also has an interesting science-fantasy setting – players will face both bizarrely beautiful monsters and dangerous machines in the year 4026. It’s exciting to see Game Freak explore sci-fi, and hopefully, they’ll deliver a detailed and compelling vision of this futuristic world.

Unlike Pokemon, Beast of Reincarnation seems like Game Freak is trying to reach a different audience. While it’s too early to say for sure how the game will be received, it currently appears to be a good, though somewhat familiar, action game.

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2025-12-28 15:04