Review

Beast of Reincarnation

An action RPG from Game Freak, pairing a young Sealer named Emma with her wolf-like companion Koo as they cross a ruined, Blight-overrun Japan. Combat centers on parrying, with successful defense feeding Koo's special abilities. Is it your kind of game?

Action RPGSouls-likeParry CombatXboxPCPlayStation

Games like Beast of Reincarnation

7/10

Game Avant verdict

A fluid, parry-driven action RPG with a lovely companion and a striking world, held back by a stretched middle, recycled bosses and technical rough edges that players have not forgiven as easily as critics.

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By GameAvant · Published Oct 16, 2026 · 10 min read

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IGDB

81%

20 ratings

Steam:

56%

4,230 reviews

Fits you if

you enjoy rhythmic, parry-focused combat and story-driven adventures with a quiet emotional core.

Skip it if

you dislike parrying as the centre of a combat system or need flawless performance on day one.

Availability

Where to play

Steam

$47.99

Buy

Facts

Platforms: Xbox · PC · PlayStation
Release date: August 4, 2026
Length: About 32 hours
Difficulty: 5/5 (estimated)
Genres: Role-playing (RPG) · Adventure
Themes: Action
Perspective: Third person
Modes: Solo only
Languages: 3 languages
Text in your language: Yes
Steam Deck: Unsupported
Microtransactions: None

More about Beast of Reincarnation

Beast of Reincarnation is an action RPG from Game Freak, the studio best known for the Pokémon series, built around a single human protagonist and one loyal companion rather than a roster of creatures. Set in the year 4026 in a Japan overrun by a parasitic growth called the Blight, it follows Emma, a young woman known as a Sealer who can absorb the Blight and turn it into a weapon, and her wolf-like partner Koo, a stray creature who fights alongside her throughout the journey. Combat is built around parrying rather than simple blocking or button-mashing. Reading an enemy's attack and deflecting it at the right moment restores energy to Koo, which powers his Bloom Arts — abilities triggered through a slow-motion menu that range from acid sprays to root restraints and seed barrages. Good defense feeds directly into offense this way, turning fights into a rhythm of reading, parrying and unleashing Koo's abilities rather than a straightforward damage race. Ranged weapons add another layer, with different ammunition types such as explosive or poison darts giving players tactical options beyond melee range. A large skill tree expands Emma's own move set, modifies Koo's Bloom Arts and unlocks new traversal options including a dodge roll, while a hunger system tied to feeding Koo affects combat strength over time. Emma and Koo's relationship is built through small, repeated actions: petting Koo, feeding him meals, and watching their affinity grow unlocks deeper conversations about his past and additional rewards. That bond sits at the emotional center of a story about grief, letting go of the dead and whether suppressing emotion actually solves anything. Much of the plot is told through dialogue scenes with limited animation, matching its quiet, restrained tone, and the wider cast of Nushi — elite Malefact enemies tied to the Beast of Reincarnation itself — are both Emma's obstacles and the key to understanding the world's century-old balance. Traversal outside of combat has its own identity. Emma can extend her hair to form bridges across gaps, use it as a climbing spike for high jumps, and grapple onto designated points scattered through the world, giving movement a slightly strange, physical quality that fits the overgrown setting. The world itself is semi-open rather than a single connected map: it's divided into chapters set in different regions of a ruined, reclaimed Japan, each with its own look and atmosphere drawing visibly on Princess Mononoke and NieR. Campsites act as rest points scattered through each chapter, where experience earned from fighting and exploring is spent on upgrades, new skills and better weapons. The mobile base, called the Cleanse Walker, serves as a hub between chapters, where the companion character Kagura cooks meals and researches recipes and seedling yields that feed back into Koo's growth. The campaign leans toward the longer side for the genre, with a main story that runs roughly 30 or more hours depending on pace, and considerably longer for players who pursue side content, hidden bosses and full upgrades. A dedicated story mode and forgiving checkpoints — including the absence of fall damage — make the demanding parry-based combat more approachable for players who want the narrative without mastering every boss pattern. Players coming in from stricter action RPGs will find Beast of Reincarnation's systems more generous, while still asking for real pattern recognition against its tougher Nushi encounters.

The thing you'll love. Or hate.

Depth over clarity

Parry-centred combat

Quiet story, flat delivery

Not quite for you?

Three alternatives, one line each on why.

Shorter

Similar, but noticeably shorter.

With co-op

Similar, but playable together.

Cheaper or free

Similar, for less money.

Frequently asked questions

How long is Beast of Reincarnation?: About 32 hours to finish the main story.
Which platforms is Beast of Reincarnation on?: Beast of Reincarnation is available on Xbox · PC · PlayStation.
Does Beast of Reincarnation have co-op?: No, Beast of Reincarnation is single-player only.
Does Beast of Reincarnation run on Steam Deck?: Unsupported
What does Beast of Reincarnation cost?: $47.99 on Steam.