Beast of Reincarnation Review Round-up: Brilliant Combat, Messy Everything Else
Critics found a striking action RPG with standout combat and Koo charm, but uneven storytelling, level design, and polish held it back.
- Developer
- Game Freak
- Publisher
- Fictions
- Release Date
- August 4, 2026
egg.network has not played Beast of Reincarnation. This review round-up is built from published critic reviews and official details, linked at the end. The score is the critics' aggregate, not our own.
Critical consensus
Beast of Reincarnation landed as a messy but memorable action RPG rather than a clean breakout hit for Game Freak. With a Metacritic aggregate of 71/100, critics generally agreed that the game has real strengths, especially its combat, mood, and central human-dog pairing, but also enough uneven design and storytelling issues to keep it in mixed territory.
The game follows Emma the Sealer and her stray dog companion Koo across a corrupted post-apocalyptic Japan in the year 4026. Critics repeatedly framed the setup as one of the game’s most distinctive hooks: an action RPG built around a young woman with blight powers, plant manipulation, and a companion dog, wrapped in a ruined natural world that some reviews compared to the emotional and visual territory of Studio Ghibli works like Princess Mononoke.
That promise, however, did not land evenly. Some critics found the world fascinating, the art direction strong, and the mood distinctive. Others argued that the storytelling, lore, and character writing often failed to match the strength of the premise.
What critics say works
The clearest point of praise was combat. Across the reviews, critics repeatedly described Beast of Reincarnation as strongest when it focuses on fighting. Several reviews highlighted parry-centric action, firm but fair combat, satisfying melee exchanges, and boss fights that could be exciting even when other parts of the game stumbled.
Destructoid found the combat system incredible and singled out some boss fights as major highs, even while arguing that other parts of the game were far less consistent. Eurogamer similarly viewed the game as messy and muddled but said its combat and traversal helped rescue the experience. PC Gamer also pointed to the game’s distinctive mood and often excellent combat, while Push Square highlighted the balance between parries, melee action, and command-style elements as one of the more interesting parts of the design.
Critics also responded positively to build variety and progression. GamesRadar called attention to firm but fair combat and room to craft a build to taste. Hardcore Gamer praised the RPG systems, progression, and the variety Koo adds to the experience. Shacknews also found the combat robust enough to encourage experimentation.
Koo emerged as another major bright spot. GameSpot praised the companion, Shacknews found charm in the relationship between Koo and Emma, and Video Games Chronicle argued that the game has heart at its core through its character relationships. For a Game Freak title outside Pokémon, multiple critics saw the companion dynamic as one of the clearest signs of the studio’s strengths.
The presentation also earned praise from some outlets. PCGamesN highlighted the soundtrack, art design, and narrative themes of memory and connection. GameSpot praised the world, while other critics noted that the post-apocalyptic Japan setting gave the game a strong identity even when its execution wobbled.
What critics say does not work
The biggest recurring criticism was inconsistency. Destructoid argued that Beast of Reincarnation tries to do too much and suffers across level design, difficulty, and storytelling. Giant Bomb similarly found that the game eventually becomes fun, but only after stumbling repeatedly.
Character writing was another sore point. GameSpot criticised the cast as dull and the dialogue as uninteresting. Hardcore Gamer described the plot and characters as lifeless. Push Square also found the narrative less than enthralling, while Video Games Chronicle said the story and lore can fall flat.
Several critics also pointed to design and polish issues. Hardcore Gamer criticised the environmental design and noted that many bosses rely on limited repeating attacks. GameSpot called out reused bosses and a lack of polish. Push Square mentioned visual and technical problems. Shacknews felt the exploration elements did not come together, even though the core action remained appealing.
The result is a game critics often admired in pieces rather than fully endorsed. IGN summed up the broader mood by treating Beast of Reincarnation as an action RPG with strong ideas that can be hard to find beneath the messier parts.
What matters for Malaysian and SEA players
For Malaysian and SEA players, the practical takeaway is straightforward: Beast of Reincarnation is available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X/S, with a release date of August 4, 2026. Critics reported a split reception across platforms, with Windows and PlayStation 5 versions receiving mixed or average reviews on Metacritic, while the Xbox Series X/S version received generally favorable reviews.
That makes this one worth approaching based on platform preference and tolerance for rough edges. Players looking mainly for stylish action, parry-focused combat, and a companion-driven adventure may find more to like here than players who need polished exploration, strong side characters, or a consistently gripping narrative.
Who it is for
Critics suggest Beast of Reincarnation is best suited for action RPG fans who can forgive uneven structure if the combat loop hits. Players drawn to games compared with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Black Myth: Wukong may be the most curious, especially if they enjoy parry-heavy fights, boss pressure, and build experimentation.
It is less easy to recommend to players who prioritise polished level design, strong dialogue, or consistently satisfying exploration. The critical picture is not of a disaster, but of an uneven game with enough standout ideas to frustrate reviewers who could see something stronger underneath.
Final verdict
Critics concluded that Beast of Reincarnation is an ambitious action RPG with a strong combat core, a memorable dog companion, and a distinctive ruined-Japan mood. They also found it dragged down by weak storytelling, inconsistent level design, reused ideas, and technical roughness.
For Game Freak, critics treated it as a fascinating swing outside the studio’s usual lane. For players, the consensus is clear: come for the combat and Koo, but expect the rest of the journey to be bumpy.
Sources
Pros
- Critics praised the weighty, parry-focused combat and boss encounters
- Several reviews liked Koo and the Emma-Koo relationship
- Critics highlighted the distinctive world, art direction, mood, and soundtrack
Cons
- Critics criticised uneven storytelling, dull characters, and weak dialogue
- Several reviews found level design, exploration, and polish inconsistent
- Some critics called out reused bosses, repetitive attack patterns, and technical issues
Final Verdict
The critical consensus lands at mixed but interesting. Reviewers generally saw Beast of Reincarnation as an uneven action RPG with excellent combat and strong ideas, dragged down by messy design, weak characters, and inconsistent polish.