The Summer Xbox Game Showcases usually bring some very interesting, unexpected announcements alongside new information on the Xbox blockbusters we have come to know and love over the years. 2025's showcase was no different, as the event introduced us to Beast of Reincarnation, an action role-playing game in development by Game Freak, the developer of the Pokémon series.
Although we didn't see much of the game in action in the game's reveal trailer, it was more than enough to show how the game could be a solid action RPG thanks to its crused protagonist Emma, her canine companion Koo and the verdant world they will have to traverse. And if the game only looked promising, the new look at the game shared during today's Xbox Developer Direct has only reinforced the generally positive opinion most had about it, with a feel that is markedly NieR in both gameplay and music.
This project represents a massive departure for Game Freak, described as a "new challenge" by the studio. Set in a post-apocalyptic Japan in the year 4026, the world has been decimated by The Blight, a parasitic plant that has wiped out most of the population.
Amidst this ravaged world, warmth, trust, and loneliness still manage to shine through, personified by Emma, a Sealer who is feared and isolated because she can hunt Malefacts, creatures born from the combination of plant and animal, and seal their blight within her own body. Her design is a direct reflection of this curse, as her hair functions as a living vine, a core motif that influences both the world’s visual identity and Emma's traversal and combat abilities.
While the game looks visceral and immersive, Game Freak hasn't completely abandoned its roots. The combat system features a blend of high-speed actionand strategic command that doesn't look too different from the Final Fantasy VII Remake series combat system. Emma and Koo have their own unique abilities unlocked via dedicated skill trees, and as the bond between them deepens, they unlock more skills to equip as their actions directly influence one another.
In combat, once enough power builds up, players can unleash Koo’s attacks via a menu that slows down time, a mechanic that feels like a clever bridge from Game Freak’s turn-based history to the action-packed experience of Beast of Reincarnation. Parrying will also be central to the combat flow, as successful parries allow players to stack beneficial effects via Spirit Stones, rewarding technical execution.
The one feature that seems to stand out, together with the combat mechanics, is Beast of Reincarnation's atmosphere. The post-apocalyptic world with a nature flavor, the Golems - the mechanical beings into which humanity transferred its souls that have degraded beyond repair, and the ethereal soundtrack immediately brought the NieR series to mind, in the best possible way.
Although there is surely more to see, the care that Game Freak is pouring into the project is setting Emma’s journey to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation to be one to keep an eye on when the game launches this Summer on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S worldwide.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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