Your Next 7/10 Game
All Games Deserve Love ... And Dogs.
Beast of Reincarnation is a game that I likely wouldn't have played without Game Pass...
There are too many games coming out all of the time. 2026 is a prime example of that. Beast of Reincarnation, the first non-Pokemon entry from GAME FREAK Inc. and published by Fictions, garnered quite a bit of attention pre-release. There was intrigue in seeing what the traditional Pokemon studio could do when "being unleashed creatively".
Fictions
Game Freak's brand-new title: Beast of Reincarnation is an action RPG with a fusion of real-time and turn-based combat. Experience the innovative "one-person, one-dog action RPG" in the beautiful yet harsh world of Beast of Reincarnation. What awaits at the end of Emma and Koo's journey?
This intrigue, combined with its availability via XBOX Game Pass, prompted me to give it a shot. And like most others - my thoughts are mixed. However, this game reminds me of similar experiences I've had with other games of this calibre.
We need more 7/10 games.
7/10 games, on the internet, is more often than not a killing blow for a studio. It typically gets maligned online and commercially. That said, BoR is expected to have sold over 100,000 physical copies worldwide as of this writing. The pedigree (or familiarity) of GAME FREAK Inc. is undoubtedly a major factor in this. However, there are lots of things this game does well.
The world is interesting visually, the enemy design is intriguing, and the emotional growth from protagonist Emma, along with her companion Koo, is warming. These things are sadly what is keeping me going (at the time of writing I am roughly 20 hours in, and approximately 65% complete). The boss encounters become mechanically repetitive, the skill tree is needlessly convoluted, and the technical issues most definitely malign the experience.
Is the game flawed? Absolutely. Would I bat an eye if you dropped off of it in the first 5 hours? Not in the slightest. That said, I'm really glad I've stuck around so far - and I really hope that GAME FREAK Inc., and similar studios, get the ability to put out these products.
If everything needs to be a 9/10 or 10/10, the scale eventually consumes itself.
Instead, we should look at these flawed gems as a reason that makes games interesting.
So, if you just want a fun game with an intriguing world to get lost in for a little bit - give Beast of Reincarnation a try. If you want something that fits this bill that has come out in the past, check out these titles from years past:
Crim, Gamirror Games, Rainy Frog
El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, originally released in 2011, is a unique third-person action adventure filled with a deeply artistic world-building, outstanding aesthetics and thrilling battles.
Minority Media
Quico’s best friend, Monster, is a huge beast with razor-sharp teeth, but that doesn’t scare Quico away from playing with him. That said, Monster does have a very dangerous problem: an addiction to poisonous frogs.
Sony Interactive Entertainment
In a strange and mystical land, a young boy discovers a mysterious creature with which he forms a deep, unbreakable bond. The unlikely pair must rely on each other to journey through towering, treacherous ruins filled with unknown dangers. Experience the journey of a lifetime in this touching, emotional story of friendship and trust.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
Follow a gripping, surprise-filled journey as two dissimilar characters form an uneasy partnership in order to survive through a perilous, post-apocalyptic America. 150 years in the future, war and destruction have left the world in ruins with few humans remaining and nature having reclaimed the world.
GRIDDLYBEAR is an Indigenous and neurodivergent Canadian, father, husband, brother, and goof. He streams on Twitch twice a week, and can be seen hanging around numerous internet dwellings including Kinda Funny and Hang Time. Don't ask him what the latest meme is though - he likely won't know. For a Canadian he's also weirdly obsessed with Philadelphia sports teams - GO BIRDS.