Set in a post-apocalyptic Japan in the year 4026, Beast of Reincarnation is a more grounded title than Game Freak’s previous work on the Pokémon franchise. In a Famitsu interview, game director Kota Furushima explains why he chose Japan as the story’s setting. According to the director, the country’s harsh topography helped convey the difficulties Emma, the protagonist, and her dog companion Koo are facing.
“(The choice of setting) stems from wanting to make Emma and Koo’s journey a harsh one. They don’t just travel along orderly roads, but to places that are messy, be they narrow, wide, or surrounded by mountains with elevation changes. When I thought of a place with terrain encompassing such varied features, I thought to myself, ‘Isn’t that Japan?’”
He adds that Emma and Koo’s journey will take them from the countryside to the game’s capital, a journey that is meant to evoke the real-life mountainous trek from the Kanto region to Kyoto.
While Beast of Reincarnation is primarily a linear experience, there are several broad “zones” that provide ample room for exploration, be it through normal traversal (i.e., walking and climbing) or by using Emma’s plant-based abilities. There will also be various elements that convey a distinct Japanese feeling.
That said, a devastated Japan set in the year 4026 also reinforces Furushima’s desire to make the protagonists’ journey difficult. In addition to the unpredictable terrain, Emma and Koo must also contend with Golems, robots created to hold human souls. Only by overcoming these challenges can the two hope to achieve their goal of defeating the titular Beast of Reincarnation.
Beast of Reincarnation is set to release in Summer 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows (Steam).
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