If you thought Game Freak was just going to make Pokémon games for the rest of eternity, think again. Beast of Reincarnation, a brand-new action RPG directed by Pokémon‘s battle system veteran Kota Furushima, dropped yesterday (August 4), and it’s already giving us major Studio Ghibli vibes.

Moving away from the colorful, family-friendly gyms of Paldea, Beast of Reincarnation thrusts players into a hauntingly beautiful, post-apocalyptic wasteland that was once Japan. You play as Emma the Sealer, accompanied by her giant magical dog companion, Koo. Together, you’re tasked with hunting down a corrupted monster in a ruined natural world.

Thanks to Furushima’s pedigree, you can definitely feel the Pokémon DNA in the creature designs and the deep, synergistic turn-based-meets-action combat system. Koo acts as an elemental powerhouse with nature-based abilities that can stun and damage foes—think Bulbasaur attack moves, but with more strategic depth within a fast-paced combat flow.

But where the game really shines is its narrative and aesthetic, which critics are already calling a masterpiece that feels like NieR: Automata meets Princess Mononoke. The core dynamic of a fierce heroine and a massive wolf companion traversing a dying, industrialized world directly mirrors San and Moro. The game tackles heavy themes of humanity’s corruption of nature, serving as a visually stunning eco-fantasy that perfectly resonates with our generation’s (and increasingly apparent) climate anxiety.

Whether you’re exploring overgrown ruins using Emma’s wild hair-grappling mechanics or teaming up with Koo for an explosive elemental combo, Beast of Reincarnation is a must-play. Catch the trailer for the game below.

Cover image via Polygon.