Weekend Gaming Roundup: Action RPGs, Squad Brawls, and a New Soulslike
This weekend’s lineup is unusually packed, with several notable new releases spanning action RPGs, party-style chaos, team-based fighting, and a fresh take on a soulslike. Whether you want to experiment on subscription, jump into squad brawls, or revisit a pinched nightmare with new content, there’s plenty to choose from.
Release timing and where to play
Beast of Reincarnation is available immediately for players subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, with the game added to the catalog from day one (so you can play without purchasing it separately).
| Game | Platform / Service | Status | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beast of Reincarnation | Xbox Game Pass | Playable | Available from day one |
| Lies of P | Nintendo Switch 2 | Released | New version is out now |
Beast of Reincarnation: action RPG on Xbox Game Pass day one
Beast of Reincarnation, the action RPG from Game Freak (the studio behind the Pokémon series), has landed with mixed reactions from international critics—some reviews praised it, while others were far less enthusiastic.
The game’s pitch centers on Emma, an outcast, and her dog Koo. Together, they fight a spreading menace that threatens to destroy what’s left of a world already devastated. If you’re subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, this is the low-friction way to sample it right away.
Big Walk and the return of “silly ingenuity”
Big Walk is being positioned as a standout release, with one of the highest review averages mentioned for 2026. It leans hard into the idea that absurdity and originality are the core of its gameplay.
In practice, you control a crew of quirky characters as they navigate obstacles, solve puzzles, and—most importantly—work together in lots of different ways to keep the adventure moving.
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls: four-person squad brawls without forced switching
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls, developed by Arc System Works, brings collaboration into its match structure. Instead of single-character fights, the game uses teams of four fighters, drawing from a roster of recognizable Marvel heroes.
However, it does not follow the elimination-style approach associated with titles like The King of Fighters. The third and fourth members of the team unlock progressively, and there’s no requirement to switch characters mid-match. As a result, you can keep fighting with the same character and use teammates only as Assist when you choose.
Lies of P on Nintendo Switch 2: a Pinocchio-flavored soulslike with Overture
If you prefer combat-forward games with narrative hooks, Lies of P now has a Nintendo Switch 2 version. It reimagines the Pinocchio story through a blend of Asimov-inspired laws and French Belle Époque atmosphere.
You play as a special puppet tasked with confronting the runaway automata that have ravaged Krat. The campaign also aims to uncover the truth about Geppetto and the wider cast of characters surrounding him, supported by the Overture expansion.
Player impact: what to expect from this weekend’s choices
With Beast of Reincarnation sitting on Xbox Game Pass day one, it’s an easy recommendation for testing a Game Freak action RPG without upfront cost—even if critical opinions are split. Meanwhile, the rest of the slate leans into systems that emphasize cooperation and team play: Big Walk builds its fun around coordinated chaos, and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls uses four-member squads while still letting you commit to one fighter.
The Switch 2 arrival of Lies of P also expands the audience for a narrative-heavy soulslike, with the added context of the Overture expansion. What remains unclear from this week’s announcement coverage is how these releases will land once players get hands-on—especially given the “mixed-to-polarized” critical reception highlighted for Beast of Reincarnation.
