Tensei Game (tentative) is a four-player board game-style title heading to Nintendo Switch in the summer of 2026. Co-developed by ArtePiazza and Any, the game was supervised by Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, with an original concept and scenario written by author Muneyuki Kaneshiro (As the Gods Will, Blue Lock). Shintaro Mashima, recognized for his work on the Dragon Quest and SaGa series, takes on the role of art director.
Following Tensei Game (meaning Reincarnation Game)’s initial announcement in May 2025, updates on the project were scarce, but recently, Horii and Kaneshiro provided insights into the “friendship-wrecking” game they’ve been quietly developing in an interview with Denfaminicogamer.
Horii clarified that unlike his earlier party game/digital board game Itadaki Street, which focused on financial exchanges, Tensei Game operates on a completely different premise. It’s essentially a sugoroku-style game, following standard mechanics of rolling dice and advancing on a game board, but the unique aspect is that players will reincarnate into diverse life forms (encompassing humans of various professions, animals, and even microorganisms).
Kaneshiro envisioned it as a fresh take on the classic “The Game of Life,” but set posthumously. “The core idea is that everyone dies, transforming into a soul, and then competes to be reborn. Reflecting on it now, it’s somewhat akin to Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s The Spider’s Thread. A sinner arrives in hell, and a spider lowers a single thread. But when they attempt to climb it, the other sinners swarm after them, and while pushing others down, they end up falling themselves.”
Unlike the setting of hell, Tensei Game takes place in Rinnekai, or the realm of reincarnation, where individuals fall and become entities known as Karmans. Four players engage in a death-game-style rivalry where they amass karma, with karma acting as a form of currency. By gathering karma, the top three players secure rebirth, whereas the player in fourth place faces doom. “So if you desire another life,” Kaneshiro explains, “you’ll need to undermine others, form partnerships, and plot against people. You can be ruthless, or you can show compassion. That’s the essence of the gameplay.”
Although the fundamental game loop involves collecting karma to advance and reincarnate, the game includes chance cards and events that can be employed to hinder other players, which the developers aim to make an exciting experience for both participants and potential observers (the game was designed with streamers in mind). Additionally, Horii emphasizes that selecting the right form to reincarnate into will be a critical decision.
Tensei Game (tentative) is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2026 for Nintendo Switch. It’s currently unclear if there are plans for release outside of Japan. The developers have also revealed intentions for potential IP expansion through anime, manga, and merchandise.
Mido