3 Xbox releases to watch the first week of August

The Next Week on Xbox lineup for August 3 to 7 is live. Microsoft's weekly roundup usually has a few indie ports and a backward compatibility update. This week has a much heavier hitter leading the pack.

Game Freak steps away from Pokémon to drop a post-apocalyptic action RPG directly onto Game Pass. Here are three releases worth your time this week.

3. Beast of Reincarnation

The hook: Game Freak makes a dark action RPG.

You know Game Freak for Pokémon. Now they have built a game about a blighted dog and an outcast named Emma surviving in a ruined version of Japan. The combat mixes real-time sword action with command-based dog abilities. It hits Game Pass on day one this August 3.

2. Kynseed

The hook: A life sim from former Fable developers.

Lionhead Studios veterans launched this sandbox RPG on PC a few years ago. Now it makes its console debut. The main gimmick is multigenerational aging. Your characters grow old, pass away, and hand their legacy down to the next generation. You can run a tavern, farm, or just explore the British folklore setting.

1. The Relic: First Guardian

The hook: Korean folklore meets stamina management.

Project Cloud Games spent six years building this dark fantasy adventure. It started as a solo project before expanding into a full studio release. The combat leans heavily on stamina-focused defense and gear progression. If you need a new Soulslike to punish yourself with, this is the obvious choice for the week.

August is off to a busy start. It is still strange to see a Game Freak title launch day one on a Microsoft subscription service, but it makes for a solid weekend download.