A sequel to one of my favorite Pokemon-like creature-collecting RPGs, Cassette Beasts, has been officially confirmed, with Cassette Beasts 2002 unveiled at the PC Gaming Show.
Cassette Beasts 2002's reveal trailer showcases our first look at gameplay, including a peek at some of the new monsters we'll be able to encounter (the colorful, piñata-inspired Griffiñata is an early favorite for me), as well as some new human characters and the world itself.
As well as the lovely character portrait art, the charming 2D pixel art style returns from the first game, but world exploration looks a lot more dynamic this time around. It appears that the camera perspective is no longer locked to a top-down, overhead view, but can now follow behind the player for a more immersive experience.
And, as was the case in its predecessor, you won't just be capturing beasts – you'll also be able to fuse them to take on new forms. This was one of the major highlights of the first Cassette Beasts game, and I'm glad to see it returning here – any monster can be fused, making battles constantly varied and interesting. As someone who's played more Pokemon-like creature-collecting games than I can count, Bytten Studio's 2023 game always stands out in my memory as one of the most unique, and fusion is definitely one of the reasons why.
Personally, though, one of the things I'm most excited about in Cassette Beasts 2002 is the new music we'll be getting. As you'd hope with a game so prominently featuring, you know, cassettes, Cassette Beasts had some really catchy vocal songs, and I imagine we'll be getting plenty of fresh ones in the sequel. We can hear one in this reveal trailer, titled Ages of Change.
Cassette Beasts 2002 doesn't currently have a release date, but it'll be coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 when it does launch. It's available to wishlist now, too.
For now, you can check out our list of some of the best games like Pokemon you can play today.
