Yuji Horii shares fresh details and insight into Tensei Game, his dice-rolling game about reincarnation

All the way back in April 2025 we learned about Tensei Game, a title from Japanese studio Any and developer ArtePiazza, and it’s set to launch in Japan sometime in Summer 2026. Tensei Game will be a sugoroku-style title, and it’s being advised by Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii and concepted by Blue Lock and As the Gods Will author Muneyuki Kaneshiro.

Tensi Game is set in “Rinnekai,” a dark fantasy world of the afterlife where players will encounter unique characters who aid in this ruin, and the title is being made with the themes of “reincarnation,” “karma,” and “fate,” in mind. Players will compete to “reincarnate” by sabotaging one another, where karma is used to obstruct and betray other players. Apparently the concept behind Tensei Game is “a game guaranteed to ruin your friendships.”

We really haven’t heard a peep about the game since its initial reveal, but today finally brings us some fresh details courtesy of an interview in Denfaminicogamer with some of the dev team. You can see a breakdown of the fresh details below.

Horii says that although Itadaki Street, another of his titles, is a board game centered on exchanging money, Tensei Game revolves around a completely different concept
gameplay involves rolling dice and progressing on a game board
players will reincarnate into all sorts of life forms, including humans of various professions, animals, and even microorganisms
Kaneshiro originally conceptualized the game as an alternative take on “The Game of Life,” but taking place after death. “
the main concept is that everyone dies, becoming something like a soul, and then fights each other to be reborn
Kaneshiro says the approach is similar to Ryunosuke Akutagawa’s short story, The Spider’s Thread
Tensei Game isn’t set in hell, but in Rinnekai, the realm of reincarnation
in Rinnekai people fall and become beings called Karmans
four players are forced into a death-game-style competition where they gather karma, with karma functioning almost like a currency
by collecting karma, the top three players get to be reborn, while the player in fourth place is doomed
you’ll need to sabotage others, form alliances, and scheme against people
Kaneshiro says you can be cruel, or you can show mercy
there will be chance cards and events that can be used to knock other players down
the game was designed with streamers in mind
it will be important to choose wisely when deciding what to reincarnate into