The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom finally received some extensive gameplay, and development has wrapped, which means it’s on track to launch in May. That’s roughly six weeks away, but the good news is that plenty of big games are launching in April to help pass the time. These include highly anticipated sequels, with at least one in development for nearly a decade, a new Bithell Games visual novel-style adventure, golf and various shades of cosmic horror. Let’s look at all 15 here.
Everspace 2
In early access since January 2021, Everspace 2 is finally getting its full release for PC. Taking an open-world space combat approach compared to the original, it sees protagonist Adam Roslin returning to explore Cluster 34. It can get pretty chaotic due to rival factions and gangs, and new high-risk, high-reward areas encourage more dangerous tasks for that sweet loot.
Everspace 2 was already pretty big when early access began, but it’s grown significantly with new ships, loot, systems, missions, activities and story missions. More enemies, bosses, equipment, customisation, and the final star system, Khione, are also coming. Story-focused players dabbling in the side quests will take roughly 30 hours, but if you explore everywhere, rack up reputation bonuses and do everything, that’s about 90 hours of gameplay to look forward to. With how well received the early access version has been, we can’t wait to see how the full release performs.
EA Sports PGA Tour
Suffering a slight delay for the sake of polish, EA Sports PGA Tour is out on April 7th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. Offering 30 courses and playable golfers like Im Sung-jae, Cameron Champ and Lexi Thompson, there are 20 shot types to master, backed by features like Pure Strike, with golf swings mirroring real life. Course Dynamics ensure various environmental factors influence ball behavior and that no two courses are the same.
This is all in addition to the Career Mode, where you create a character and work up to the pro level. Will it be enough to counter the addition of John Cena to rival PGA Tour 2K23? Time will tell, but as the first PGA Tour game from EA Sports since 2015, it has much to live up to.
Minecraft Legends
What if you took Minecraft’s crafting, world design and memorable mobs, fused them with action strategy gameplay and added a story about world-ending threats? That’s Minecraft Legends, developed by Mojang and Blackbird Interactive of Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak fame. As the hero, players explore the Overworld and rally other mobs like zombies, wolves, Creepers and whatnot to fight for them against the Nether’s piglins.
Along with running around and fighting, you can issue commands to your units to attack, build structures and much more. The aesthetic and unique mob designs will appeal to long-time fans, and there looks to be a strong amount of replay value thanks to co-op and competitive multiplayer. Minecraft Legends arrives on April 18th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC, and will also be playable on day one on Game Pass.
Dead Island 2
Dead Island 2 releases on April 21st for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC, something we wouldn’t have believed a year ago. Stuck in development hell for the better part of its lifespan, the first-person action RPG focuses on six Slayers struggling to survive and escape from post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. There are famous landmarks to visit and hordes of zombies to fight, but you can craft and modify weapons to gain an edge.
What sets the sequel apart is the lack of an open world, the new Skill Deck for customizing and swapping out different builds on the fly, and the new FLESH System. Now you can slaughter zombies in ways that look and feel natural, whether it’s breaking jaws or melting skin. Even with a 20-hour or so playtime, three-player co-op, collectibles, and side quests provide enough incentive to return.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
A lot has changed in the five years for Cal Kestis. Now a full-fledged Jedi Knight, he’s fighting against the Empire at every turn with little hope of winning. However, things are taking a turn as a mysterious new Jedi emerges, an Imperial Senator seeks a “dangerous deal,” and new allies emerge. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a bigger game than Fallen Order in almost every way.
New enemies are available, from Separatist Droids to massive creatures. Five Lightsaber Stances with new abilities and new Force Powers are also available. If you enjoyed the first game even a bit, then Star Wars Jedi: Survivor should be on your radar when it releases on April 28th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.
Road 96: Mile 0
Some will probably remember Road 96 as a procedurally generated adventure game with alternating routes against the backdrop of unrest in Petria. Road 96: Mile 0 is a prequel that takes a more hand-crafted narrative approach, focusing on the relationship between Zoe and Kaito. Alternating back and forth between the two, players learn how they met, and their vastly different circumstances as Petria’s more harrowing side is revealed.
The biggest new feature is the musical segments, as we explore the inner worlds of both characters, dodging obstacles and traveling down a surreal path while making choices. Road 96: Mile 0 is out on April 4th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened
A remake of Frogwares’ 2007 adventure game, Sherlock Holmes The Awakened sees the famed detective and his cohort John Watson versus the Cthulhu Mythos. While investigating mysterious disappearances, the duo will venture to locations like Switzerland, the wetlands of Louisiana and much more to discover the truth. The visuals and animations are vastly improved thanks to Unreal Engine, and there are new side missions, storyline content and much more to experience.
However, the most intriguing aspect will be how Sherlock’s sanity is affected by the events and the impact on investigations as the storyline proceeds. We’ll find out when Sherlock Holmes The Awakened arrives on April 11th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores
Like Horizon Zero Dawn and The Frozen Wilds, Forbidden West is getting a paid expansion with Burning Shores. It takes place in an archipelago formed in the ruins of Los Angeles, where volcanic eruptions and tremors are commonplace. Aloy must investigate a new threat, with trailers confirming an encounter with an awakened Metal Devil.
Almost no gameplay has been showcased for the $20 expansion, which is out exclusively for PS5 on April 19th (due to the PS4 being unable to handle it). However, Guerrilla Games has promised new stories, characters and Machines to fight along with “highly detailed” environments. You’ll need to finish the base game’s story first, so get that out of the way before jumping in.
Stray Blade
505 Games’ Stray Blade doesn’t have tons of hype behind it, which is crazy given how smooth the combat and art-style look. The action-adventure game is set in Acrea, the Lost Valley, and how you find it, die and are somehow resurrected. Now trapped, you must explore the region and overcome powerful enemies while learning more about its mysteries.
By honing skills, unlocking new talents and gaining abilities from the entities that ruled Acrea, players can expand their combat options. Of course, you’ll discover new weapons, materials and recipes while exploring, as your choices can affect the world. Stray Blade arrives on April 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.
Bramble: The Mountain King
Inspired by Nordic folklore and fables, Bramble: The Mountain King is about Olle, who embarks on a quest to save his sister. The task is easier said than done as various entities roam the land, many hostile and larger than Olle. A special fragment called the Spark of Courage can help even the odds, but “courage without kindness” is implied to lead to a “dark path.” Bramble: The Mountain King is out on April 27th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection
Fans of the underrated Mega Man Battle Network series – the time has finally come, as it gets the Legacy Collection treatment. Releasing on April 14th for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection consists of two volumes. The first contains Mega Man Battle Network 1, 2 and 3 (with Blue and White being separate versions). The second offers Mega Man Battle Network 4 Red Sun and Blue Moon, Mega Man Battle Network 5 Team Protoman and Team Colonel, and Mega Man Battle Network 6 Cybeast Gregar and Cybeast Falzar.
You can pick up both volumes as part of a package deal, but that’s not all. It also includes all 499 patch cards previously exclusive to Japan, 15 chips available from events, an art gallery with over 1000 items to view, 188 songs from the series to listen to in the music player, and even a 3D MegaMan for menu navigation. That’s not including online NetBattles and Trade, a High-Resolution Filter, and Buster Max Mode, which increases the power of Buster Shots.
The Last Case of Benedict Fox
If you’re interested in a different kind of Lovecraftian mystery, The Last Case of Benedict Fox may be worth checking out. The Metroidvania title sees detective Benedict Fox and his demon companion venturing into a mansion to investigate a couple’s murder and the fate of their missing child. Fox can venture into the minds of the deceased, exploring vivid areas formed by memories and emotions, to obtain testimonies.
However, the mansion also has its share of secrets to uncover. As you explore areas, there will be plenty of monsters, human and non-human, to fight with firearms, melee weapons and demonic powers. With a gorgeous art style and accompanying jazz score, The Last Case of Benedict Fox looks to be an intriguingly dark adventure. It’s out on April 27th for PC and Xbox Series X/S, along with Game Pass.
TRON: Identity
Bithell Games’ latest visual novel-style narrative adventure is set in the TRON universe, more specifically in a brand new Grid where a strange crime has occurred. Something has been taken, and as a detective program Query, it’s your job to find out who’s responsible. Speak to different programs to learn more about them, defrag Identity Discs to complete puzzles and learn the truth, and make decisions that could lead to various endings. Who you choose to doubt, trust or derezz is all up to you when TRON: Identity launches on April 11th for PC and Nintendo Switch.
Ghostwire: Tokyo (Xbox Series X/S)
Tango Gameworks has found success with Hi-Fi Rush on Xbox Series X/S, and on April 12th, it brings first-person action-adventure Ghostwire: Tokyo to the platform. Also available for Game Pass at launch, it’s set in Tokyo, which has undergone a supernatural transformation rendering most of its population into Spirits. As Akito, possessed by the spirit K.K., players must take down the hostile Visitors and stop the mysterious Hanya.
A new big update, The Spider’s Thread, is out on the same day for all platforms. It adds a new rogue-lite mode, tasking players with fighting through a 30-stage gauntlet. There are also new areas, quests and story scenes, along with new Visitors to battle and new skills, like dodging and Charged Strike.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
As someone with a love-hate relationship with Monster Hunter, Sunbreak is essential for any fan of Monster Hunter Rise. It’s out on April 28th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5, and features tons of new content, as players venture to a new region and Elgado Outpost to investigate The Three Lords.
The expansion introduces Master Rank Quests, providing even tougher challenges and rewards like higher rarity armor and stronger skills. Along with brand new monsters like Malzeno, an Elder Dragon, there are returning monsters from previous games like Espinas, Seregios, Astalos, Gore Magala and Shagaru Magala. New Follower quests allow solo hunters to battle alongside NPCs and unlock some cool armor and weapons.
More than anything, the end-game is significantly expanded thanks to Anomaly Investigations. Add the extensive post-launch support, including the addition of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne’s Velkhana, and there’s more than enough to keep Xbox and PlayStation players happy (or raging) until the next Title Update.
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