Viewfinder 

Viewfinder comes from the masterminds at Sad Owl Studios, and it’s a puzzler with a very unique premise. The game allows you to take pictures and place the polaroids anywhere in the level, which magically meshes up with the level to open up new paths. Viewfinder does a great job of taking that core concept and exploring a vast number of possibilities with its set of puzzles, and while the story could have been better in a few aspects – Viewfinder is definitely worth your time. 

Aragami 2

The original Aragami was a surprisingly solid stealth game in a market mostly devoid of such releases, and 2021’s Aragami 2 excellently builds on those foundations to create a sequel that’s both larger and better in more aspects than one. Aragami 2 allows you to take enemies head-on with a brand new combat system, mission objectives are more varied than before, and you can also tackle the many missions with friends thanks to support for co-op – making it a dream come true for stealth game fans.

TORMENTED SOULS

For fans of classic survival horror games, Tormented Souls is almost a must-play experience. While the genre is thriving right now, Tormented Souls is one of few games that delivers that classic fixed camera experience that old-school Resident Evil and Silent Hill games used to be known for, and it does it to great effect. It’s a little rough around the edges, admittedly, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons here.

For the sports enthusiasts out there, MLB The Show 22 and Cricket 22 are both available on Game Pass for console and cloud starting today. Starting April 7, cloud users will be able to play Dragon Age 2, Star Wars Squadrons, and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare via EA Play. The same day will also see the launch of Chinatown Detective Agency, a cybernoir point and click adventure, for Game Pass on console, PC, and cloud.

April 12 is also going to see some activity, with the addition of Life is Strange: True Colors (console, cloud, and PC), strategy title Panzer Corps 2 (PC only), and tactical RPG The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk (already available on console and cloud, coming to PC).

Finally, on April 14, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will get access to Lost in Random on PC, cloud, and console via EA Play.

Original Story:

Microsoft has yet to announce the latest titles coming to Xbox Game Pass this month. However, noted Game Pass and PlayStation Plus leaker BillBill-Kun has revealed the first wave of titles on Dealabs (translation via DeepL) and they’re fairly impressive. Deck Nine’s Life is Strange: True Colors is reportedly coming and will be available for cloud, consoles and PC.

Zoink’s Lost in Random is also apparently coming to the service via cloud and console along with releasing on PC via EA Play. Previously confirmed Game Pass titles for the month include MLB The Show 22, which is out today for consoles and cloud, and Chinatown Detective Agency, which releases on April 7th for cloud, consoles and PC. Cricket 22 will reportedly join PC Game Pass starting today while Panzer Corps 2 is seemingly coming at a later date.

Existing titles on the service are also apparently coming to other platforms like The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos being available on PC Game Pass. Star Wars Squadrons, Dragon Age 2 and Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare will also be available to play via the cloud. Take things with a grain of salt as usual but an official announcement should be coming soon.

These will likely be free for all players, though how they’ll be unlocked (and whether any emotes are included) remains to be seen. Stay tuned for more details when the update drops this Friday. Published by Electronic Arts, Lost in Random released in September 2021 for Xbox and PlayStation platforms along with Nintendo Switch and PC. You can check out our official review here.

As for Sackboy: A Big Adventure, it’s been available since November 2020 for PS4 and PS5. It stars LittleBigPlanet’s Sackboy on a platforming quest to the people of Loom from the big, bad Vex. Along with co-op for up to four players, it also supports cross-gen online play. For more details, read our review here.

https://twitter.com/PlayStation/status/1510988057536778240

Despite randomness being at the center of this world there is actually a very strict order that everyone must adhere to that divides everyone up into classes that live in different districts based on the numbers 1 through 6. The focus of the story are two sisters; Even and Odd. As they learn, an official roll of a die can completely change the trajectory of your life, which is exactly what happens to Odd, Even’s sister. Who Even then spends the game trying to rescue, working her way up from the town of “oners” all the way up to the bourgeois “sixers”, which is of course where Odd was taken after rolling a six with the queen. This unfolds in a rather well-done opening cutscene that sets everything up perfectly. It’s a story that’s easy and fun to get behind, just as Even and her new friend Dicey are great protagonists to root for.

The game shines brightest when it’s focusing on those elements, with a plethora of well-written and voiced dialogue trees that Even can engage in throughout the adventure with a sizable cast of fittingly bizarre characters. Throughout my entire playtime I was consistently intrigued by the folks Even came across, and the wonderfully strange world they inhabit, and I couldn’t get enough of its winding sidewalks, twisted structures, and preposterous characters. The game’s many linear alleyways and Victorian streets do blend together a bit much and dabble in same-yness from time to time, and I’ll admit I got lost a couple of times because of how similar some areas tended to look, but thanks to the generally linear layout and Dicey occasionally signaling where to go, those moments were rare and short-lived. The music of course follows suit with the visuals with a score straight out of MediEvil. I can confidently say fans of this general aesthetic will be particularly pleased with the overall vibe of Lost in Random.

"Lost in Random still delivers a fascinating tale in a bewitching world that shouldn’t be missed by fans of such things."

The two main hemispheres of Lost in Random‘s gameplay are running around and talking to different characters and fighting the many evil minions that stand in Even’s way. The former is where most of the story develops, important items are exchanged, and where I consider the game to be at its most engaging. Not every character or joke totally landed with me but the quality of the voice acting, character design, and writing here is a real treat, and I was always excited to see what weirdo awaited Even around the next cobblestone corner. Even the narrator has a personality to him that you’ll notice more and more as he gets flustered when you don’t do what he says, or when you die and he excuses it by proclaiming it just didn’t happen. The dialogue trees aren’t always superficial ones either. Depending on what you say, you can bypass entire side quests and reap rewards early, or miss entire opportunities as well. Not quite enough to warrant replays on their own perhaps, but still a nice wrinkle in the dialogue sections that help keep you that much more engaged. My one gripe is that the vast majority of in-game lip syncing is woefully off, an oversight that is spotlighted intensely with such expressive characters. A small blemish though, considering this otherwise extremely well-realized series of characters and conversations.

The latter mentioned combat of the game doesn’t fare quite as well, but still has some notable things going for it. Firstly, Even doesn’t really have anything other than her slingshot. While this can’t do damage to enemies on its own, it can slowly chip away at enemies and score you crystals. Dicey picks the crystals up, and the more you have the more cards get drawn to your hand. Each card represents an item you could have a chance at getting depending on how you roll Dicey. Ideally, you want to wait for a full hand to roll to have the best chance of getting as many useful items as possible, but you can roll as soon as you get a card if it’s something you really want. The higher number you roll, the more options you have for cards to activate.

Cards can be anything from weapons to health, shields, and battle modifiers like slowing down time. All of these options do add a sense of depth to the combat, but given that your selection is quite limited by Dicey only being able to roll very low numbers for the first several hours of the game, it can make this system feel like more of an acquired taste than it actually is. It’s really rather inventive in that it gives you familiar options to choose from every time, but never feels predictable either, given the inherent randomness of each roll. So while you generally always have a good shot at an item you want, especially after customizing your deck, you will still be forced to improvise with bad hands from time to time. It’s just a shame that Dicey’s initial limitations hold the variety of the entire system back for such a large portion of the game.

"In some ways, developer Zoink have outdone themselves and successfully punched above their weight here."

It also doesn’t help that actually using these items in combat can be a bit clunky and frustrating at times, especially when the camera is getting caught on some of the world’s many uneven surfaces and environmental objects. As you might imagine, melee attacks, bombs, and projectiles suffer the most from this. What’s more, the general combat loop of cracking away at crystals, rolling dicey, then using an item or two until they’re gone and repeating, goes on a bit too long in my opinion and the novelty of it tends to wane before most fights are over. It stops short of every feeling totally arduous, but some tedium does creep into the longer fights. This is helped a bit later on in the game when you have access to more cards and items, but not much. Granted, it’s clearly not a combat system that is designed to provide the instant gratification that more typical action games go for, and as such, it should be approached by patient players that don’t mind something a little slower and – at times – repetitive. But even with that in mind, I couldn’t help but feel like many of the longer combat segments, that send multiple waves of the same few enemy types your way, tended to drag long before they were over. I will say that time stopping while you roll and being able to send Dicey to out of reach areas to pick up crystals are a couple of well-conceived touches that do help everything go down a bit smoother.

Lost in Random’s visual aesthetic might lure some into thinking that they’re in for an action-heavy experience similar to MediEvil or Alice: Madness Returns, but it actually ends up being a fairly even split between slowly exploring and taking in that entrancing world – and a purposefully unique combat system that leans more into its novelties than the basic fundamentals. There’s nothing inherently wrong with any of that, but the fact that there’s not quite enough variety or refinement to fully do justice to the game’s many wonderful ideas is a bit of a letdown – despite it making up for some of that as the game progresses. In some ways, developer Zoink have outdone themselves and successfully punched above their weight here, especially considering their previous games Fe and Ghost Giant are much smaller and simpler games. It’s nice to see them roll some dice of their own on such fascinating ideas and see them come together this well. While it might struggle to fully realize its own vision in some ways, the overall experience still manages to instill a sense of wonder and beguilement that sticks with you long after you’ve put the controller down.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

As the follow-up to Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Wrath of the Righteous promises much higher stakes as the player ventures to the Worldwound to fight off hordes of demons arriving through the rift. Along with leading an army to battle with new tactical options, there are 10 unique companions that will fight alongside you. This is on top of 25 classes, 12 races and tons of different abilities and customization options that the classic Pathfinder combat that fans know and love (this time with a turn-based option at launch). Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous releases on September 2^nd for PC.

WRC 10

Despite Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown being a year away, Nacon has WRC 10 releasing on September 2^nd worldwide (September 7^th for North America). Along with the Croatia Rally and Rally de Catalunya, the sequel will feature numerous historical cars like the Audi Quattro and Lancia Delta Group A to celebrate the World Rally Championship’s 50^th anniversary. Considering the jump in quality that last year’s iteration offered, it may be worth checking out WRC 10 when it releases for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5 in the coming days.

F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch

Set in Torch City following the Machine Legion’s invasion several years ago, players control Rayton, a former soldier trying to rescue his friend. At his disposal are a mechanical Power Fist, Whip and Drill which can be used to pull off some crazy combos. With a grungy but beautiful aesthetic and tons of areas to explore, F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch should be worth checking out for genre fans when it releases on September 7^th for PS4, PS5 and PC.

Sonic Colors: Ultimate

It’s not everyday that a good Sonic game gets a remastered re-release but 2010’s Sonic Colors is thankfully getting another opportunity to shine. The Ultimate version is out on September 7^th for Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC and PS4, and sees Sonic and Tails traveling to Doctor Eggman’s Incredible Interstellar Amusement Park to rescue the mysterious Wisps. Along with offering a mix of 2.5D side-scrolling and fast-paced 3D platforming, various mechanics like Boost and drifting are available. On top of this, Sonic can use eight different abilities from the Wisps, like drilling through the ground and transforming into a laser. In terms of improvements, expect a higher frame rate and resolution, the Jade Ghost Wisp, a re-recorded OST and Rival Rush for racing against Metal Sonic

The Artful Escape

First showcased in March 2017, The Artful Escape is finally nearing release after seeing numerous delays throughout the years. The musical platforming adventure sees one Francis Vendetti set to make his debut under the shadow of his legendary uncle and thus struggling to find his own identity. Thus does he embark on a psychedelic new journey through various musical landscapes, using his guitar to platform and battle foes. With a gorgeous art-style and sound-tracked effused with epic themes, The Artful Escape could end up being an underrated classic when it launches on September 9^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC and iOS.

Life is Strange: True Colors

Life is Strange returns and this time, empathy is your superpower. It’s a little more complicated than that for True Colors’ protagonist Alex Chen who reunites with her brother Gabe in Haven Springs. The scenic beauty and spirit of the community is ultimately unsettled when Gabe passes away from an accident. With the ability to read people’s emotions as different colors, Alex goes about investigating his death. Life is Strange: True Colors is a full release instead of being broken into episodes and is out on September 10^th for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC and Google Stadia.

Lost in Random

Lost in Random appears, at first, to be an action adventure title with a Tim Burton-esque aesthetic, centering on Even as she explores the Kingdom of Random to save her sister Odd. However, everything in Random is determined by games and Even must take part in game board-style battles to prevail. She’ll have Dicey on hand to help though – attacking enemies will power its abilities and unleash unique cards, whether it’s explosives or barriers. Out on September 10^th, Lost in Random will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

NBA 2K22

Another year, another NBA 2K title and while I’m personally not a fan of the series microtransaction-laden gameplay, there is quite a bit that’s new in NBA 2K22. Gameplay-wise, precision jump shots, blocking and more are being changed; MyNBA returns with its customizable features (only on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 though) while MyWBNA is being introduced; and MyCareer’s The City is even larger while Hidden Talents provides alternate ventures like fashion and hip-hop. PS4, Xbox One, Switch and PC players aren’t being swept aside entirely either thanks to the addition of the 2K Cruise, which offers unique Excursions and events in various locations. NBA 2K22 launches on September 10^th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch so we won’t have to wait long to see how much it improves.

Tales of Arise

The Tales series returns with its biggest, most epic title to date in Tales of Arise. The story sees the denizens of Rena subjugating Dahna, enslaving its people and exploiting their resources. As Alphen, a Dahnan man without any memories, players team up with Shionne of Rena and embark on a journey to free the oppressed. Along with meeting other party members and traveling the world, players will utilize new skills like Boost Strike and Counter Edge in the revamped combat system. Activities like fishing, farming and more are also available along with the return of skits. Tales of Arise releases on September 10^th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PC and PS5, and promises to be about as long as Tales of Berseria (which is a good thing).

Deathloop

Ever get that feeling of deja vu? For hitman Colt Vahn, it only felt like yesterday when he arrived on Blackreef to take out the Visionaries, a mysterious group harnessing the island’s technology to party eternally. It’s up to Colt to kill all of his targets before midnight, utilizing a mix of stealth, abilities and firearms before the loop resets. In the midst of all of this is agent Julianna, either controlled by AI or another player, who seeks to protect the loop (and mess with Colt as much as possible). With Arkane’s unique brand of sandbox gameplay and a rocking aesthetic, Deathloop promises to be a fun spin on the roguelite genre when it releases on September 14^th for PS5 and PC.

Aragami 2

Much like the original, stealth and shadow control are key in Lince Works’ Aragami 2. This time around though, players have more freedom and opportunities to sneak around the world, playing alone or in three-person squads in co-op. A variety of powers and abilities are available while combat has been improved to be more skill-focused (though it’s still inherently riskier than stealth). Extensive customization, improved visuals and a more effective story should make Aragami 2 a cut above its predecessor when it releases on September 17^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits

Numerous delays haven’t dulled the beauty of Ember Lab’s upcoming action adventure title and it’s finally releasing on September 21^st for PS4, PS5 and PC. Kena: Bridge of Spirits follows spirit guide Kena as she travels to a decrepit village and looks to ferry the spirits of its deceased to the afterlife. Along the way, Kena will meet small spirits called the Rot who will help solve puzzles and fight off enemies. With a soothing animated aesthetic and solid gameplay, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is looking very appealing.

Lake

Lake, an indie adventure from developer Gamious, looks to take players on a more grounded kind of escape when it releases on September 1^st. As Meredith Weiss, you venture to Providence Oaks in Oregon for two weeks, taking a sabbatical from your old software development job to deliver the mail. Talk to and hang out with the different residents, or simply stay at home to read; experience branching storylines and ultimately determine your path in life. If a chill adventure game sounds good to you, then Lake may be worth checking out when it comes to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One and PC.

Diablo 2: Resurrected

After the failure of Warcraft 3: Reforged (not to mention tons of controversy at Activision-Blizzard), Diablo 2 is next in line to be remastered. The visuals have been improved tremendously while still keeping true to the original’s aesthetic as players explore Sanctuary as one of seven classes to defeat the forces of evil. Support for 4K resolution, cross-progression and quality of life features like auto pick-up for gold and Shared Stash tabs make this a lot more inviting for today’s players but it’s still the classic action RPG that fans grew up with. Diablo 2: Resurrected releases on September 23^rd for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Sable

Another interesting title in the “chill adventure” genre is Shedworks’ Sable, which releases on September 23^rd for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Boasting gorgeous visuals, the story centers on Sable as she ventures out into the world to find a mask and complete her clan’s rite of passage. She’ll traverse dunes on her customizable hoverbike, investigate strange ruins and ultimately learn more about the mysterious world while forging her own path.

Death Stranding Director’s Cut

The journey of Sam and B.B. came to a relatively satisfying conclusion when Death Stranding released last year. However, the Director’s Cut – which launches on September 24^th for PS5 – proves that there’s still room for improvement. It adds numerous new tools, like a Buddy Bot that can carry Sam and thrusters for safe landings when jumping from high places; the new Fragile Circuit for races, complete with time trials and leaderboards; a new Firing Range with practice and Ranked Drills; replays for boss fights; and some new story content that promises more stealth-based action. This is in addition to new graphics modes like upscaled 4K/60 FPS and native 4K, support for the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers and an option for PS4 players to upgrade to the Director’s Cut Digital Deluxe Edition on PS5 for just $10.

Lost Judgment

What defines justice? Former lawyer turned private detective Takayuki Yagami seeks to answer this while delving into a strange murder. Lost Judgment sees players venturing to Isezaki Ijincho to go undercover in a school and while there are activities like dancing, drone combat and boxing, themes of bullying and abuse also come to light. Overall, the sequel improves on pretty much every aspect of the original, adding a new combat Style, parkour for platforming, more in-depth stealth mechanics, better chase sequences and much more. It arrives on September 24^th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and Xbox One.

New World

Even with so many delays over the years – including a recent one from August to September – enthusiasm for Amazon’s New World is still strong. The MMO takes a somewhat different direction from its competition, focusing on the interactions between the three factions on Aeternum Island. Though the island has its own unique mysteries and PvE content, players will spend time creating settlements, battling those from other factions and establishing their own foothold. It’s out on September 28^th for PC with a beta on September 9^th but whether it can maintain its momentum after launch remains to be seen.

Hot Wheels Unleashed

Milestone’s Hot Wheels Unleashed may not be the most realistic-looking racer but it is looking to be the best possible Hot Wheels title ever made. With over 60 cars, from real-world vehicles to fantasy offerings like the Batmobile and Knight Rider, it offers a variety of twisting, turning tracks set in real-world environments. Players can also partake in the track builder and create their own unique courses, or go on online to challenge players (though offline split-screen is also available). Hot Wheels Unleashed arrives on September 27^th for Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Xuan Yuan Sword 7

Released last October for PC, Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is coming to PS4 in September and offers hack and slash RPG action with the backdrop of Chinese mythology as Taishi Zao battles monsters and  seeks to unravel the mystery behind a strange bamboo slip. Along with creating unique techniques, players can improve their armor and weapons while leveraging the fast-paced combat to dominate foes. As a somewhat off-beat option, it may be worth checking out when it releases on September 31^st.

As players engage in Dice Battles, protagonist Even can attack enemies to gather Energy Cubes. Once enough have been gathered, they can charge Dicey and roll him to unleash powerful skills. These include freezing time, a ticking time bomb (that can also hurt Even if you’re not careful), summoning a giant hammer, Uma’s Blessing for a bubble shield to block damage, curses and much more.

There are six realms to explore in the Kingdom of Random en route to saving Even’s sister Odd with dialogue choices popping up when interacting with different characters. Lost in Random is out on September 10th for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch with pre-orders currently in live. Stay tuned for more details in the meantime.

And what about the main show itself? EA confirms that Battlefield 2042, Lost in Random, and Apex Legends are going to be featured, as well as “a couple other games to highlight.” It’s been previously confirmed that Battlefield 2042’s DICE LA-developed multiplayer experience is going to be unveiled at EA Play Live, with reports suggesting that the mode, allegedly called “Battlefield Hub”, will remake and bring back classic series maps and weapons.

Rumours of late have also been strongly suggesting that a Dead Space remake developed by EA Motive is going to be unveiled at the show. As for games that won’t be there, BioWare has confirmed that it’ll have nothing to show for the next Dragon Age or Mass Effect games.