Whether you believe that spring truly begins at the start of March or towards its end, one thing’s for certain: spring is well and truly underway when April rolls around.
Traditionally speaking, spring can be either an excellent time for game releases or a wasteland, depending on developers’ plans. April usually isn’t the fullest month for new games, but 2024 still has plenty to offer the discerning gamer.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best games heading your way in April 2024 across PC and all major mainstream consoles.
Children of the Sun (April 9th – PC)
- Game rating: Teen
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Indie
Leave it to publisher Devolver Digital to co-sign a game with an utterly unique premise that’s also incredibly violent in a very stylish way.
In Children of the Sun, you play as – wait for it – a bullet. That’s right; you’re not the shooter, or even the gun itself – rather, you are the bullet, and you must ensure that each of your targets falls prey to your wrath.
Levels are designed to be replayed, encouraging creativity, and there’s a narrative to uncover as well, although if you just want to pop some skulls, we won’t judge you.
Grounded (April 16th – PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)
- Game rating: Teen (ESRB rating includes Blood, Violence, Language)
- Genre: Action, Adventure
Obsidian Entertainment’s survival game has been playable on Xbox consoles and PC for some time, but it’s a notable April release because it’s one of the first wave of Xbox games to be let out of the exclusivity pen.
Shrunk down to miniature size, you must contend with giant insects, explore your backyard, and find a way to survive in this newly hostile and threatening environment.
While Grounded is enjoyable enough in single-player mode, it comes alive when you recruit some friends to enjoy the experience with you, so try to convince some of your pals to play if you can.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (April 23rd – PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)
- Genre: JRPG, including elements of Action, Adventure, Indie, RPG, and Strategy
The untimely death of Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama in February makes this recommendation an extra-poignant one.
If you’ve played the Suikoden games, you’ll know how special they are, and Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes promises to carry on their legacy of turn-based JRPG combat, diverse character recruitment, and political intrigue.
It’s a terrible shame that Murayama won’t be around to see his creation come to fruition, but if you have even a passing interest in JRPGs, put this one at the top of your list. It’s what he would have wanted.
Tales of Kenzera: Zau (April 23rd – PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch)
- Game rating: Everyone 10+
- Genre: Metroidvania, including elements of Action, Adventure, and Indie
Inspired by the stories of the African Bantu peoples, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is a rather gorgeous-looking Metroidvania being released under the EA Originals label, which also boasts games like It Takes Two and Lost in Random.
You’ll know what you’re in for if you’ve played other Metroidvania platformers; unlocking traversal abilities as you explore a sprawling map, defeating enemies in “rhythmic combat”, and uncovering the game’s “poignant” story are all on the menu.
If you love platformers like Outland, Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, or Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, then this one looks like it will have plenty to offer you as well.
Megaton Musashi: Wired (April 25th – PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)
- Genre: Action RPG
This mecha action-RPG comes to us from venerated developer Level-5, so if you’ve played previous games by the studio, you’ll know roughly what to expect in terms of polish and execution.
The game takes place in yet another post-apocalyptic world, and this time, the obliteration dice landed on “aliens” again, so a massive alien force has decimated the human population.
You must pilot a giant robot in order to rid the world of the alien menace and restore things back to the way they were. Honestly, we’re just excited for the chance to pilot a giant robot.
SaGa: Emerald Beyond (April 25th – PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch)
- Genre: Role-playing
The latest game in the long-running SaGa series is set to launch across PC, PlayStation, and Switch on April 25th, and it feels like it’s been a long time coming.
It’ll feature a challenging combat system that will task you with finding the best combos and synergies for each situation, so if you love classic JRPG combat, this is definitely a game you’ll want to pick up.
You’ll also be able to uncover a story that flits between several different characters, and you can choose which of those characters you want to focus on for maximum narrative impact.
Sand Land (April 26th – PC, PlayStation, Xbox)
- An action RPG video game
Another tragic death in the world of Japanese creativity, Akira Toriyama sadly left us in March, and Sand Land represents just one of the games in which he had a hand.
Toriyama’s work is also visible in games like Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, and underrated Xbox 360 JRPG Blue Dragon. His is a distinctive style bursting with character and life, and Sand Land encapsulates it beautifully.
This action RPG will let you explore a massive desert world teeming with fun characters to meet, enemies to fight, and loot to collect, as well as a variety of vehicles with which to tear it up.
Stellar Blade (April 26th – PlayStation 5)
- Genre: Action-adventure, Hack and Slash
From the creators of mobile RPG Goddess of Victory: Nikke comes this hack-and-slash PS5 action game, set on an Earth overtaken by aliens.
Combat will consist of skilful parries, dodges, and ripostes, and you’ll be able to explore post-apocalyptic landscapes offering lots of opportunities to wander off the beaten path.
Admittedly, Stellar Blade does look like it’s focusing on the physical attributes of its female main character a little too much, but hopefully, the solid-looking gameplay should make up for that slightly icky feeling.
Manor Lords (April 26th – PC)
- Genre: Simulation, Strategy
After a long time in development, Slavic Magic and Hooded Horse’s Manor Lords is finally (well, very nearly) ready to be released…in Early Access.
The game will cast you as a mediaeval lord overseeing an entire village. It’s up to you to grow your village’s economy, tend to the needs of its citizens, and conquer nearby lands for more resources and space.
Since Manor Lords will be an Early Access release, don’t expect anything too mindblowing early on, but hopefully, with time, love, and a lot of updates, this will grow into something truly special.
