March has been one of the biggest months for gaming in recent memory, with everything from World of Warcraft: Midnight and Marathon to Slay the Spire 2 and Crimson Desert demanding attention. We’re also still completely hooked on Pokémon Pokopia, which turned out to be one of the most addictive games we’ve played in a long time. March alone could keep most gamers busy for the rest of the year, and yet, April has even more games to offer.
April is another stacked month, with something for just about everyone. There’s a highly anticipated PlayStation 5 exclusive, a long-awaited Capcom IP debut, a Vampire Survivors spinoff we’ve been eagerly anticipating, and even a couple of ports heading to new platforms. Personally, Saros is my most anticipated game of the month, and it’s not even close. I loved Returnal and can’t wait to see what Housemarque does next. I’ll also be diving into Vampire Crawlers, Pragmata, and probably Mouse: P.I. For Hire if time allows. Let’s get into it.
Starfield (PlayStation 5)
At long last, Starfield makes its way to PlayStation 5, joining the growing list of former Xbox exclusives going multi-platform. Bethesda’s space RPG originally launched in September 2023, and while it had plenty of ambition, it didn’t quite land for everyone, including me. In my Starfield review, I described the game as a “jack of all trades, ace of none” that promised a sprawling adventure but lacked truly memorable moments. That said, the game has received significant updates since launch, and the PlayStation 5 version arrives alongside the biggest free update yet, called Free Lanes, and the new Terran Armada story DLC. Free Lanes adds the ability to freely fly between planets, which was one of the most requested features from the community. If Bethesda games are your thing, now might be the best time to check out Starfield.
Starfield releases on April 7, 2026 for PlayStation 5.
Sea of Stars (Mobile)
Sea of Stars was one of my favorite games of 2023, a turn-based RPG that I described in my review as a chance for a new generation of gamers to experience a genre that defined my 1990s childhood. It’s much more than a retro-inspired RPG, offering a contemporary twist on a classic formula that draws heavy inspiration from Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG. Now it’s heading to mobile devices, which is honestly a great fit. Turn-based RPGs are some of the best games to play on the go, and Sea of Stars is one of the best in recent memory. If you somehow missed it on console or PC, this is a great way to experience it.
Sea of Stars releases on April 7, 2026 for Android and iOS.
Pokémon Champions
The Pokémon hype train keeps rolling following the massive success of Pokémon Pokopia, and Pokémon Champions is next in line. This one is a battle-focused game that utilizes the familiar mechanics fans know and love, including Pokémon types, Abilities, and moves. It’s launching on Switch and Switch 2, with a mobile version also on the way that will support cross-platform play. While it’s clearly a different experience from Pokopia’s cozy building gameplay, it’s another sign that The Pokémon Company is exploring more diverse spinoffs, and I’m here for it.
Pokémon Champions releases on April 8, 2026 for Switch and Switch 2.
Replaced
Replaced has been on our radar ever since it was first announced at E3 2021, and after multiple delays, it’s finally set to arrive. The game is a 2.5D cinematic action platformer set in a dystopian, alternate version of 1980s America. Players take on the role of R.E.A.C.H., an artificial intelligence unwillingly trapped in a human body. The art is absolutely stunning, blending retro aesthetics with modern lighting effects, and the combat promises fluid melee and ranged attacks. Development was significantly impacted by the Russo-Ukrainian War, which forced developer Sad Cat Studios to relocate from Belarus to Cyprus. It’s been a long road, but everything we’ve seen from Replaced looks promising, and there’s a demo available on Steam if you want to try before you buy.
Replaced releases on April 14, 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire
Inspired by the rubber hose animation style of 1930s cartoons, Mouse: P.I. For Hire is a first-person shooter that puts players in the shoes of Jack Pepper, a hardboiled mouse detective voiced by Troy Baker. The game blends investigative sections where you find clues and solve puzzles with combat sequences featuring a variety of guns, melee weapons, and cartoon gadgets. The art style alone makes this one worth keeping an eye on, and the gameplay looks like it has enough variety to keep things interesting. It’s one of those indie titles that could end up being a pleasant surprise if the gameplay matches the presentation.
Mouse: P.I. For Hire releases on April 16, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
If Pokémon Pokopia wasn’t enough to satisfy your cozy gaming needs, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is also arriving in April. It’s the first new entry in the Tomodachi series in over a decade, and Nintendo put together a 22-minute Direct dedicated entirely to the game. Players create Mii characters, assign them personalities, and watch as they interact on a tropical island. This time around, Nintendo has added the ability to customize the island layout, directly control interactions between Miis, and, notably, players can now create non-binary Miis and select dating preferences for their characters. Between Pokopia and Tomodachi Life, Switch owners have plenty of cozy games to sink into this spring.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream releases on April 16, 2026 for Switch.
Pragmata
Capcom has been on an absolute tear lately. Resident Evil Requiem delivered one of the best entries in the franchise, and Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection has been a great addition to the spinoff series. Now, Capcom is going for a hat trick with Pragmata, a brand-new IP that’s been in development since its initial reveal back in 2020. The game follows astronaut Hugh Williams and an artificial girl named Diana as they explore an abandoned lunar research station overrun by hostile AI. Pragmata has a heavy focus on hacking-based gameplay, which is a pretty unique approach for a big-budget action-adventure game. Based on reactions to the demo, it seems like the extra years of development have paid off. Capcom’s recent track record gives me confidence this one will deliver.
Pragmata releases on April 17, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PC.
Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors
Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors (seriously, that’s the full name of the game) was one of our most anticipated games of 2026, and it’s nearly here. We’ve spent dozens of hours in Vampire Survivors, one of the most unexpectedly addictive games of the past decade, so the idea of a dungeon-crawling roguelike deckbuilder set in the same universe has us very excited. Developed by Poncle and Nosebleed Interactive, Vampire Crawlers takes the snowballing chaos of Vampire Survivors and translates it into a turn-based, card-driven first-person experience. Players explore multi-floor dungeons, build decks, and chain card combos in ascending mana order to multiply their effects. At $9.99, this is an easy day one purchase for us.
Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors releases on April 21, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC.
Masters of Albion (Early Access)
Peter Molyneux is back with what he’s calling the culmination of his life’s work. Masters of Albion is a god game that blends elements from some of his most beloved titles, including Populous, Black and White, Dungeon Keeper, and Fable. Players take on the role of a god-like entity in a medieval fantasy version of Albion, shaping the world from above while also possessing heroes and fighting enemies directly in third-person combat. The game looks to do a lot, from town management and crafting to tower defense and exploration, and whether all those systems come together cohesively remains the big question. Molyneux’s reputation for overpromising is well documented, but the team behind Masters of Albion includes key developers from those classic titles. It’s launching in Early Access, so it’ll be a work in progress, but if you have fond memories of Molyneux’s earlier games, this one might scratch that itch.
Masters of Albion (Early Access) releases on April 22, 2026 for PC.
Kiln
I love the creativity behind Kiln, even if I have some reservations about its staying power. Developed by Double Fine Productions, Kiln is a multiplayer pottery party brawler where players sculpt ceramic vessels on a pottery wheel and then bring those creations into 4v4 arena battles. The shape and size of your pot determines your abilities and stats, which is a really clever mechanic. A flat plate acts like a ricocheting hockey puck, while a tall vase can carry more water but is top-heavy. The main mode, Quench, has teams collecting water to douse the opposing team’s kiln. It’s creative and unlike anything else out there, but at the end of the day, it’s ultimately a PvP game, and that means its longevity depends entirely on the player base sticking around. There’s an open beta on Steam from April 9 to 11, so I’d recommend trying it before committing.
Kiln releases on April 23, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred
We don’t exactly love Diablo IV, and I was pretty upfront about that in my Diablo IV review. I’ve spent thousands of hours playing Diablo games in my lifetime, but Diablo IV never captured enough of my attention to even grind to Level 100. I described the game as “death by a thousand cuts,” where countless small annoyances combined to bring down the overall experience. For every well-executed feature, there were several puzzling design choices. That said, I desperately want the franchise to succeed, and I hope each expansion brings it closer to the Diablo experience we want. Lord of Hatred is the second major expansion, and if Blizzard can address the core issues that have held the game back, there’s still time for Diablo IV to become the game it should have been at launch.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred releases on April 28, 2026 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories
For something unique this month, inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories is a narrative-driven game set in a Japanese convenience store. It’s a story-focused experience that explores the lives and stories of the people who pass through the shop, and it looks like a charming, slice-of-life title for those looking for something different. It’s not a game we know a lot about yet, but the premise is intriguing, and sometimes that’s all you need to give something a shot.
inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories releases on April 30, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2, and PC.
Invincible VS
Based on the popular animated series (and the comics it’s adapted from), Invincible VS is a 3-on-3 team fighting game that drops at the end of April. Players can expect mid-battle character switches and combo-driven gameplay featuring characters from the Invincible universe. Fighting game fans who are also fans of the show might find this one worth a look, especially if the roster and combat system have enough depth to keep things interesting beyond the initial novelty.
Invincible VS releases on April 30, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Saros
This is the one I’m most excited about. Saros is the next game from Housemarque, the studio behind Returnal, and as someone who absolutely loved Returnal, I can’t wait to get my hands on it. Saros is a third-person action roguelite where players control Devraj as he explores the constantly shifting planet Carcosa, which changes its layout every time you die. It’s building on the gameplay foundation that made Returnal so addictive, applying it to a new universe with more of a space fantasy direction while adding permanent progression. If Housemarque can improve on the already excellent gameplay loop from Returnal, Saros has the potential to be one of the most memorable games of the year. This is my most anticipated game of April, no question.
Saros releases on April 30, 2026 for PlayStation 5.
