An image depicting game art from Darwin's Paradox, Pragmata and Outbound.

Monthly Games Guide: April 2026

2026 has been a powerhouse of incredible game releases. If you were hoping April would slow down to let your wallets and back logs breathe, I have bad news for you. April is jam packed. If you love gaming, I dare you to pick only one from the list below.

Darwin’s Paradox

Darwin, an adorable octopus, finds himself ripped from his home. Waking up in an industrial complex surrounded by machines, tanks, and dangerous creatures, he longs to go back home. Players will find this clever character has an array of skills from to traverse his scary new environment on his quest back home. Darwin’s Paradox is a puzzle-platformer packed with adventure. If you’d like to unlock some fun skins, preorder here and help Darwin get home.

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox X|S, Switch
Release Date: April 2

Starfield

The incredible RPG from Bethesda Studios is finally coming to PlayStation! Heed your call to space by diving into the standard edition, priced at $49, or the premium, which offers skins, DLC, and more for $69. Create your character and join fellow space explorers as you go forth into the Sol System collecting mysterious artifacts. Exploration and a myriad of quests and side-quests wait amongst the stars. Enjoy an open-world environment by the same studio that brought you Skyrim and Fallout.

Platforms: PS5
Release Date: April 7

Pokemon Champions

Pokemon Champions is a battle-focused game that may remind older players of Pokemon Stadium. Build your roster, either through Pokemon HOME or from in-game collection. Battle using your knowledge of strengths and weaknesses in ranked, casual, and private matches. Wins accumulate Victory Points, currency that can only be earned and not bought, which is required to recruit and train Pokemon. Pokemon Champions also features a battle pass system, using season points to unlock cosmetics and more. Seasonal resets impact both season points and battle pass progression. And for those who want the ultimate experience, there is a premium battle pass that can be purchased.

Platforms: Switch, Mobile
Release Date: April 8

REPLACED

Jump into the visually stunning tale of REPLACED. Set in an alternate 1980s America rocked by nuclear calamity met R.E.A.C.H, the titular character that is an AI trapped in a human body. Players can expect a dystopian narrative, complex characters, intense combat, and a beautiful but plagued world. REPLACED is a 2.5D cinematic action platformer that stands out with its pixel art and an incredible moody soundtrack to match.

Platforms: Steam, Xbox One, Xbox X|S
Release Date: April 14

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

Miis populate this game where your only true limitation is your imagination. Create a world of characters based on family, friends, and more to live on your island. Get to know your Miis and watch them interact, build relationships, and more. Each Mii has their own distinct personality that dictates their likes, dislikes, and happiness levels that must be monitored. As your island expands, you can design and decorate homes, shops, restaurants, and events for Miis to explore and live their lives.

Platforms: Switch
Release Date: April 16

Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Physical Switch 2 Edition

For gamers who value a physical collection, this one may be for you. Enjoy smooth framerates and 4K resolution, when in TV mode, in this updated open-world RPG. Crash landing on Mira, you as a member of BLADE must fight to bring humanity from the brink of extinction. Calling on the help of giant robots called Skells, players will eventually earn their very own Skell to personalize. With three weight classes and a multitude of weapon attachments, the freedom is there to find your fighting style and competitive edge. Several retailers are carrying the physical edition with an upgrade pack available for Switch owners here.

Platforms: Switch 2
Release Date: April 16

Pragmata

Human beings are years beyond their discovery of lunum ore. This allowed for the advent of Lunafiliment, a material that allows for the replication of any physical item so long as the data is available. Tragically, communications are lost to the lunar station whose existence is for the research and development of Lunafiliment. A team is dispatched to discover what has happened, but a major earthquake soon separates Hugh Williams from his team. Injured and alone, he is discovered by an android in the form of a little girl. She is Pragmata, created by Lunafiliment. Together they make their way through the lunar station, piecing together the mystery of what occurred there. Check out our latest hands-on preview for Pragmata for more info.

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox X|S, Switch 2
Release Date: April 17

Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors

Traverse dungeons filled with monsters in this turn-based deckbuilder. Play as different Crawlers, which allows players to access varying decks. After each run, visit the village for items, power-ups, and more. Move at your own pace by either being tactical or playing your deck as frenetically as possible. Treasure, adventure, and varying maps await in the retro-looking world of card-driven BLOBBERs.

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox X|S, Switch
Release Date: April 21

Kiln

If the term “pottery party brawler” sparks interest, Kiln may be the game for you. Sculpt battle armor on your pottery wheel. The size and shape of your creations determine both abilities and play-style. Kiln is an online-multiplayer meaning you’ll be taking your ceramic creations up against other players. Grab some friends, build your creations, and battle your way to the top. Upon successful battling, head to The Wedge to practice your moves, decorate and show of your pots, and admire other players’ work as well. Dive into this silly world, mold your clay, and hone your skills so your pottery doesn’t end up in shards on the battlefield.

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox X|S
Release Date: April 23

Outbound

For players who see “van life” as a cozy life goal, step into the world of Outbound. Jump behind the wheel of your customizable Vanogan and hit the road.In this base-building adventure, take in the sights and collect equipment to make your van more homey. Upgrade your workstations and equipment as you grow your own crops and live off grid. With charming graphics and a relaxing lofi soundtrack, this game is the perfect way to wind down after a long day. And don’t worry, if your future off-grid digs include friends, so too does Outbound! Online co-op can be shared with up to four players for a little van-life community. If you’d like a little touch of this cozy world in yours, check out the collector’s edition.

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox X|S, Switch 2
Release Date: April 23

Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred

Dive into the the newest Diablo IV expansion with a brand new campaign and two new classes. Choose from the beloved base classes or dive in as either a Paladin or Warlock. Lilith is defeated, but is neither gone nor forgotten. Neyrelle finds herself still struggling to contain Mephisto. Once more his power spills over and spreads to the sacred isle of Skovos, threatening Sanctuary. New regions, skills, and items await in this incredible story. For fans who want early access to the Paladin class, premium battle pass and more, the Ultimate Edition awaits.

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X|S
Release Date: April 28

Saros

The game once teased by an enigmatic statue in the desert, Saros is finally here. Dive into the off-world colony of Carcosa that finds itself under a foreboding eclipse. Play as Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer hell bent on finding what he is looking for in this lost colony. As players experience the world and his story they must ask themselves what is the cost to creating a new future? In a world in flux where every character death begs you to come back better, players can enjoy permanent resources and progression. Carcosa calls, will you answer?

Platforms: PS5
Release Date: April 30

Invincible VS

Set in the Invincible universe, this 3v3 tag fighting game features fan-favorite characters and iconic battle POIs. With over 15 characters to choose from, players will not struggle to find one that fits their preferred play-style. Preorder for Zero Suit Mark plus four color variants. Or snag the deluxe edition for a one year character pass, 4 DLC characters, and deluxe cosmetics. Join the fight for brutal combat and stunning combos to decimate your opponents.

Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox X|S
Release Date: April 30

inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories

Enjoy the early 1990s in this slice-of-life game set in a convenience store. Stock shelves, arrange items, and prepare for a day of customers. Nostalgic aesthetics of time past greets players as does a store whose exploration is vital to uncover the full narrative. Experience the Japanese concept ichi-go, ichi-e which means “one time, one meeting” where customers visit your store and pass on their unique stories along the way.

Platforms: PC, Mac, PS5, Xbox X|S, Switch, Switch 2
Release Date: April 30

Author

  • Jamie grew up passing a controller between her father and herself, cementing her love for video games and all things nerdy. She is a contributing writer for Temple of Geek as well as a twitch streamer and occasional writer of OC lore and fan-fiction on AO3.

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Jamie Lesk

Jamie grew up passing a controller between her father and herself, cementing her love for video games and all things nerdy. She is a contributing writer for Temple of Geek as well as a twitch streamer and occasional writer of OC lore and fan-fiction on AO3.

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