Tag: APRIL

1. Pragmata — April 16 (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC) ⭐ Editor’s Pick

Six years in the making, Pragmata is Capcom’s most ambitious original IP since Devil May Cry. Set aboard a hostile lunar research station overrun by a rogue AI, you play as spacefarer Hugh Williams alongside his android companion Diana — and their dynamic is the heart of everything.

Diana can hack enemy robots mid-combat in real time, turning what could have been a standard third-person shooter into a layered tactical action experience. You can incapacitate enemies through the hacking grid for Hugh to finish off, chain hacks to create chain reactions across groups of enemies, or push Diana’s system to its limits against bosses that actively adapt and counter her abilities. The difficulty scales intelligently, and multiple approaches — aggressive, stealth-adjacent, hack-heavy — are all viable.

The free demo, Pragmata: Sketchbook, crossed two million downloads before the full game even launched. Capcom moved the release date forward by a week, which is practically unheard of — a strong signal that the finished product is in excellent shape.

Why it’s unmissable: Genuinely fresh combat mechanics in a genre that rarely surprises. If you play one action game this April, make it this one.

2. Saros — April 30 (PS5 Exclusive)

Housemarque built their reputation on Returnal’s punishing, endlessly replayable bullet-hell action. Saros is their next step — a new IP set on Carcosa, an alien world locked beneath a permanent eclipse, with a tone that’s darker and more atmospheric than anything the studio has done before.

You play as Soltari Enforcer Arjun Devraj, voiced and motion-captured by Rahul Kohli (Midnight Mass, iZombie). The combat is classic Housemarque: fast, relentless third-person shooting with swarms of projectiles filling the screen at all times. The new Soltari Shield adds a risk-reward layer — absorb incoming fire, build up charge, release it back as a devastating discharge. Timing it correctly against elite enemies and bosses is deeply satisfying.

The big accessibility change from Returnal is permanent progression. Weapons and suit upgrades now persist between runs, so death stings but doesn’t erase your growth. The core roguelike loop is intact, but the frustration ceiling is meaningfully lower.

Why it’s unmissable: The best pure action game on PS5 this spring. Housemarque don’t miss.

3. Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred — April 28 (PC, PS5, Xbox)

Blizzard’s second major Diablo IV expansion isn’t a new game, but its action credentials are beyond question. Lord of Hatred takes players to the Skovos Isles as Mephisto, the Prime Evil of Hatred, makes his long-awaited full appearance as the central villain.

The two new classes both lean into aggressive, high-intensity playstyles. The Paladin returns with updated skills built around holy damage and defensive counters — a tank that hits back hard. The Warlock is brand new: a dark caster who binds and weaponises demonic forces, turning enemies against each other in ways that feel genuinely chaotic and powerful at high difficulty.

The endgame overhaul is substantial too. The Horadric Cube returns for item crafting, War Plans lets you sequence your own dungeon run playlists, and the skill tree has been rebuilt from the ground up for all classes — not just the new ones. If you’ve been away from Diablo IV, this expansion is a strong reason to return.

Why it’s unmissable: The Warlock class alone justifies the purchase. The endgame overhaul makes it even better.

5. Mouse: P.I. for Hire — April 16 (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC)

Don’t let the charming 1930s cartoon aesthetic fool you — Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a tight, demanding action platformer with serious mechanical depth. You play as Mouse, a hard-boiled rodent detective navigating a world of crime and corruption rendered entirely in the rubber-hose animation style of early Fleischer Studios cartoons.

The combat blends platforming precision with melee and ranged attacks, all animated with extraordinary fluidity. Every move feels deliberate and weighty despite the playful visual style. The game has been praised in previews for nailing the rare balance between approachable surface and genuinely satisfying depth — easy to pick up, hard to master.

It arrives on the same day as Pragmata, which will steal most of the headlines on April 16. But Mouse deserves just as much attention.

Why it’s unmissable: The best-looking indie action game of the year so far, with the gameplay to back it up.

7. Invincible VS — April 30 (PS5, Xbox, PC)

Based on Robert Kirkman’s hit animated series, Invincible VS is a full-fledged fighting game that captures the show’s signature style — brutal, fast, and visually spectacular. The roster pulls from across the Invincible universe, from Mark Grayson himself to Omni-Man, Atom Eve, and a host of other heroes and villains.

The standout mechanic is mid-battle character switching. You can swap between fighters on the fly and chain their moves together into extended combos, rewarding players who invest time into learning multiple move-sets. Each character plays meaningfully differently, with their own strengths, weaknesses, and special moves drawn directly from the show’s fight choreography.

For fans of the series, seeing these characters animated in a fighting game context — and interacting with each other in ways the show hasn’t explored — is a genuine treat. For fighting game fans who haven’t watched Invincible, the deep combo system stands on its own merits.

Why it’s unmissable: A fighting game with personality, a strong roster, and mechanics that reward mastery.

Quick Comparison

April is genuinely one of the best months for action games in recent memory. If you can only pick one, Pragmata is the safe bet — but Saros and Invincible VS closing out the month mean the whole of April is worth staying plugged in for.

April release dates are subject to change.