After a truly incredible month of gaming, with titles such as Horizon Zero Dawn, Mass Effect: Andromeda and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to name but a few, April was always going to have a tough time matching the releases we’ve enjoyed in March. It’s definitely a much quieter month, but there is no denying yet more great titles are just around the corner; we take a look at our top 5 releases for April.
Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC – 4th April
Just like its predecessors in the series, Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is a first-person tactical shooter set in the modern day. Unlike its predecessors, the game has opted for an open world this time, instead of the more familiar linear route. Side missions and activities are scattered across this new open world, which also offers players the chance to complete missions any way they please; close range melee combat, long range sniping, or even the run and gun approach should you fancy it. The addition of the open world, alongside the AAA-title production scale and budget (the first instalment to have this), leaves us excited to see what Ghost Warrior 3 will deliver when it releases.
Yooka-Laylee
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch (2017), PC – 11th April
What a great story Yooka-Laylee is turning out to be. The game was successfully funded on Kickstarter back in June 2015, backed by over 80,000 people, raising £2.1 million in the process, and making it the highest funded UK game ever on Kickstarter. It boasts the key creative talent behind the Donkey Kong Country and Banjo-Kazooie games, so it’s no surprise people are excited for it. Players will embark on an adventure across beautiful worlds in order to stop the games villain Capital B, by taking on various platforming challenges and solving puzzles, all whilst meeting interesting and unforgettable characters, and taking down hulking bosses. Are you ready for a nostalgic trip back to the N64 era?
Outlast 2
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC – 25th April
If you thought the spooky psychiatric hospital was scary enough, wait until you step foot into the rural village outside of the Sororan Desert; Outlast 2 promises to be just a terrifying as its predecessor, if the demo is anything to go by! You take the role of journalist Blake Langermann, in search of his wife after they become separated in a helicopter crash, whilst trying to evade a group of villagers who believe the end of days is upon us all. The game uses the same mechanics as last time, leaving the player unable to fight to survive, and focusing on defence in scripted scenes. The camcorder is back, albeit slightly more upgraded this time, with a focus on finding batteries to keep using it in unsurprisingly dark and eerie locations. Outlast was an instant hit in the survival horror genre, and it looks like Outlast 2 could raise that bar even higher.
Dawn of War 3
PC – 27th April
The first new release in 6 years, Dawn of War returns for its 3rd instalment in the real time strategy/MOBA series, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The Spear of Khaine, a ‘catastrophic weapon’, has been found on the lost planet Acheron, which leads to the Blood Ravens Space Marines, Eldar and Ork converging on the planet to retrieve the weapon. All 3 factions will be available to play in the game, and will include the option to play as larger-scale walker units for each side; Imperial Knights, Wraightnights and Gorkanauts. The traditional real time base building returns from previous titles, as well as some familiar characters including Warlord Gorgutz and Farseer Macha. Colossal battles await as you rain down total destruction on your enemies.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo Switch – 28th April
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may only be an enhanced port of the Wii U version, but that shouldn’t put people off getting back on the race track! Making its debut on the Nintendo Switch, the game includes all the previous DLC, as well as a new Battle Mode, new characters, and the ability for players to carry two items at once. Mario Kart has always been about the multiplayer action, and the thought of going to a friends with my Switch to hit the race track is something I can’t wait to make a reality.
Which of these, or any of the other games releasing in April are you most looking forward to playing?
