The Month in Games – April 2023

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©Deep Silver/Mojang/Riot Forge/Toge Productions/Electronic Arts/Respawn Entertainment

April’s gaming release brings with it new adventures in familiar worlds, some chilled vibes in a coffee shop, the opportunity to step up to the tee and not one, but two hotly anticipated sequels to beloved games.


EA Sports PGA Tour

Play your way with this year’s PGA Tour. In EA Sports PGA Tour, players will be able to create and customise their own golfer and head out on the Tour. With 30 courses available at launch, players will be able to travel the globe and test their skills at some of the most exclusive courses. Whether it is climbing the amateur ranks to reach the Pro Tour, making the most of the game’s Pure Strike technology to perfect a shot or simply just having a good time on the course, there is something for every golf fan to enjoy.

Players who pre-order will unlock a PLAYERS gear set, Grand Slam gear bundle and Scotty Cameron Putter. The Deluxe Edition includes 3-day Early Access, Early Access to Augusta National, 1500 PGA Tour points, and a PGA Tour XP bundle. On PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the Deluxe Edition also includes a copy of Madden NFL 23: All Madden Edition while those who purchase the Deluxe Edition via Steam, Epic Games or the EA App will have a copy of Madden NFL 23 included.

EA Sports PGA Tour will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC from April 7*


Minecraft Legends

Become the hero of legend in this Minecraft adventure. In Minecraft Legends, the Overworld is under attack, as the piglins from the Nether have invaded. With the Nether’s corruption slowly consuming the Otherworld, players must battle to save the Overworld and unite the mobs to stand with them in this quest. Travel through the lands of the Otherworld, and discover all the diverse denizens, the lush biomes and the resources on offer to help you in your quest to stop this idyllic land from falling into chaos.

Players who pre-order on Xbox via select retails will receive a premium sticker sheet, while those who order on PlayStation will receive an exclusive metal poster. The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, six additional skins, one hero, four mounts and an additional mount skin.

Minecraft Legends will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC from April 18*


The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story

Unshackle the magic in this adventure from the world of League of Legends. Set in the kingdom of Demacia, The Mageseeker follows the taler of Sylas. Imprisoned by the Mageseekers – a powerful group who have imprisoned, indoctrinated, and exiled all magic users from the kingdom – Sylas has broken free of the chains which once bound him. Now, with those chains becoming his weapons, players must work to help Sylas unite other mages and liberate his homeland from the oppression of the Mageseekers.

The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, Home Sweet Cave décor pack, Hijacked Spells pack, Unchained Skins pack and Silverwing Supply Station pack with additional supplies. The Collector’s Edition includes a digital copy of the Deluxe Edition, a hardcover Artbook, exclusive 10” vinyl of the game’s OST, Sylas and Lux enamel pin set, a Lux comic with special edition hardcover and a Sylas statue all in a Collector’s Edition box.

The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC from April 18*


Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly

Take a moment to smell the coffee in this charming sim. Set in a quiet and quaint coffee shop, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly has the player take on the role of a barista. With a diverse cast of characters visiting the shop, players will be able to learn more about their unique stories over a hot drink or two. Blend and brew a host of different ingredients to create the perfect blend or experiment with latte art while listening to lo-fi chillhop. Enjoy the atmosphere of this blended world of orcs, humans, elves and other folks while warming some hearts along the way.

To mark the launch of Coffee Talk: Episode 2, physical editions of both episodes will be available to pre-order as both a Single Shot and Double Shot Bundle with a Collector’s Edition of Episode 2 available to pre-purchase as well. These editions are expected to ship in August and more information on each bundle can be found on the Chorus Worldwide website.

Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch from April 20*


Dead Island 2

Welcome to Hell-A in this long-awaited sequel. Set 10 years after the original Dead Island, Dead Island 2 is set in what remains of Los Angeles after a new and stronger outbreak has ravaged the city. With the whole state of California under quarantine, it is up to players to try and survive against the hordes that roam the city. Playing as one of six Slayers: British stockbroker turned stuntman Jacob, the former Paralympian Amy, Ryan – who is on a mission to find his brother, the street smart stunt rider Carla, Bruno – a former hustler and conman, and Irish-born roller derby brawler Dani, players will have to hack, slash and maybe even burn their way through what is left of the fallen city of angels.

Players who pre-order will receive the Memories of Banoi pack, which includes an additional weapon, weapon perk, skill card and Banoi War Club. The Pulp Edition includes a copy of the game along with the Pulp Weapons pack featuring two bonus weapons. The digital-only Gold Edition includes a copy of the game along with the Memories of Banoi and Pulp Weapons packs, a Golden Weapons pack, the Expansion Pass and two bonus Character Packs.

The Hell-A Edition includes a copy of the game in a Steelbook case, the Expansion Pass, Venice Beach travel map, six Slayer tarot cards, two pin badges, a fabric patch, Pulp Weapons pack and a Golden Weapons pack all inside a Collector’s Edition box.

Dead Island 2 will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from April 21*


Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

May the force be with you in the next chapter of the Star Wars Jedi story. Set five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor continues the story of Cal Kestis. As one of the last remaining Jedi in the galaxy following the implementation of Order 66, Cal is struggling to constantly stay one step ahead of the Galactic Empire – who seek to kill him and any other survivors of the Jedi Purge. While Cal has now come into his own as a Jedi Knight, that is no assurance of his survival, especially when he discovers that the Empire are not the only ones who want to see him and all Jedi dead.

Players who pre-order will receive the Jedi Survival Cosmetic Pack. Inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi, this pack includes an additional Hermit outfit for Cal along with a Combustion blaster and Hermit Lightsaber. The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, the Jedi Survival cosmetic pack along with the New Hero and Galactic Hero packs, which have bonus cosmetics for both Cal and BD-1, a bonus DL44 blaster set and Rebel Hero Lightsaber.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC from April 28*


Free to Play

On Xbox, those with either a Gold or Game Pass Ultimate subscription will have two new titles to download and keep for free this month. Out of Space: Couch Edition will be available from April 1-30* with Peaky Blinders: Mastermind available from April 16* – May 15*.

On PlayStation, players with any tier of Plus subscription will have three new titles to download and keep for free this month. From April 4* Meet Your Maker will be available on PS4 and PS5 along with Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Tales of Iron until May 1*

Over on Prime Gaming, there will be a colossal 15 games available to download and keep for free being released through the course of the month.

Available from April 6*:

  • Wolfenstein: The New Order
  • Art of Fighting 3
  • Ninja Commando

Available from April 13*:

  • Crossed Swords
  • Ghost Pilots
  • Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
  • The Best Inside

Available from April 20*:

  • Beholder 2
  • Grime
  • Metal Slug 4
  • Ninja Masters
  • Terraformers

Available from April 27*:

  • Looking for Aliens
  • Magician Lord
  • Sengoku

Details on how to claim these titles can be found on the Prime Gaming website.

Also Released This Month

April 4* – Meet Your Maker (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC), Road 96: Mile 0 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Creed: Rise to Glory – Championship Edition (PSVR 2), GrimGrimoire OnceMore (PS4, PS5, Switch), Hogwarts Legacy (Xbox One, PS4), Hello Neighbor 2 (Switch), Firefighting Simulator – The Squad (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5)

April 5* – Moviehouse – The Film Studio Tycoon (PC)

April 6* – Curse of the Sea Rats (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Ps4, PS5, Switch, PC), Everspace 2 (PC), Ravenswatch (PC – Steam Early Access), The Library of Babel (PC), Batora: Lost Haven (Switch), Pupperazzi (Switch), Blade Assault (PS4, PS5, Switch)

April 11* – Sherlock Holmes The Awakened (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Tron: Identity (Switch, PC)

April 12* – Ghostwire: Tokyo (Xbox Series X/S)

April 13* – Voodolls (PC), Beyond the Long Night (PC), Trinity Fusion (PC – Steam Early Access), Hunt The Night (PC), X Plane 12 (PC)

April 14* – Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection (PS4, Switch, PC), Cult of the Lamb (PS5, Switch)

April 17* – Suffer The Night (PC)

April 18* – God of Rock (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Puzzle Quest 3 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5), The Pathless (Switch), Samba De Amigo (Switch)

April 19* – Moons of Darsalon (PC), Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores (PS5)

April 20* – Arcana of Paradise: The Tower (Switch, PC), Tin Hearts (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Stray Blade (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), Labyrinth of Zangetsu (PS4, Switch), Front Mission 1st Limited Edition (Switch)

April 21* – Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Switch), Super Meat Boy Forever (iOS, Android), Prodeus (PS4, PS5, Switch), Turnip boy Commits Tax Evasion (PS4)

April 25* – Roots of Pacha (PC), Afterimage (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Strayed Lights (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC)

April 26* – Desta: The Memories Between (Switch, PC)

April 27* – The Last Case of Benedict Fox (Xbox Series X/S, PC), Protodroid Delta (Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC), Ash of Gods: The Way (PC), Bramble: The Mountain King (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Kizuna AI – Touch The Beat (PS4, PSVR, Switch, PC), Omega Strikers (Switch), War Mongrels: Renegade Edition (PS5), The Crown of Wu: Legend Edition (PS5), Below: Special Edition (PS4)

April 28* – Welcome to Goodland (PC), Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5), Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition (PS5), Mortal Shell: Complete Edition (Switch), Crazy Chicken Kart 2 (Switch), Grim Guardians: Demon Purge (PS5, Switch), Toy Soldiers (Switch), That’s My Family: Family Fun Night (Switch)

April 29* – Grim Guardians: Demon Purge (PS4)

*Dates refer to UK release only. International dates may vary. Dates subject to change. Information correct at time of writing.

Words by Megan Roxburgh


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