Oh baby. Get ready, folks, because from now until the beginning of June we are going to be slammed with an absolute smorgasbord of exciting releases. In fact, starting this week there'll be an exciting release taking place nearly every week. Some of these releases may not sound particularly exciting to everyone, but it's my list and my website, so deal with it.
No but for real you gotta trust me. This is looking like a lot of good stuff!
April 6 - Bedman? arrives in Guilty Gear: Strive
Okay, so this one's definitely more on the niche and specifically-for-Cade side of new releases, but I'm just so excited. I'm still unsure about what possessed me to cast aside my lifelong disdain for fighting games and purchase Guilty Gear: Strive last year, but I sunk an immense amount of time into it on the PlayStation 5, and its recent release onto Xbox Game Pass has only caused me to spend even more time loving every second of how awful I am at it. The trailer announcing Bedman? as the next fighter in the game's Season 2 DLC was a delightful surprise, and I cannot wait to gawk at the remarkable animation work that Arc System Works has created for what I hope to make one of my new mains. Who I will still suck with.
April 12 - Wildfrost on Switch & Ghostwire Tokyo on Xbox
Now for those that aren't gluttons for fighting game punishment like myself, April 12 will serve as a double whammy of options thanks to the arrival of Wildfrost on the Nintendo Switch (and Steam) and Ghostwire Tokyo on Xbox (and PC) Game Pass!
Wildfrost, if you haven't heard of it, comes to us from Deadpan Games and is a deck-building roguelike NO WAIT STOP! Trust me, I'm completely aware that the indie gaming scene is completely oversaturated right now with all manner of deck-builders, roguelikes, and deck-building roguelikes. However, Wildfrost is genuinely worth one's time as it's a cinch to pick up, its art style and animations are positively bursting with wonderfully wintry whimsy, and its combat offers a finely-tuned and unique experience. Throw in that roguelike element, and Wildfrost is one of the most enjoyably replayable games we'll see released all year. If you aren't convinced, there's a demo on both the Nintendo Switch and Steam which will have you hooked more than a lot of fully-released titles will.
Perhaps you just really hate card games and even the remarkable charm of Wildfrost isn't enough for you. Your April 12 might then be better spent with some spooky, paranormal, first-person action in the form of Ghostwire Tokyo.
Yes, this Tango Gameworks title released last year on PlayStation consoles and Steam, but its year-long exclusivity deal with Sony is up which means Xbox fans can finally give it a go! It was one of my favorite games I played in 2022, and with it landing on Xbox Game Pass it's certainly worth one's time. Even if you played it last year, a large batch of free content is being added on April 12 across all platforms. This "Spider's Thread" update will include a new, roguelite game mode, new locations to visit, new enemy types, and even new abilities. Details are fairly scant other than these exciting buzzwords, but I'll personally never turn down another excuse to visit the rain-soaked streets of Ghostwire Tokyo.
April 18 - Minecraft Legends will be forged
Hot on the heels of Ghostwire Tokyo arriving on Xbox (and PC) Game Pass, Minecraft Legends will grace the subscription service less than a week later and joyfully chaotic battles will undoubtedly ensue. The best look we've had for this game came to us earlier this year during the Xbox Developer Direct, and that was when I hopped on board the hype train.
2020's Minecraft spinoff Minecraft Dungeons was a perfectly fine little title, but it didn't feel like it had anywhere near as much staying power as the title that birthed it. The Mojang and Blackbird Interactive-created Minecraft Legends, on the other hand, looks not only like a more fully-realized spinoff, but one that offers a genuinely unique gaming experience. I don't think I've ever seen anything that looks like the game's PvP mode. Teaming up and coordinating with friends to build bases, explore a small overworld, and recruit armies all while engaged in real-time strategy battles sounds like a blast. One or two friends might prepare defenses around our base, and another might gather resources to keep everyone's game plan alive while doing a bit of scouting as well. Me? I'll be zooming off to find one of those rideable, Regal Tigers as soon as possible. Tiger first. Helping teammates second.
April 27 - The Last Case of Benedict Fox slithers onto Xbox
Once again, Xbox Game Pass will be bringing a shiny new title to subscribers in April, and this time it's the studio Plot Twist's The Last Case of Benedict Fox. As one could easily guess from the eldritch, tentacle monster pictured above, this is a Lovecraftian-inspired tale about the titular Benedict Fox. Mister Fox and the demonic buddy that whispers in his ear will have to traverse decaying memories in order to solve some mysteries while combating baddies along the way.
What interests me the most about this title (apart from its lovely, Burton-esque art style), is that it's a metroidvania of all things. I absolutely love metroidvanias, and it's so rare to see a Lovecraftian tale in the video game industry be anything other than either a point-and-click or drearily-paced walking simulator. So when we got a longer peek at the meaty-looking combat and twisting exploration of The Last Case of Benedict Fox I was sold. The demon in Benedict's head is incredibly hard to understand in the trailer, but that's what subtitles in the full game are for. Demon friend's voice is really cool though, not gonna lie.
May 2 - Players will finally sink their teeth into Redfall
Xbox Game Pass really is the gift that keeps on giving as the arrival of Redfall on May 2 will mark the fourth new arrival for the subscription service in as many weeks. This is definitely one of the bigger releases this year, as it marks the first AAA Xbox-console exclusive to come as a result of Microsoft buying Bethesda.
Created by Arkane Studios, widely known for the Dishonored series and 2017's Prey, Redfall sees the quaint, little town of Redfall, Massachusetts being overrun by superpowered vampires and their cultish followers. Either alone or with up to three friends, players choose a character with unique abilities and take the bloodsuckers to task.
This is one title that I think looks better and better with each new look we have. Everything the developers say about it sounds promising too. They have dispelled the idea that Redfall is the latest in a long run of Left 4 Dead style games, and reassured players that while playing with friends is an option the signature, deeply-detailed world design and single-player experience that Arkane is known for will remain intact. Plus, there's a little robot buddy in it named Bribón. I would die for him.
May 12 - The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom soars into view
Finally taking a break from the stream of releases on Xbox, Nintendo will unleash The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom onto the world on May 12. Any later and they may have people bashing down their doors.
As previously mentioned on this site, I'm finally excited for this latest installment in the Zelda franchise after being a longtime naysayer. However, that gameplay demonstration with Mr. Aonuma really did make me a believer. I mean come on. Have you ever seen anything like that Fuse ability? Stick and stone combined in less than a second, and in such a dang beautifully seamless way. Who knows if this title will have the same level of success as its predecessor, but I guarantee its core game design will influence titles for a looong time.
May 18 - Endless Dungeon begins
While almost no one aside from the truly insan-erm, dedicated will be finished with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom after one week, I'm an even more dedicated type of crazy person and love to find and play new games even when my other ones aren't finished. Enter Endless Dungeon on May 18.
This is an action-packed twin-stick shooter with plenty of RPG elements all baked into a roguelike experience. Hence the "endless" part of the name I'm sure. There are several different characters that players will be able to choose from, and each one's design and abilities look truly delightful. As opposed to others in the genre, I personally feel that the action in Endless Dungeon reads very well. It's always disappointing when a promising twin-stick shooter devolves into meaningless, eye-melting soup. From all I've been able to glean from trailers and gameplay, however, this is looking like a hectic good time.
While its developer Amplitude Studios was unknown to me, I was surprised to see Sega's name of all companies attached to Endless Dungeon. That certainly bolsters one's faith in the final product! Though, not much because Sega does also allow Sonic the Hedgehog games to ship as...Sonic the Hedgehog games.
June 2 - Street Fighter 6 p...punches? Onto the scene?
Yes, this is the first title to break up the pattern of an exciting, new release each week, but I'd be remiss not to mention Street Fighter 6. Plus! I started this article talking about a fighting game, and now I'll be bookending this article with a fighting game! How wonderful.
As briefly touched on above, I'm an absolute amateur when it comes to fighting games, but Guilty Gear: Strive really did wake me to their appeal. Especially fighting games that have plenty of personality and flair which Street Fighter 6 seems to have in spades. It's easily the most colorful entry the franchise has ever seen, and the high-fidelity, 3D character models finally look as if they've found an art style that works for them. Combat looks fantastically heavy thanks to some gorgeous animation work, and the single-player experience looks enticing as well. Add to all of that some of the franchise's longtime larger-than-life characters and some brand new faces, and bam! Pow! Whammo! (these are punching sounds) Krakow! It's looking like a lot of fun, is what I'm saying.
Any games releasing from now until What-Was-Once-Known-As-E3-Season that's interesting to you? Anything I missed, hmm? Let me know if there is, or just let me know what game listed above you're excited for or would like to hear more of my ramblings on by leaving a comment on the bottom of this page.