7 Hottest Games in April You Need to Play

April brings with it a host of new games to enjoy, with (surprisingly) not many sequels or big-name franchises, but rather some new interesting IPs that should spice up your selection this month:

Pragmata

Release date: 17 April 2026 (PS5 | Xbox Series X/S | PC | Switch 2)

Capcom has been on a roll as of late with the likes of Street Fighter 6 and Resident Evil: Requiem exceeding expectations, and alongside their great sequels, they’re also developing some new IPs. Pragmata is one such game that looks like an interesting blend of sci-fi and survival, playing as a security officer who has to protect an android girl with hacking abilities on a world built on the moon.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire

Release date: 16 April 2026 (PS5 | Xbox Series X/S | PC | Switch 2)

Mouse: P.I. for Hire is a shot of nostalgia into the first-person shooter genre. Like what Cuphead did for platformers, Mouse combines the charm of hand-drawn rubber hose animation inspired by the classic cartoons of the 1930’s with the adrenaline and action of an explosive shooter. It looks awesome, and we can’t wait to get our paws on it.

Replaced

Release date: 14 April 2026 (Xbox Series X/S | PC)

Replaced is a gorgeous-looking pixelised sci-fi game that is set in an alternate 1980s America scarred by nuclear catastrophe. Playing as an AI that has been planted in a human body, you have to navigate a dark cyberpunk city in glorious 2.5D, blending platforming, action, and exploration.

Samson: A Tyndalston Story

Release date: 8 April 2026 (PC)

We’ve been in dire need of some good old beat-’em-ups lately, and Samson looks to scratch that itch. Set in the open-world city of Tyndalston, you take control of the titular Samson, who has to drive and fight his way through some dangerous people in order to save his sister. The combat system looks brutal, and the incorporation of physics-based enviromental hazards looks to add an interesting edge to Samson.

Saros

Release date: 30 April 2026 (PS5)

Coming from the team that made Returnal, you’ll know what to expect from Saros. It’s a fast-paced, cinematic action game where you take on bullet-hell-like bosses and enemies in order to discover the secrets behind a planet covered in ancient ruins and alien technology. It’s fast, frantic, and looks to expand upon the mechanics that Returnal introduced.

Darwin’s Paradox

Release date: 2 April 2026 (PS5 | Xbox Series X/S | PC | Switch 2)

Darwin’s Paradox is probably the closest thing you’ll get to playing a Pixar movie. You play an octopus who is caught in a massive and mysterious industrial complex, and he’ll have to use his sticky tentacles, camouflage, and wits to escape. Throw in some stunning visuals and a humorous story, and Darwin’s Paradox looks like a sleeper-hit for 2026.

Incredible VS.

Release date: 30 April 2026 (PS5 | Xbox Series X/S | PC)

Set in the Incredible universe, this fighting game allows you to play as Omni-Man, Conquest, Invincible and other heroes and villains in 3v3 tag-matches. Iconic locations from the TV show, as well as real-time destruction, allows you to recreate some of the most epic fights from the series.

Which releases are you most looking forward to? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.