The new game releases this week give you two choices: puzzles or action. Theres really no in between. Action fans get to fight monsters with magical powers in South of Midnight or take on intense multiplayer heists in Monaco 2. Puzzle fans get to explore an ever-changing mansion in Blue Prince or take the time to unravel the mysteries of The Talos Principle: Reawakened.
Itll be a tough decision if you like both genres, because most of these games drop on the same day, but a few of them are less traditional than others. Star Overdrive sticks out in the action category as a game with monsters to fight but also hoverboard tricks to pull off. And Jumping Jazz Cats is a game where the action consists of an army of cats racing to complete minigames.
Here are our most anticipated game releases for the week of April 7.
Image: Compulsion Games/Xbox Game Studios South of MidnightRelease date: April 8Platforms: Windows PC, Xbox Series XThis action game is steeped in folklore and set in the American Deep South. The world is infested with gruesome monsters that seem to be pain and trauma made manifest. Your job as Hazel, a magic-wielding Weaver, is to mend your community and hopefully find a place to call home yourself.
$40 at Steam$40 at Xbox
Blue PrinceRelease date: April 10Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series XThis pitch for this puzzle game is like nightmare mode for anyone in fear of getting stumped. Its set in a mansion where the rooms and their puzzles change as each day passes. The goal is to find Room 46, but youll need to be extremely clever to keep up with the constantly shifting obstacles.
$30 at PlayStation$27 at Steam$30 at Xbox
The Talos Principle: ReawakenedRelease date: April 10Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series XThey put the philosophical puzzle game into Unreal Engine 5. This updated version has all kinds of new stuff, including a new chapter in the story, quality-of-life improvements, and a tool to make puzzles yourself.
$40 at PlayStation$40 at Steam$40 at Xbox
Monaco 2Release date: April 10Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series XThis co-op heist game requires teamwork and clever thinking. You get to play as unique characters with tools to overcome the various security measures and guards in your way. Each level is procedurally generated, too, so every run will be slightly different.
$25 at PlayStation$25 at Steam$25 at Xbox
Star OverdriveRelease date: April 10Platforms: Nintendo SwitchTony Hawks Pro Skater meets No Mans Sky in this hoverboard action game. You get to ride around on alien planets, solve puzzles, and pull off tricks. And as if this game didnt sound cool enough, you also fight enemies with a keytar.
$35 at Nintendo
Jumping Jazz CatsRelease date: April 10Platforms: Windows PCIm not going to lie to you: I mostly chose this game simply because its called Jumping Jazz Cats. But it also looks pretty fun. You and up to eight other players get to run around and play minigames as little cats. Well, theyre called “minigames,” but they look more like a bunch of excuses to absolutely wreck the house of your absent owners.
$0 at Steam
