GRIND's April 2026 Recommendations
Have you seen the Yellow Sign?
Dear readers, we've safely reached April! While we're making jokes and preparing for Easter, the video game industry continues to have releases. Even if there aren't as many as in February and March, this month's titles are just as interesting and also give us a little breathing room to chip away at our backlogs.
Small disclaimer: although we do our best to keep the list updated, recommendations may undergo unforeseen changes — last-minute delays, cancellations, or surprise releases of titles we had no information about.
Darwin’s Paradox
Release date: 2 April 2026
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2
Whoa, what do we have here? A completely new IP from Konami? And it's not a gambling game, nor a collaboration? In this economy? Yes, you read that right: the legendary developer and publisher seems determined to make a strong comeback among the industry giants, alongside SEGA and CAPCOM.
Lately, the company has revitalised its portfolio through remakes, remasters and new titles from established franchises, but also through original IPs, such as Darwin’s Paradox. Get ready to step into the skin (or tentacles?) of a cute octopus trying to escape a canning factory… and some aliens!
Samson
Release date: 8 April 2026
Platforms: PC
Okay, I admit, it looks interesting (otherwise I wouldn't have included it on the list). Although at first glance it resembles GTA IV, previews and promotional materials suggest it's more inspired by the Driver series. Even though it includes intense fighting and driving sections, worthy of Fast & Furious, the game relies on a resource management system similar to the Persona series, where the player has to decide how to use their time.
Each day is divided between various activities and side missions, with the goal of raising enough money to pay off a huge debt and save his sister, who has been taken as collateral by loan sharks. The debt can be paid in daily instalments of $2000 or in advance, in larger sums.
Replaced
Release date: 14 April 2026
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC
Here we have the perfect combination: cyberpunk noir, pixel art, and Blade Runner influences. Step into the role of R.E.A.C.H., an A.I. trapped in a human body, with an impossible mission: uncovering sinister secrets of the Phoenix Corporation. The game is a 2.5D action platformer, with numerous cinematic sequences, a synth-based soundtrack, and, of course, an unforgettable atmosphere. And for those with Game Pass, we have good news! The game will be available Day One!
Mouse P.I. for Hire
Release date: 16 April 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
If you don't prefer tech-noir, no problem, because we also have an alternative for those with classic tastes. Mouse: P.I. for Hire is not just a strange experiment based on an IP that has entered the public domain, but also an FPS with a unique graphic style and inspirations from 1930s cartoons. Like those works, all character animations in the game are hand-drawn, and the weapons and action are as psychedelic as the source material. For this reason, we invite you to step into the shoes of detective Jack Pepper, a war veteran turned detective, who finds himself in the midst of a massive conspiracy in Mouseburg.
Pragmata
Release date: 17 April 2026
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2
What do we have here? A brand new IP from CAPCOM? And you're telling me it's not Mega Man? Yes, I know it sounds a bit hard to believe, but it's true. Astronaut Hugh and his android partner, Diana, must cooperate to unravel the mysteries of an abandoned lunar base. The gameplay is an interesting mix of action, exploration, and real-time hacking. The game won't be to everyone's taste, but it has every chance of being memorable.
Masters of Albion
Release date: 22 April 2026
Platforms: PC
Hold on, are we sure it's 2026? Because I can't explain how we have a new game signed by Peter Molyneux. The master of flowery promises returns with a new project and, no, this time he hasn't promised us that we can watch an acorn grow into a tree in real time. Masters of Albion is a "god game", similar to Molyneux's other famous project, Black & White, in which we will combine strategy with simulation elements, city management and a touch of tower defence, just to remind us that this genre still exists. Honestly, the game seems to promise a little too much, with complex customisation mechanics, personal missions for citizens who move into the city we're developing, and, of course, our interactions with the world as a demiurge.
Aphelion
Release date: 28 April 2026
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
The newest creation from Don’t Nod is something unique. You've probably seen games with aliens, alien planets, and astronauts before. But it's unlikely you've seen a game created in partnership with the European Space Agency. The European equivalent of NASA provided consulting services for Aphelion, but these are limited only to the technical aspects of a space mission and the specialised language used by astronauts. It would have been interesting if they had also offered advice on the aliens in the game or on the frozen hell that is the planet Persephone, but we'll make do with what we have.
Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred
Release date: 28 April 2026
Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
All hail Mephisto! All hail the new classes! It's time to return to Sanctuary and defeat the Lord of Hatred. After the failed attempt to prevent his return in Vessel of Hatred, the champions must unite their forces against the oldest of the three Prime Evils. The final battle will take place in Skovos, the cradle of civilisation and the place where Rathma, guardian of cosmic balance, grew up. Those who want a classic "good versus evil" experience can opt for the new Paladin class, the warrior of light and master of the bludgeon, to slaughter the infernal horde. And those who want to use the very powers of hell against Mephisto can choose the Warlock, who promises an unforgettable experience.
Saros
Release date: 30 April 2026
Platforms: PS5
Bow before the King in Yellow, for he will show us the way to the absolute truth of the universe. Accept the Yellow Sign to understand the non-Euclidean notions that govern all existence. Only then will you be allowed to walk the sacred streets of Carcosa or admire the beauty of Lake Hali…
Saros is the latest creation from Housemarque and is very similar to their previous project, Returnal. The game is still a roguelike third-person shooter with bullet hell elements, but this time the story is more structured, and progression is more accessible. The game stars Arjun Drvraj, a military specialist investigating a vanished colony on the planet Carcosa. If the name sounds familiar, then we suggest you re-read Robert W. Chambers' The King in Yellow, as the game draws heavily from the famous book.
Folks, these are our recommendations for April 2026! We hope at least one of these titles has caught your eye and will fill your backlog… or make it even more impossible to manage.