Major PC Game Releases in April 2025

Big Titles:

• Steel Hunters (Early Access) – April 2 – Free-to-play mech combat game from World of Tanks developer
• The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered – April 3 – PC port with graphical improvements
• Blue Prince – April 10 – Highly anticipated puzzle strategy game
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – April 24 – Turn-based RPG with a unique premise
• Tempest Rising – April 24 – Command & Conquer-inspired RTS
• Skin Deep – April 30 – Comedy immersive sim

Other Notable Releases:

• Monaco 2 (April 10) – Co-op heist sequel
• The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10) – Unreal 5 remake
• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (April 24) – Classic SNK fighter

The article mentions that April is a quieter month ahead of a more significant May (which will include both a Dune game and a Doom game). There’s also a Triple-i Initiative showcase scheduled for April 10.

Game Reviews & Analysis

Big Titles:

Steel Hunters (April 2)

• Free-to-play mech combat game from Wargaming (World of Tanks developer)
• Described as “slower and more methodical” than Mecha Break (another free-to-play mech game)
• Early Access release, so likely still in development

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered (April 3)

• PC port of Sony’s acclaimed narrative action game
• Promises “a host of graphical improvements”
• The timing coincides with the HBO show’s second season

Blue Prince (April 10)

• Puzzle strategy game with extremely high praise from PC Gamer
• Described as a potential “sleeper hit of the year”
• A writer called it their GOTY before it was even released

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (April 24)

• Turn-based RPG “with real-time mechanics”
• Unique premise: “The Paintress paints a number once a year, and everyone that age dies”
• Generating buzz despite its unconventional name

Tempest Rising (April 24)

• RTS that appears to be heavily inspired by Command & Conquer
• Seems to be aiming for the classic golden age RTS feel

Skin Deep (April 30)

• Comedy immersive sim emphasizing improvisation
• Features creative gameplay where you can defeat enemies with banana peels and tuna cans
• Focus on situational problem-solving rather than direct combat.

Other Notable Games:

• Monaco 2 (April 10) – Co-op heist sequel to the popular original
• The Talos Principle: Reawakened (April 10) – Unreal 5 remake of the philosophical puzzle game
• Crashlands 2 (April 10) – Open-world crafting RPG sequel
• Steel Seed (April 10) – Sci-fi stealth action adventure
• Stygian: Outer Gods (April 14) – Survival horror RPG
• Mandragora (April 17) – Side-scrolling dark fantasy RPG
• Lunar Remastered Collection (April 18) – Collection of classic ’90s RPGs
• The Hundred Line (April 23) – From creators of Zero Escape and Danganronpa
• Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves (April 24) – Return of the classic fighting game series

Best Game Recommendation

Based on the article’s information, Blue Prince stands out as the best choice. It has extraordinary pre-release praise from PC Gamer staff, with a writer already calling it their Game of the Year before release. The article describes it as a potential “sleeper hit of the year,” suggesting it might be an exceptional experience that could fly under the radar of mainstream attention.

The puzzle strategy genre typically offers excellent value in terms of playtime and replayability, and the exceptional enthusiasm from critics who have had early access suggests this could be something special. The April 10th release date also means you won’t have to wait long to play it.

Skin Deep, for its creative, immersive sim approach, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, for its unique premise and turn-based RPG gameplay, would be the runners-up choices.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Sandfall Interactive is developing the game, with Guillaume Broche as the creative director and François Meurisse as the producer/COO.

Development started in 2019 as Broche’s passion project because he was “starving for new turn-based RPG games.” Following Persona 5’s success, he believed there was a market for more JRPG-style games.

The game features a mix of turn-based combat with action elements, including:

• A parry system for defence
• Free-aim mechanics for ranged weapons to hit enemy weak points

While the gameplay might remind some players of Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi RPGs, Broche’s actual inspirations came from:

• Software games (especially Sekiro’s parrying)
• Final Fantasy
• Lost Odyssey

Meurisse noted that while the game doesn’t necessarily innovate with brand-new mechanics, it combines existing elements “uniquely and cleverly.”

The article also discusses the increasing diversity in JRPG storytelling and aesthetics, mentioning examples like Like a Dragon, Undertale, Persona 5, and indie titles such as Hylics, Felvidek, and Fear and Hunger.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – A Detailed Review

Based on the information provided, I can offer a comprehensive analysis of what we know about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I should note that this isn’t a full review, as the game hasn’t been released yet (scheduled for April 23, 2025).

Concept & Development

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 emerged from creative director Guillaume Broche’s personal desire for more turn-based RPGs around 2019, following Persona 5’s success. The development approach seems similar to Larian Studios with Divinity: Original Sin or New Blood’s genre revival efforts – passionate developers creating games they want to play.

Gameplay Mechanics

The game appears to blend traditional JRPG turn-based combat with action-oriented elements:

• Combat System: Turn-based foundation with timing-based mechanics
• Defensive Mechanics: A parry system inspired by Sekiro (not Paper Mario as initially assumed)
• Offensive Options: Free-aiming capabilities for ranged weapons to target enemy weak points
• Strategic Depth: Combines elements from multiple JRPG traditions

According to Meurisse, the game doesn’t necessarily introduce revolutionary mechanics. Instead, it combines existing elements “uniquely and cleverly” – similar to how Baldur’s Gate 3 succeeded by expertly integrating features from various CRPGs.

Aesthetic & Storytelling

While specific details about the story aren’t mentioned, the article positions Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 within a growing trend of diverse JRPG storytelling. The game’s name “Clair Obscur” refers to the artistic technique of contrasting light and dark (chiaroscuro), suggesting potential thematic elements involving contrast or duality.

The “Expedition 33” subtitle implies an exploration-focused narrative, possibly with scientific or archaeological themes.

Influences & Inspiration

The creative team draws from diverse inspirations:

• Broche: Final Fantasy, Lost Odyssey, FromSoftware games (especially Sekiro)
• Meurisse: Paper Mario, EarthBound

This combination of Japanese RPG traditions with Western action game elements suggests a potentially unique creative vision.

Development Team

Sandfall Interactive appears to be a smaller studio with passionate leadership:

• Guillaume Broche: Founder and Creative Director
• François Meurisse: COO and Producer

Market Positioning

The game seems positioned to appeal to:

• Traditional JRPG fans looking for modern turn-based experiences
• Action RPG players who appreciate timing-based combat mechanics
• Players interested in games with unique aesthetic approaches

What We Don’t Know Yet

The article doesn’t provide details on:

• The whole narrative premise and setting
• Character progression systems
• Game length and structure
• Visual style and art direction specifics
• Music and sound design

Release Information

• Release Date: April 23, 2025
• Platforms: PC confirmed (available for wishlisting on Steam), other platforms unclear
• Developer: Sandfall Interactive

Based on the information available, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appears to be a thoughtfully crafted blend of traditional and modern RPG elements from a passionate development team. The whole experience will become more evident when the game releases next month.

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