No doubt about it—April is shaping up to be a month to remember, with a packed lineup of releases landing on both PC and consoles. On a personal note, I’ve barely had time to play anything lately, thanks to the arrival of my newborn twin daughters. But this month, I’ll be burning the midnight oil for one game in particular: Clair Obscur. After countless trailers, leaked details, and finally getting my hands on the recent playable demo, the hype for this RPG is off the charts—something I haven’t felt since the reveal of XCOM way back in 2012.
And Clair Obscur is just the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty more promising titles simmering beneath the surface that I’m excited to spotlight—games I genuinely think are worth your attention.
For fans of the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, there’s Last Defense Academy, which blends tactical combat with social sim elements in true Persona fashion. Set within an academy, players must survive a 100-day siege against mysterious monsters. I tried it a few days ago and trust me—it’s worth your time. Sticking with the JRPG vibe, there’s Promise Mascot Agency—I haven’t played it yet, but it looks like it hits that sweet spot of originality. Then there’s Maliki, with its time-travel mechanics, and a remaster of the classic Lunar.
Shifting westward, April also brings a slew of intriguing roguelites, including Coomander Quest, Star Vaders, and Lonestar, which draws clear inspiration from FTL. There’s also the post-apocalyptic tactical RPG Chains of Freedom, and even a strategy game styled after Advance Wars, and finally, the debut of Burden of Command. Anyway, below, you’ll find the full April 2025 release list with launch dates.
- Nif Nif
- Three Skies Ascension
- LONESTAR
- Commander Quest
- Dice ‘n Goblins
- Burden of Command
- Promise Mascot Agency
- Clonizer
- Warside
- Chains of Freedom
- LUNAR Remastered Collection
- Maliki: Poison of the Past
- Sunderfolk
- The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Starvaders
- Dark Pact
Nif Nif
- Release date: April 1, 2025
- Platforms: PC – Nintendo Switch
Nif Nif is an accessible, cozy, and cute deck builder for all ages. If you have younger kids who are interested in games like Slay The Spire but aren’t quite ready for the complex gameplay, or if you’re looking for something low-stakes and simple for yourself, Nif Nif could be the answer.
The game has two playable charcters, Nif Nif and Cat, each with their own deck, as well as hats that can be unlocked and equipped to change your abilities. It’s about as wholesome as it gets, and it launches on 1 April.
Three Skies Ascension
- Release date: April 3, 2025
- Platforms: PC
If you’re looking for a new mobile-style RPG, Three Skies Ascension offers over 200 heroes and monsters to collect, with the usual array of leveling, ascending, and fusing them to create your perfect team. Its style and designs set it apart from the typical anime fare, and it has over 100 dungeons to explore and plenty of story content as well.
Of course, mobile RPGs also have to have lots of PvP content, and Three Skies Ascension has an Arena that includes a League system. The demo is available now, and the full launch is right around the corner on 3 April.
LONESTAR
- Release date: April 3, 2025
- Platforms: PC – Nintendo Switch
This neat roguelike feels a bit like Backpack Battles meets FTL: Faster Than Light. By assigning the components and crew to your spaceship, you’ll generate energy to power your systems and fire weapons, blasting other vessels to smithereens in one-on-one fights.
LONESTAR has been in early access for a little over a year, and it’s entering its 1.0 release on 3 April. It’s even got a crossover with Backpack Battles to celebrate, as the Ranger is being added as an unlockable pilot!
Commander Quest
- Release date: April 4, 2025
- Platforms: PC
Commander Quest blends roguelite deckbuilding with tactical autobattlers; playing a card causes a unit to spawn then make their way to the enemy. You can help them out with spells and other effects, but victory is about knowing who to deploy and where.
If you liked the combat in last year’s beautiful Songs Of Silence, then Commander Quest should be able to give you more of that style. In fact, if you preferred the battle in Songs to the map exploration and management, Commander Quest could be just the game you’re looking for when it launches on 4 April.
Dice ‘n Goblins
- Release date: April 4, 2025
- Platforms: PC
Dice ‘n Goblins is a charming indie game that feels at first like an old-school CRPG… and I mean old-school, first-person perspective dungeon crawling like Might & Magic. The combat, though, turns it into a fun blend of D&D and Paper Mario.
As Gobby, a goblin just trying to escape from a massive dungeon, you’ll face off against foes in dice-based combat. The key is to minimize luck wherever possible so that your skill can win the day – you’re just a little goblin, after all! You can try the demo right now, or play the full game when it launches on 4 April.
Burden of Command
- Release date: April 8, 2025
- Platforms: PC
Burden Of Command captures the feeling of truly indie wargames; those kinds of games are often made by the most passionate developers, and it’s clear that Green Tree Games has a story to tell. As the leader of an armed company in the Second World War, your task is to carry out your orders and bring your soldiers home.
Burden of Command focuses on the impact of war on each individual soldier, and the decisions that you have to make along the way. It’s as much an interactive novel as a war game, and both aspects of gameplay are vital. The demo is available now, and the game launches on 8 April.
Promise Mascot Agency
- Release date: April 10, 2025
- Platforms: PC – PlayStation – Xbox – Nintendo Switch
Promise Mascot Agency lets you explore a cursed town filled with strange mascots; it’s equal parts weird, funny, and creepy. While much of the game is about open-world exploration and mystery-solving, there’s a card-based element to some of the challenges.
If you’re looking for something different but want to have a little bit of turn-based fun to keep you grounded, Promise Mascot Agency fits the bill. Especially the part about being different. Check it out when it launches on 10 April.
Clonizer
- Release date: April 14, 2025
- Platforms: PC
Clonizer is about colonizing the galaxy, with clones! In this roguelite deckbuilder with hex-grid tactical battles, you’ll send your clones to conquer alien worlds one by one, all for the glory of the CLONPO corporation.
It looks like a fun game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, but with enough strategic depth to make it worth coming back for more. Clonizer launches on 14 April, and the demo is available to try now.
Warside
- Release date: April 14, 2025
- Platforms: PC – PlayStation – Xbox – Nintendo Switch
If you’re a fan of Advance Wars, all it takes is one look at Warside to know that it was made with you in mind. The game’s brightly-colored, blocky tanks, troops, and airplanes all look like they rolled right off of a forgotten GBA classic.
Not only does Warside capture the look and feel of Advance Wars, it also offers multiplayer and a map editor for when you’re done with the story campaign. The battle begins on 14 April!
Chains of Freedom
- Release date: April 15, 2025
- Platforms: PC – PlayStation – Xbox
At first glance, Chains Of Freedom might seem like a tactical spy thriller in the vein of 2018’s Phantom Doctrine. Soon enough, though, you’ll find yourself facing off against terrifying mutants and other warped abominations, turning the game into a blend of XCOM and Wasteland.
Of course, those are all great games to follow in the footsteps of, and with an arsenal of flamethrowers, improvised explosives, and strange devices created from biocrystals, you’ll be able to cause some serious mayhem. If you’re itching for some tactical battles, the 15 April release date will be here before you know it. Here you can find our preview.
LUNAR Remastered Collection
- Release date: April 18, 2025
- Platforms: PC – PlayStation – Xbox – Nintendo Switch
The LUNAR Remastered Collection brings two timeless JRPG classics—LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete and LUNAR 2: Eternal Blue Complete—back to life with modern enhancements and a deep respect for their roots. Join Alex and Hiro on their legendary quests, set a millennium apart, as they rise against powerful foes like the Magic Emperor and the God of Destruction.
With beautifully remastered visuals, fully voiced animated cutscenes, and refined turn-based combat, players can choose between modern conveniences or classic nostalgia through toggleable modes. Whether you’re reliving the magic or experiencing it for the first time, LUNAR‘s heartfelt storytelling and rich world-building promise an unforgettable adventure. Expected to be released on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch on the 18th of April.
Maliki: Poison of the Past
- Release date: April 22, 2025
- Platforms: PC – Nintendo Switch
Based on a graphic novel series, Maliki: Poison Of The Past lets you travel through spacetime and save the past, present, and future from the devouring monster plant, Poison. The game blends the signature style of the comics with chibi models for exploration, along with some lovely animated cutscenes.
Even if you aren’t familiar with the graphic novel, Maliki has cozy fantasy vibes mixed in with some action and adventure that are sure to make it a wonderful JRPG experience. We’re excited to give it a try when it launches on 22 April. I played it personally, and here you can find my preview.
Sunderfolk
- Release date: April 23, 2025
- Platforms: PC – PlayStation – Mobile
Sunderfolk is a tactical RPG designed with local co-op in mind. It uses a free mobile app to let up to four players control their characters from their phones or tablets, while the battle plays out on a monitor or TV.
This idea has been incorporated into tabletop games like Mansions Of Madness, so we’re curious to see how it ends up working in a video game. Maybe it will be our next game night after it launches on 23 April?
The Hundred Line – Last Defense Academy
- Release date: April 23, 2025
- Platforms: PC – Nintendo Switch
Last Defense Academy is a high-concept strategy game that Persona fans will feel right at home with. Fifteen high school students are transported to an interdimensional campus; they alone must defend the school from monstrous invaders for the next hundred days, whatever the cost.
Between battles, you’ll be faced with choices that determine the outcome of the story, and get the opportunity to form bonds with each of the other students defending the school. There’s plenty of time to check out the demo before the game’s 23 April release—more details about the game here.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Release date: April 24, 2025
- Platforms: PC – PlayStation – Xbox
The wait is almost over. Possibly 2025’s most intriguing new JRPG property, Clair Obscur, is launching on 24 April, and we’ll finally get to see if the story and gameplay stack up to the gorgeous aesthetics we’ve been treated to since it was announced.
Expedition 33 sets out to stop the Paintress, whose yearly ritual wipes out more and more of humanity. With their own survival at stake, they have nothing to lose. We can’t wait to see how the game turns out.
Starvaders
- Release date: April 30, 2025
- Platforms: PC
StarVaders is a stylish tactical deckbuilder that lets you pilot a mech and defend the Earth against an alien menace. The combos are designed to be breakable, so there’s no reason not to hold back; the aliens certainly won’t!
Like any good roguelike, StarVaders has tons of unlocks that present new challenges and builds to try, so there’s enough replayability to keep you coming back as long as you want. You can try the demo now, and pick up the full game when it launches on 30 April.
Dark Pact
- Release date: April 30, 2025
- Platforms: PC
Dark Pact looks like a cute, colorful Fire Emblem, but it focuses much more on tactical positioning and movement than its legendary inspiration. Developer Crimson Gaze says that the game asks, “What if Into The Breach had a full campaign?” That means you can expect to do a lot of shoving enemies around the board and into pits – and honestly, there are few things more satisfying in grid-based games.
From bouncing boomerangs to laser spells, Dark Pact is all about setting up the board to your advantage, then knocking your opponents down. If tricky combos are your thing, there will be plenty of tinkering for you to do when it launches on 30 April.
