This week’s release lineup features some highly anticipated titles, including Masters of Albion, which is considered a potential pinnacle for its genre. It shares the spotlight with the end of early access for Shapez 2, a game focused on automation and factories, and Tides of Tomorrow, an intriguing narrative experiment utilizing asynchronous co-op. Based on the demo, Tides of Tomorrow shows significant promise.
Tides of Tomorrow
Developer: Digixart
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Release Date: April 22
Available on: PC, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5
Let’s celebrate games that dare to innovate and take risks. Even if they don’t always succeed, the attempt is worthwhile. The creators of Road 96 return with a game influenced by the Tides of Time, where each mission is directly impacted by the actions of other players. In the demo, infiltrating an alert base proved challenging, with blocked paths and missing loot. However, players can choose to either deepen this difficulty or make things easier for those who follow. Even a couple of well-intentioned decisions in the trial version transformed the island into an open base with ample resources and clear paths, significantly reducing the risk of certain death. With numerous branching paths ahead, it remains to be seen if this delicate structure will withstand the relentless tide.
Masters of Albion
Developer & Publisher: 22cans
Release Date: April 22
Available on: PC
The label “divine simulation game” seems fitting for Peter Molyneux’s new project. The potential is exciting, both from the bold claim that “Masters of Albion is a daring reimagining of the God Game genre, from the creator who defined it” and from what has been shown in the promotional videos. Many stories await in Albion.
Titanium Court
Developer: AP Thomson
Publisher: Fellow Traveller
Release Date: April 23
Available on: PC
The release date for what is anticipated to be one of the year’s standout indie games was announced last week. It has not only followed in the footsteps of Consume Me in terms of awards but also features AP Thomson at the helm. It’s described as “an unpredictable mix of roguelike, match-3, and strategy, all seasoned with a generous dose of humor through a captivating script.”
Shapez 2
Developer: tobspr Games
Publisher: tobspr Games and Gamirror Games
Release Date: April 23
Available on: PC (Early Access concludes)
A player’s impression from the summer of 2024 stated: “There’s a void on my screen that consumes everything I feed it, and it always asks for more: it demands I craft and launch shapes, cut, rotate, and transport them, stack and combine them, color them, and launch the results into its infinite cosmic stomach. The void is hungry, and I am delighted to satiate it.” The early access for Shapez 2 concludes this week, and the void remains hungry.
Kiln
Developer: Double Fine Productions
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: April 23
Available on: PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series
Following Keeper, Double Fine surprised us with a team-based multiplayer game where players must craft their characters on a pottery wheel and then engage in close-quarters combat with other ceramic pieces. The character’s abilities depend on its shape. It’s impossible not to wish the best for this studio.
Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors
Developer: poncle and Nosebleed Interactive
Publisher: poncle
Release Date: April 21
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch
This game “transforms the excitement of Vampire Survivors into a turn-based card game with rogue-lite elements.” It is the first of several spin-offs that poncle plans to develop, all building upon their undeniable success.
Here are even more releases for this week:
- April 20:
- High on Life 2 (arriving on Switch 2)
- Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege (PC)
- Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch (PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox Series)
- April 21:
- Albion Online (arriving on Xbox)
- Drop Duchy (arriving on PlayStation 5 and Switch)
- April 22:
- Clockwork Ambrosia (PC)
- Captured 2 (PC)
- April 23:
- Kingdom’s Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster (PC)
- Kumitantei: Old-School Slaughter (first episode, on PC)
- Dragon Is Dead (arriving on Xbox Series X, Switch, and PlayStation 5)
- Rumbral (PC and PlayStation 5)
- April 24:
- Little Nightmares VR: Altered Echoes (PC and PlayStation VR)
- Traysia (PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation)
