5 Biggest Video Games of April 2019

April is here, and the game release line-up is no joke. From some zombie-survival scenarios to the highly-anticipated return of gaming’s veteran spine-breaker, here are our picks for the games arriving this month:

Days Gone

Release date: 26 April 2019 (PS4) | Pre-order Days Gone here.

Days Gone is the next incumbent AAA title hitting the PS3 this month. Developed by SIE Bend Studio, who was behind Uncharted: The Golden Abyss for the PSVita, Days Gone is a dystopian third-person survival horror that’s set some time after the majority of humanity was killed by a virus, with many of the survivors being turned into zombies called ‘freakers’. You play Deacon St. John as he goes in search of his wife, equipped with his trusty motorcycle that you can upgrade as the game goes on. It’s also got a day/night cycle and dynamic weather system that alters gameplay and environmental conditions to keep players on their toes. It seems to be aiming at a mash-up between The Last of Us and Dying Light, and considering their respective successes, that’s probably not a bad thing.

Mortal Kombat 11

Release date: 23 April 2019 (Xbox One | PS4 | Switch | PC) | Pre-order Mortal Kombat 11 here.

It’s been four years since Mortal Kombat X was released back in 2015 – which, in gaming terms, is kind of an eternity – but fans have something exciting to look forward to later in April. In addition to the spine-ripping, head-tearing gameplay we’ve become accustomed to, it introduces three new mechanics: Krushing Blow, Fatal Blow, and Flawless Block. Krushing Blow is a is a special cinematic version of a given move for a character, but that only becomes available when certain conditions have been met, Fatal Blow is a high-damage move that’s available when the user’s health is below 30%, and the Flawless Block is a retaliation window that occurs when a player precisely times a block. It looks gorgeous too, and will no doubt supply MK fans with enough blood-splattered brutality that they’ve been craving.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

Release date: 16 April 2019 (Nintendo Switch) | Pre-order Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD here.

The Final Fantasy franchise went through a bit of a drought up until FFXV was released a little while back, and a remake for FFVII is coming up soon, but most established fans will tell you the best entries in the franchise are from quite a few years past. FFX is one of those titles, and the remastered double set of X and X-2 will be arriving on Switch for Nintendo gamers to enjoy. FFX had one of the better stories when looking back at the franchise, so a whole new generation of gamers can enjoy Tidus and Co.’s antics, along with the fan-favourite ‘Sphere Grid’ system that allowed players to customise their characters with far more flexibility than in most previous FF titles. Overall it’s one of the most highly rated in the franchise, so a growing list of consoles having access to it definitely is a good thing.

World War Z

Release date: 16 April 2019 (Xbox One | PS4 | PC) | Pre-order World War Z here.

Planning on getting Days Gone but still need more zombie apocalypse goodness this month? No problem – World War Z has you covered. Although it might seem a little ambitious to be releasing another zombie dystopia third-person shooter in the same month that Days Gone is releasing, it looks like WWZ will be scratching a different itch. It’s a four-player co-op shooter based in the universe of the movie, but it’s effectively one massive horde mode game designed to be enjoyed with some teammates. It appears to be focused a lot more on fast-paced, adrenalin-pumping shoot-‘em-up action rather than being a well-rounded AAA title like Days Gone is, but horde-mode shooters definitely carry a lot of mass-appeal.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

Release date: 23 April 2019 (Switch) | Pre-order Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen here.

Insanely difficult hack ‘n slash survival games are a unique genre unto themselves, and Switch users are getting some more goodies with Capcom’s Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen to sink their teeth into. Originally released on PS3 and Xbox 360 before getting an upgrade on the PS4 and Xbox One, Dark Arisen features a passing resemblance to the famed Dark Souls franchise, but shares a few hallmarks with games like Shadow of the Colossus as well, although it’s an open-world game which offers a slightly different approach, the game still focuses on gruelling boss fights and massive monster-hunts. So if painstaking and brutally difficult battles, unenviable frustration, and one of the best action adventure experiences around, then definitely consider giving Dragon’s Dogma a shot.

Which gaming releases are you most excited for this month? Let us know by tweeting @MenStuffZA, posting on our Facebook page, or commenting below.