Personal Picks: April Video Games

It’s the end of April, and this month has been absolutely packed with game releases, especially toward the end, with the likes of Oblivion Remastered being shadow-dropped and Expedition 33 launching to incredibly high praise. But those aren’t the only standout titles this month. In fact, there’s almost too much to keep up with, so I hope I can help you decide how to spend your time.

1. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered

Platforms: PC, Xbox S/X (Gamepass), PS5 | Developer: Virtuos | Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

This week, we saw the shadow drop of Oblivion Remastered, the worst kept secret in gaming. I’ve been following this one for a while, and I’m glad to finally say: it’s gorgeous (on high-end PC’s) and still very much Oblivion, warts and all. This remaster is the original game with Unreal Engine handling the visuals. It also brings a bunch of fixes and gameplay changes, like improved combat that feels more in line with Skyrim, an overhauled leveling system that addresses the problems of the original, and new voice acting to expand the originally limited cast.

If you’re looking for a hit of nostalgia or have only played Skyrim, I can easily recommend jumping into Oblivion Remastered. It’s the same game, just improved visually and in mechanically, and includes all the DLC. Hopefully, it can enchant you the way it did me when I first played it when I was 7. I do have some problems with the game, mostly performance and a few things I think they should have done, but I’m saving those for a review, and my recommendation still stands.

2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Platforms: PC, Xbox S/X (Gamepass), PS5 | Developer: Sandfall Interactive, Sandfall S.A.S. | Publisher: Kepler Interactive

I’m only a couple of hours into Expedition 33, but from the prologue alone, it’s clear this is one of those games that you just know is going to be special. Everything was on point, the emotional music, strong writing, and a unique premise that I don’t know how is going to unfold.

Without giving too much away, the game is about an expedition to kill a being called “The Paintress,” who paints a new number each year, and everyone that age and up will die. The expedition is mostly consists of people with one year left to live, as they desperately push forward.

The gameplay is turn based, similar to Persona, but with real-time dodging and parrying elements. That means that no-hit runs are very possible, and if you’re skilled, you can take on enemies well above your level. The game does throw a lot of information at you, especially in the gameplay department, but it’s not as complicated as it may initially sound.

Please consider giving this game a try, especially if you have gamepass, I don’t think you will be disappointed if the reviews for this game are anything to go by.

3. Baldur’s Gate 3, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and Lords of the Fallen

I know this is cheating in a packed month, but I’ve got more to say about games that I’m interested in, than those I don’t.

Baldur’s Gate 3, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, and Lords of the Fallen, are all games that have received a substantial update this month that makes them worth revisiting, or if you haven’t played them, then you definitely should.

The Baldur’s Gate 3 update has added twelve new subclasses, one for every class, including fan favourites such as the Hexblade. BG3 is a game I have over 600 hours in, and with the addition of new subclass options. I’ll probably spend another couple hundred hours playing with the amount of new potential builds that can shake the game up again.

As for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, the update introduced a hardcore mode where you pick penalties that will affect your entire playthrough. These range from reduced XP gain to sleepwalking and waking up somewhere random. Not to mention that you’ll need to ask for directions to find out where you need to go. This update isn’t for everyone, but for me, I can’t wait until I have more time to jump back in and suffer.

Lords of the Fallen has had a major overhaul, from UI improvements to updated character creation, better combat and movement, and even a new jump button. The feature I’m most interested in though is the shared co-op progression and a handy new friend pass system similar to Hazelight Studios’ games. While the game has mixed reviews, my friends swear by it, and I’ve yet to play it, but I plan on correcting that.

to things like improved combat and movement, updated character creation, a jump button, and the one I’m most interested in, full shared progression co-op. Though the game has mixed reviews, it’s one that my friends swear by and one that I’m yet to play. More good news is that the game now has a friend pass system, similar to Hazelight studios games, where only one player requires the game. I’ll defintelty be giving this a try, and from some more recent positive reviews for the game, maybe you should too.

4. The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-

Platforms: PC, Switch | Developer: Too Kyo Games, Media.Vision | Publisher: Aniplex Inc.

The latest work from the creators of Danganronpa has released, and I’m about 13 Hours in so far. The game follows the familiar visual novel style, featuring 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds, but also with a Tactical, tower defense-style gameplay that is quite fun, but a little easy.

With how closely this game mirrors Danganronpa, you might wonder why they didn’t just make another one, hell they keep referencing it 13 hours in. That said, the game has a compelling mystery and a cast of characters that, while they took a bit of warming up to, have grown on me. The one element it hasn’t quite captured yet is the emotional stakes and tension that the class trials brought together. Something I’m hoping to see as I progress.

In The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- Students are chosen to defend an important secret held at the Last Defense Academy, one tied to the end of the world. Almost everything is surrounded in mystery: the enemy, the Tokyo complex where humanity resides, and the cast’s special powers. There’s not much more I can say without spoilers, and being only 13 hours in, I still don’t understand most of it.

So far, Last Defense Academy has been a good time. It’s definitely slower-paced, and I bet some reveals are saved for the subsequent playthroughs, especially considering this game has over 100 endings! If you’re a fan of Danganronpa, I think you will find this enjoyable, and I plan on reviewing it once I finish a few endings.