As we enter the last full week of April, we're finally back to a busy release schedule again. This week's AAA title apparently had some last minute bugs squashed just this week, so let's hope the released game delivers on its promise. As for the rest of this week you can look forward to a VR horror shooter, a side scrolling action-adventure medtroidvania game, a Robin Hood wannabe game, a dungeon crawler you can play with friends online, a game about a hermit crab, a JRPG and finally a very sandy action RPG.

Manor Lords / This week's AAA release / Friday 26 April / Early Access
Manor Lords is a strategy game that allows you to experience the life of a medieval lord. Grow your starting village into a bustling city, manage resources and production chains, and expand your lands through conquest. Inspired by the art and architecture of late 14th century Franconia, Manor Lords prioritizes historical accuracy wherever possible, using it to inform gameplay mechanics and visuals alike. Common medieval tropes are avoided in favor of historical accuracy, in order to make the world feel more authentic, colorful, and believable. Steam Link

Earlier this month, the world lost a one-of-a-kind creative talent with the news of Akira Toriyama's passing. While Dragon Ball will always be Toriyama-sensei's best-known work, he leaves behind a legacy full of many other imaginative worlds across games, anime, and manga. Before leaving us, he worked with Bandai Namco to flesh out one of his short manga creations further: Sand Land. Alongside a new anime series, Toriyama-sensei gave input on a videogame adaptation of Sand Land that would allow players to explore this unique world for themselves.

The classic manga Sand Land lives on in Bandai Namco's new game, which ventures beyond where the original story concludes. Read on to find out what new adventures await our mech-powered demon hero in the wetlands, caves, and Forest Land. Speaking of Forest Land, we also have a reveal of new gameplay from the woodland biome.

Bandai Namco has released a new action-packed trailer revealing the existence of Forest Land! This new world and characters have been imagined by creator Akira Toriyama specifically for the video game and animated series, expanding the world of Sand Land with new adventures. Beyond the dunes and the scorching desert sun, lies a lush and green nation called Forest Land. Although peaceful at first glance, this place is governed by a ferocious army opposing Sand Land. Leading this force is Muniel, fearsome despite his childlike features, he is determined to save his land by getting his hands on a supply of Aquanium, a powerful but dangerous resource, and he will not back down without a fight.

This is another challenge for Beelzebub, his friends and his new allies, promising a handful of explosive battles against each of the Forest Land's army generals. Supported by Ann, players will be able to count on her courage in battle and her excellent mechanical skills to make their vehicle more efficient and powerful. Sand Land is set to release on 26th April 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S and PC. A demo is available now on all platforms to take your first steps in Sand Land.

Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced the release of a playable demo on consoles and PC for Sand Land, the upcoming action RPG based on Akira Toriyama's original work (Dragon Ball, Dr. Slump). Sand Land is coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on April 26, 2024. For more information visit Sand Land's official site; pre-orders for Standard, Deluxe and Collector's Edition of the title are available now.

Beelzebub, Rao, and Thief are just about to hit the road. Fancy tagging along?
This explosive new demo invites players to experience a slice of the exciting vehicle and melee combat and exploration in Sand Land. Step into the roles of the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao as the band of heroic misfits journeys across this colorful world via Battle Tanks, Battle Armors, and Motorcycles. Fans who play the demo will receive 30 B-grade steel and 30 B-grade bolts in the final game after launch, which can be used to enhance vehicles in Spino.

Sea of Stars, a retro-inspired turn-based RPG, was released last summer—its single-player campaign received rave reviews, and player counts have exceeded expectations. Earlier today, indie development outfit—Sabotage Studios—celebrated another Sea of Stars-related milestone. A "Dance of Five Million Suns" video revealed that their hit title: "has been played by over 5 million people since launch. 5 MILLION. Every new player milestone we hit is absolutely mind-blowing to us. We're thrilled to see that this little world we built continues to connect with so many players around the world." A single-player expansion called "Throes of the Watchmaker" is in the works (launch date unknown), but Sabotage could be releasing a multi-player mode in the near future.

A freshly uploaded teaser video previews an upcoming "3-player couch co-op" update—Sabotage commented on this development: "Dubbed "Single Player+, this mode allows for three players to journey together in Sea of Stars. Staying true to the game's core turn-based roots, each player will engage in traversal and combat with a new 'Co-op timed hits' mechanic as they embark with friends on Sea of Stars' grand adventure. The new mode is currently in development and more details are set to be released soon." The very brief clip—eight seconds in length—features main characters (Zale, Valere, and Garl) navigating elevated islands. Presumably this recording captured Sabotage staffers controlling their playable protagonists.

The original Monster Hunter Stories game is back and coming to Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation 4! Become a Monster Rider and hatch, raise, and battle with your favorite monsties in this epic RPG adventure. Become a Monster Rider who raises monsters and forges lifelong bonds with them in this epic adventure set in a vast, vibrant world. Befriend monsters to transform them into your Monsties! Transfer genes between monsters to raise Monsties with their own unique attributes and skills! Utilize your Monstie's Riding Actions out in the field to discover everything the locales have to offer!

Guess your opponent's attack patterns and experience the excitement of mainline Monster Hunter titles while engaging in thrilling, turn-based battles with monsters.
In addition to featuring Japanese and English voice overs, this remastered version also includes a "Museum" mode where you can view concept art and listen to the game's music! Monster Hunter Stories launches on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PS4 on June 14 with refined graphics, a new Museum mode, and content previously released only in Japan. Ride on!

Prepare for your grand adventure, Arisen! Create your characters for Dragon's Dogma 2 in this free tool, available now! Customize the looks of your main character, the Arisen, and the looks and inclination of your companion, your Main Pawn. The character data created in this tool can be transferred to the base game of Dragon's Dogma 2. In this tool you can store up to 5 characters of each, the Arisen and your Main Pawn respectively. PC gamers can download the Dragon's Dogma 2 Character Creator & Storage tool via Steam.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is a single player, narrative driven action-RPG that challenges the players to choose their own experience - from the appearance of their Arisen, their vocation, their party, how to approach different situations and more - in a truly immersive fantasy world. You can pre-order the Standard Edition or the Digital Deluxe Edition of Dragon's Dogma 2 via the game's official site. Dragon's Dogma 2 will release worldwide on March 22.

ATLUS has announced Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, coming to the Nintendo Switch family of systems, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows and Steam on June 21, 2024. The latest title in the series, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance allows players to enjoy the story of Shin Megami Tensei V in its entirety, with a new story path, untold in the original. Massively expanded with new areas, demons, and music, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance features more accessible gameplay, an improved battle system, new demon experiences, and greater field exploration.

When a grisly murder scene in modern-day Tokyo blocks the protagonist's walk home, an unplanned detour leaves him buried and unconscious. He finds himself in a wasteland ravaged by apocalypse now called Da'at. Before bloodthirsty demons can claim his life, a savior emerges, and they unite to become a mighty being, neither human nor demon: a Nahobino.

Explore, fight and ride epic vehicles in this first SAND LAND gameplay overview. In a distant future, humans and demons live together in a desertic world deprived of water: the SAND LAND. To restore balance to the world, the Fiend Prince Beelzebub forms a strange trio with his chaperone Thief and the human Sheriff Rao. Together, they will set off on an epic journey, in search of the Legendary Spring. SAND LAND is an immersive and exciting Action-RPG, based on the manga by Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragon Ball. In this article, you will discover its environments, gameplay systems, and unique elements that will make your adventure unique and memorable.

EXPLORE TWO UNIQUE WORLDS
The long-lasting desert is yours to explore. Encounter unique creatures, dive into unique biomes such as canyons and dungeons, loot essential materials, but beware of a challenge that awaits: the King's Royal Army, commanded by the Supreme Commander Zeu, is coming… No respite allowed! The end is only the beginning, as beyond the dunes lies an unknown lush world to explore, populated by even more unique and dangerous enemies to overcome. Be ready to dive into an epic adventure!

For the second half of February, we have some surprise games, some not-so-surprise games, Perks, and a DLC—plenty to get you gaming now and to prime your pre-install buttons! Whether you boot up Bluey: The Videogame to play with the family, jump into Madden NFL 24 to try and recreate the big game how you would have played it, or just want to play Maneater to see what it'd be like to be an absolute menace as a shark, we have you covered. Let's get to the games!

Available Today:
Return to Grace (Cloud, Console, and PC)
A daring space archaeologist has just unearthed the ancient resting place of a long lost A.I. god known as Grace. Adventure with various fractured A.I. personalities as you uncover the great mystery of why she was shut down all those years ago in this first-person narrative adventure set in a visually stunning '60s retro sci-fi world.

A true blockbuster has come to PC—and we mean that strictly speaking! Dragon Quest Builders is out now for PC via Steam, with upgraded features and previously released DLC at no additional cost! Read on and we'll tell you all about it...The game is set in the world of Alefgard, a broken world where monsters roam the land and creativity is all but extinct. It's up to you to set things right, but as you're repeatedly told: you're not a hero. You're a builder. Over multiple areas, you'll rebuild this ruined world from scratch. You'll fulfil the many requests of the citizens of the world by gathering resources, constructing buildings, crafting items, battle dangerous bosses and ultimately make the world a better place one block at a time.

What is Dragon Quest Builders?
The game features a lengthy campaign where you'll complete multiple quests and play through a compelling story where the mysteries of the regions and world are revealed. You'll have to rely on your own wits and creativity to overcome the many challenges in each area, especially if you want to achieve the hidden bonus objectives too. While there's a tremendous amount of freedom in the main story, you can also indulge your creativity in the sandbox mode - a blank canvas of possibility where you can really push your imagination to the limit! It's an exceptional game, and the new PC version makes it even better with some awesome features and DLC from previous versions included.

A boundless sea of adventure and discovery awaits you in Ys X: Nordics! Join Adol Christin and his unlikely ally, the pirate Karja Balta, as they learn to work together to save the people of Obelia Gulf from the mysterious immortal monsters known as the Griegers. Exhilarating, fast-paced combat, a moving story of unexpected bonds, and naval exploration await you! Coming Fall 2024 to Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC!

About Ys X: Nordics
This journey takes place in the northern islands collectively known as Obelia Gulf. In this harsh land, the young adventurer, Adol Christin, encounters the Normans, a seafaring tribe, and is quickly drawn into the conflict between them, the townsfolk of Obelia Gulf, and the Griegr, undying monsters with mysterious agenda. Partnering up with the Norman warrior, Karja, Adol must take to the waters of Obelia Gulf, navigating vast stretches of ocean, consulting maritime maps, and even getting into naval battles with enemy ships. This latest title in the Ys series takes us back to a younger Adol, as he sets out on the open sea. Join him in his pursuit of the thrill of adventure!

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the newest installment in the Final Fantasy VII remake project and one of 2024's most-anticipated games, tells the tale of main protagonist Cloud Strife and his loyal companions who explore a massive world outside Midgar, the city of Mako, as they pursue Sephiroth, one of the most iconic antagonists in video game history.

Ahead of the full game's release on February 29, the demo releasing today allows you to not only take control of the protagonist, Cloud, but take full control of the legendary swordsman Sephiroth in battle. You will be able to play as Sephiroth as part of the extended flashback section, as Cloud recalls an earlier mission in his career as a Soldier - the Nibelheim incident. Taking place several years before the events of the game, this will set the stage for several important moments within Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. What's more, we're planning to release an update later this month that will allow you to explore part of the Junon region before the release of the full game on February 29. We hope you'll take this opportunity to venture into the world of Final Fantasy VII!

Granblue Fantasy: Relink is out now on PC, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. PlayStation Blog sat down with the General Director, Tetsuya Fukuhara, and Director Yasuyuki Kaji from Cygames to discuss the efforts that went into this title. Granblue Fantasy takes place in the Sky Realm, a world where myriad islands float in a great blue expanse. Take your role as captain of a skyfaring crew, joined by a scrappy little dragon named Vyrn and a young girl with mysterious powers named Lyria. Together you sail with a colorful cast of crewmates, including kings and misfits alike, for Estalucia, a fabled island beyond the end of the skies.

PlayStation Blog: Tell us your feelings and thoughts about the launched title.
Tetsuya Fukuhara: Just like most team members, the reality hasn't sunk in yet for me. With the support of the company, we were able to focus on the development of the game, and the demo version received a more positive response than we had hoped for, so I feel all the effort we made to make this title as exciting as possible has paid off.

Late last year, Square Enix unveiled Visions of Mana—the Japanese publisher stated that they had set a general 2024 launch window for their colorful action role-playing sequel, with a planned release across PC, plus current and past generation console platforms. Microsoft's recent Xbox Developer_Direct presentation included a prominent slot for Visions of Mana and its development team—many news outlets started to speculate about the ongoing relationship between Square Enix and Xbox Game Studios. The game appears to be scheduled for a "Summer 2024" launch, although some leaked material alludes to a "Day One" release on the Xbox and PC Game Pass subscription service.

Square Enix is perceived—by the wider gaming community—to have close ties to the Sony PlayStation ecosystem, due to a regular rollout of exclusive titles. For example, the Final Fantasy franchise back catalog is not well represented on Xbox systems—this could change in 2024 and beyond; a port of Final Fantasy XIV Online was announced by Phil Spencer last year at a Fan Fest event. The embracing of Xbox platforms is certainly a novel concept at this point in time, but Microsoft's gaming division has been fighting hard to form new allegiances. Eurogamer has reported that references that tie Visions of Mana to a "Day One Game Pass launch" have been scrubbed from the internet: "There's no longer any mention of Game Pass when searching for the game and its entry on the Xbox website simply states "coming summer 2024" on both console and PC. As such, this could be a mistake. But many fans are hopeful of its Game Pass arrival."

With his long silver hair, enormous odachi blade and epic theme song composed by legendary Nobuo Uematsu himself - Sephiroth is one of the most recognizable antagonists in RPG's history. The one-winged angel debuted in the original Final Fantasy VII in 1997 as a once-loved war hero and first-class SOLDIER who descended into madness and promised to destroy the planet upon learning of his unnatural creation. But there is much more to Sephiroth than just that. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, Sephiroth appears sporadically, mainly as a haunting memory, as the story focuses on Cloud and his friends trying to stop the evil corporation Shinra from killing the planet by using its life essence, mako, as an energy source.

In the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, however, we will see Sephiroth in his full glory. We asked Producer Yoshinori Kitase to discuss reimagining this iconic character in the Remakes: "The story in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth starts after the team has escaped Midgar and continues all the way up to the Forgotten Capital. In the original game, Sephiroth barely appeared during this section, but in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, he is the driving force that pulls the story along to fill that void. He is depicted in even more depth than in the original game, and I think this makes him an even more charismatic and appealing antagonist than before."

As we're about to enter February, there are a bunch of new releases to look forward to this coming week, oddly enough many of them Japanese, just like this past week. This week's major release is based on a DC comics movie, which may or may not be appealing. As for the rest of this coming week's releases, we got a turn-based roguelike, some corsairs, punching, but only once, a fantasy action RPG, an anime 3D fighter and a JRPG. Hopefully there's something here for almost everyone.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League / This week's major release / Friday 2 February
From Rocksteady Studios, the creators of the Batman: Arkham series, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a genre-defying third-person action shooter where the ultimate band of misfits must do the impossible to save the world: Kill the Justice League. Join the newly "recruited" members of Amanda Waller's infamous Task Force X (aka the Suicide Squad), Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and King Shark, as they set out on an impossible mission to Kill the Justice League. Drop into an expansive and dynamic open-world Metropolis ravaged by Brainiac's invasion and terrorized by the heroes who once protected it.

Experience an epic emotional drama. Two larger-than-life heroes brought together by the hand of fate, or perhaps something more sinister…Ichiban Kasuga, an unstoppable underdog who's no stranger to crawling up from rock bottom, and Kazuma Kiryu, a broken man facing down his last days. Join the fight with best-in-class RPG action. Experience one-of-a-kind combat with dynamic, fast-paced RPG battles where the battlefield becomes your weapon, and anything goes. Adapt your party's skills to the situation with outlandish jobs and customizations to strategically subdue enemies with over-the-top moves.

Prepare for infinite adventure—live it up in Japan and explore all that Hawaii has to offer in an adventure so big it spans the Pacific. Unforgettable moments await at every step of the journey with a unique mix of quests and activities to enjoy at your leisure. Will Kiryu accept his fate? How will Ichiban blaze a path of hope? And… wait, Tomizawa is a lovable what? Learn more about the personalities & motivations of the main characters from Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

Visions of Mana is a game of many firsts. It's the first entirely new mainline Mana game for more than 15 years. It's the first game to offer such sprawling 3D worlds and freedom to explore them. And—perhaps most excitingly for the readers of this blog—it's the first Mana game to release on Xbox! Of course, that means that some of you may not be entirely familiar with this franchise. You may be wondering: What makes this one of the most beloved Square Enix series out there? Why did this announcement and trailer for Visions of Mana shown at The Game Awards 2023—and its surprise appearance in Developer_Direct—make people so giddy and excited. Let's start by introducing you to this brand new adventure.

What is Visions of Mana?
This sprawling new single-player action RPG puts you in the shoes of Val—a curious and carefree young man and skilled fighter. One eventful night, his childhood friend is chosen as an alm—someone who must travel to the Mana Tree and rejuvenate the flow of mana power. Val joins her as the Soul Guard to protect her on her journey, and an epic adventure begins. As Val, you'll explore vast areas, battle monsters, gain allies, and uncover the many secrets of this expansive world. And what a world it is! As you can see from the screenshots and trailer, it's a beautifully vibrant game with rich colors and expressive characters. The beauty is matched by equally appealing combat. Aerial combat allows for physical and magic attacks in mid-air, and the grand and mysterious powers of the Elemental spirits can assist players in the form of specialized weapons.. It's fast-paced, strategic, and endlessly satisfying.

It's the start of a New Year, and what better way to celebrate than with a new look at one of 2024's most exciting games! Our brand new trailer takes you deeper into the game to offer another tantalizing tease of what to expect. Take a look (below). Final Fantasy VII Rebirth launches for PS5 on February 29, 2024 and is set to be a truly epic adventure. The highly anticipated new standalone story in the critically acclaimed Final Fantasy VII remake project—winner of Most Anticipated game at The Game Awards. Here's just a taste of some of the places you'll get to explore… and some of the compelling characters you'll meet along the way.

ABOUT FFVII:RB
FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH is the highly anticipated new story in the FINAL FANTASY VII remake project, a reimagining of the iconic original game into three standalone titles by its original creators. In this game, players will enjoy various new elements as the story unfolds, culminating in the party's journey to "The Forgotten Capital" from the original FINAL FANTASY VII.

Welcome to the first week of new games of 2024, although the first week of the year isn't exactly starting with a bang. In fact, there are so few new releases that we couldn't even get one per day, but luckily there were enough new games being released on other days for a full roundup. We got everything from bootleggers to tiny cars and a point and click adventure to keep you busy this coming week.

Bootlegger's Mafia Racing Story / Monday 1 January
Step back in time to the roaring 1930s and immerse yourself in the high-stakes world of bootlegging during America's Prohibition era. Get ready to join John Hamerton, a retired car engineer and mechanic, as he embarks on a daring journey to save his house and pay off his tax debt.

Here's a sight for sore eyes if you're Mana fan - we're excited to announce an entirely new entry in the series coming in 2024: Visions of Mana! This beautiful new game is the first mainline instalment in the Mana series in over 15 years and returns to its action-RPG roots for an expansive, vibrant adventure across a semi-open field. You can get a look at what to expect in the new trailer or read on and we'll tell you all about this exciting and vibrant new adventure!

What is Visions of Mana?
You take the role of Val - a curious and carefree young man who lives in the Fire Village of Tianeea. Once every four years, the Faerie visits regions of the world to choose alms - people who are fated to travel to the Tree of Mana, which presides over the world's vital flow of mana. Val invites his childhood friend to a festival to welcome the visitor, but as the night falls, the sky lights up with sparkling lights and the Faerie chooses her as the alm. With the blessings of his village, Val sets out on a journey to accompany his friend to the Tree of Mana as her soul guard.

As we enter the last week of November and the first day of December, we might not have any AAA releases, but this week's major release does nonetheless hold a high production value and promises something a bit different when it comes to WWII RTS games. This week's other releases involve shapes, a JRPG, a retro FPS, something to do with the Sheriff of Nottingham and finally a world of steam.

Last Train Home / This week's major release / Tuesday 28 November
Embark on a desperate mission through the depths of a war-torn wasteland. Your goal is to guide Czechoslovak soldiers back home onboard an armored train, but the path ahead is fraught with peril. Caught in the middle of a brutal civil war between Russia's Red and White Armies, your unit must remain in fighting shape, managing what little resources you have and maintaining morale at all costs. Venture through the bleak and unforgiving landscape of Siberia, where the freezing cold and the merciless environment will push you to your very limit. Resources are scarce and your crew is exhausted, but you must keep pushing forward.

Hello everyone - my name is Kei Komaki, I am the producer and together with Yuichiro Kitao, Development Producer and Director we want to give fans and newcomers a deep dive into the development process of Star Ocean The Second Story R! This brand-new remake of the classic PlayStation-era RPG launches for PS5 & PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC (Windows) on November 2, and expands the original adventure with revamped mechanics, a rearranged soundtrack with new music, and a bold new 2.5D art style. The whole team has put their heart and soul into this epic adventure, so as the game launches, I thought I'd take you behind the scenes and explain how we approached the challenge of remaking such a beloved game.

The remaster takes off
The first thing you may be wondering is: why remake Star Ocean The Second Story at all? The simple answer is that the fans continually requested it. Even as we continued to develop new instalments in the series, such as 2022's Star Ocean The Divine Force, fans kept asking for the return of Star Ocean The Second Story. This year is the 25th anniversary of the game's original release, so naturally we started thinking about what we could do to mark the occasion. At the time, I was lucky enough to meet Yuichiro Kitao from Gemdrops, Inc., who would go on to work on the development. We discussed the project, and he quickly got on board with the idea of a remake.

Hello, Doods! We're very excited that Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless is out now! For console as well as PC players, the development team has worked hard to provide a version that can be enjoyed by everyone. Unique considerations have been made for playing the game on PC so that it works on decked-out rigs, the portable Steam Deck, and everything else in between.

Celebrate the launch of Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless with exclusive launch savings for a limited time! Take advantage of discounts up to 30% as well as exclusive giveaway items now through October 16, 2023. Save an additional 5% on the Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Deluxe Edition, and an additional 10% on the Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless Ultimate Edition which comes with loads of added bonuses including cosmetic and weapon DLC, Bonus Stories, a digital soundtrack and Art Book, and more!