The first quarter of 2021 is coming to a close, and traditionally, it's one of the slowest times for new video game releases. New game releases should start heating up over the next few months before slowing down again in the summertime, and it looks like April is getting the second quarter started off with a bang.
April 2021 will consist of a variety of major new video game releases, including Outriders from People Can Fly, New Pokemon Snap on the Nintendo Switch, and the PlayStation 5 exclusive Returnal. There should be something to look forward to for players on all consoles, and it will definitely be interesting to see which game comes out of April as the most popular new release of the month.
Here are the 10 biggest new video game releases planned for April 2021.
Outriders (April 1)
April is kicking off with a bang. People Can Fly's Outriders is a new third-person shooter/RPG hybrid with a focus on co-op gameplay and the promise of providing players with a complete experience at launch instead of being yet another live service title. The Outriders demo has been met with enthusiasm by the community, and it will be interesting to see if that enthusiasm translates to strong sales for the game. Outriders will also be available through Xbox Game Pass on launch day, which should ensure that it has an even bigger community of players than it would have otherwise.
Outriders will be available on PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Oddworld: Soulstorm (April 6)
Oddworld: New 'n Tasty remade the original Oddworld game for modern audiences, and now Oddworld: Soulstorm is set to do the same for the sequel. Instead of being a straight remake of Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus, Oddworld: Soulstorm is more like a re-imagining, making some major gameplay changes when compared to the 1998 original. The dark humor and grittiness of the Oddworld franchise should still be intact, plus the game is an absolute stunner on PlayStation 5. And speaking of PS5, Oddworld is a free PS Plus game for April 2021, so subscribers will be able to add it to their digital collections at no extra charge.
Oddworld: Soulstorm is coming to PC, PS4, and PS5.
Star Wars: Republic Commando (April 6)
Star Wars: Republic Commando originally launched in 2005, but the game is set to get a new lease on life on modern platforms come April 6. An enhanced port of the original game, Star Wars: Republic Commando is the latest classic Star Wars game to get ported to new consoles. It's a tactical FPS about the Delta Squad group, with players taking on the role of RC-1338 in the campaign. The events of Star Wars: Republic Commando is technically no longer canon, but it should still make for a fun time for fans of the science-fiction franchise. And while this enhanced port is so far only releasing for PS4 and Switch, it's worth pointing out that the game can also be played on Xbox One and Xbox Series X consoles thanks to the backward compatibility program.
Star Wars: Republic Commando is coming to Switch and PS4.
Shadow Man Remastered (April 15)
The classic comic book-based game Shadow Man was re-released on PC in 2013, but now it's getting a full-blown remaster. Shadow Man Remastered boasts 4K resolution along with a variety of other graphical enhancements, plus brand new content that was cut from the original release. Developed by Nightdive Studios, Shadow Man Remastered should be the definitive way to experience the classic game, though it should be noted that PC gamers have first dibs. Those hoping to play Shadow Man Remastered on consoles will have to wait until an undetermined date later this year.
Shadow Man Remastered will be available for PC on April 15, with PS4, Switch, and Xbox One versions coming later this year.
MLB The Show 21 (April 20)
Sony's San Diego Studio has built an impressive reputation for itself, delivering one critically-acclaimed MLB The Show game after the next. This year's game is especially notable, however, as MLB The Show 21 will no longer be PlayStation exclusive. For the first time ever, an MLB The Show game is coming to Xbox consoles as well, with MLB The Show 21 slated for release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
While MLB The Show 21 coming to Xbox consoles is significant enough, it's not the only reason that this year's entry is historic. MLB The Show 21 also marks the franchise's debut on next-generation platforms, and that will include some next-gen exclusive features. One of the biggest next-gen exclusive features is the ability for MLB The Show 21 players to create their own ballparks, which can then be shared with other players online.
MLB The Show 21 is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139... (April 23)
Explaining Nier Replicant is a bit complicated. Essentially, there were two versions of the original Nier game released in 2010. One was Nier Gestalt, which was released worldwide and focused on an older protagonist, and the other was Nier Replicant, which was only available in Japan and featured a younger protagonist. Now an enhanced version of Nier Replicant is getting a wide release as Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139... for modern consoles. The success of Nier Automata means that there is likely many more fans of the Nier franchise than when the original game released, so it will be interesting to see if that results in stronger sales for this version.
Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139... is coming to PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Total War: Rome Remastered (April 29)
Video game release dates are usually announced months in advance, but one exception to that is the recently revealed Total War: Rome Remastered. A remaster of the critically-acclaimed Total War: Rome from 2004, Total War: Rome Remastered is going to bring a variety of enhancements while updating the game for modern audiences. Total War: Rome is widely considered to be one of the best games in the Total War franchise, and the upcoming remaster should ensure that it is able to reach an even wider audience.
Total War: Rome Remastered is coming to PC.
New Pokemon Snap (April 30)
April 30 is an especially stacked day for the video game industry when it comes to new releases. One of the new releases includes New Pokemon Snap, the long-awaited sequel to Pokemon Snap that fans of the Nintendo 64 original have been waiting decades for. New Pokemon Snap looks like a natural sequel to the original game, vastly improving the graphics and adding all kinds of new gameplay features to bring things up to modern standards. Of course, New Pokemon Snap features plenty of the new Pokemon that were introduced to the franchise between the release of the original Pokemon Snap and the new game, so there should be plenty of new creatures to snap photos of. Arguably one of the biggest Switch exclusives of 2021, New Pokemon Snap is also one of the most notable video game releases of April 2021.
New Pokemon Snap will be available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Returnal (April 30)
The Nintendo Switch isn't the only console with an exclusive new game launching on April 30. PlayStation 5 gamers can look forward to the release of Returnal, an intense-looking sci-fi shooter game that also features horror and roguelike elements. Developed by Resogun studio Housemarque, Returnal looks to be one of the studio's most ambitious games, as well as one of the most impressive-looking PS5 games so far from a visual standpoint. Housemarque's track record speaks for itself, so odds are that Returnal will live up to the hype, but fans will just have to wait and play it come April 30 to find out for sure.
Returnal is coming to PS5 as an exclusive game.
Terminator: Resistance Enhanced (April 30)
This is a weird one. For those who may have missed it, Terminator: Resistance originally launched in 2019, a first-person shooter that was met with generally unfavorable reviews. But while the original release of Terminator: Resistance was not exactly praised by critics, it still managed to find an audience of players who actually liked the game. And now Terminator: Resistance will get the chance to find an even larger audience as a remaster is coming as a PlayStation 5 exclusive game at the end of April. And those that already own the PS4 version can upgrade to the PS5 version for free.
Terminator: Resistance Enhanced is coming as a PS5 exclusive.