Gaming

New video games worth playing for the week of 4/22/24

Check out what’s new in the world of video games this week.

April 22, 2024

Spring has sprung, and with it promises indie darlings and Triple A hits releasing week after week. This year has a lot to live up to compared to 2023’s best releases, but it’s off to a strong start so far.

Let’s check out what video games are hitting storefronts this week.

Sand Land (4/26)

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S

Akira Toriymama’s unheralded manga captures a new audience in the form of an open world action RPG. Sand Land takes Toriyama’s love of drawing vehicles to the max with endless possibilities of vehicle and tank customization, giving you an abundance of choice in how you take down enemies and traverse the desert. As Beezlebub, you’ll lead a gang of misfits in search of the Legendary Spring to help alleviate their dire water shortage.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau (4/23)

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S

Tales of Kenzera: Zau looks to be the year’s next great metroidvania. Calling upon his own grief over losing his father, Abubakar Salim, best known as the voice actor for Assassin Creed Odyssey‘s Bayek, crafted the story of Tales of Kenzera: Zau where a young man must venture to mythological lands to reclaim the spirit of his father. Inspired by Bantu tales, the world of Zau is beautiful and full of color and depth. Gameplay is fast and rhythmic; you can freeze enemies and manipulate time or wound them with fiery spears.

Stellar Blade (4/26)

Platform: PS5

Stellar Blade looks to continue Sony’s impressive start to 2024. The PS5-exclusive is set after monstrous alien invaders have driven humans from the Earth. You’ll play as Eve — whom some dub “Angel” — as she fights to take back Earth and aid the remaining humans who were unable to flee off-world. Gameplay is fast and furious as Eve will use a variety of melee weapons and firearms to take down enemy Naytiba and epic bosses. Stellar Blade will make full use of the advantages the PS5 has on offer, including haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and Tempest 3D AudioTech.

TopSpin 2K25 (4/26)

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

After thirteen years and two console generations, the TopSpin series returns with TopSpin 2K25. It will emulate and iterate upon everything the prior games did so well with deep gameplay, challenging Grand Slam tournaments (including Wimbledon!), and a roster featuring over two dozen modern-day superstars and legends of yesteryear. You’ll create your own player in MyCareer and battle to achieve the number one ranking. While it sounds promising, TopSpin 2K25 is 2K’s first tennis game since microtransactions really began to permeate their titles, and the inclusion of a battle pass has me feeling a little trepidatious. Regardless, I am glad to have a top-notch tennis game arriving on the current console gen.

Also worth adding to your wishlist: Another Crab’s Treasure, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, Lunar Lander: Beyond, and Phantom Fury.