This Week in Gaming (Week 17)

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, another JRPG and finally a very sandy action RPG.

Manor Lords / This week’s AAA release / Friday 26 April

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

Convergence / This week’s VR title / Monday 22 April
Convergence is an immersive single-player VR shooter with survival and horror elements. Explore the Chernokamensk exclusion zone: scavenge for loot, fight bandits and hunt for mystical artifacts. However be sure to return to base before duskfall, for when night arrives the hunter becomes the hunted. Steam LinkTales of Kenzera: ZAU / Tuesday 23 April
Wield the dance of the shaman. Reclaim your father’s spirit. Brave the beautiful and treacherous land of Kenzera with the God of Death in Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, a metroidvania-style adventure crafted by Surgent Studios. Steam LinkBellwright / Tuesday 23 April
Establish and expand your own settlements, liberate the land and assist its villagers, and recruit others to your cause while learning more about a life you had to leave behind. Command your forces, prove your valor through combat, and cement yourself as the hero of your people. Steam LinkRotwood / Wednesday 24 April
The world has been thrown into chaos, and it’s up to you and your friends to battle the corrupted beasts of the Rotwood. Upgrade your gear, choose your preferred weapon, and hone your skills to defend your safe haven. Steam LinkAnother Crab’s Treasure / Thursday 25 April
Another Crab’s Treasure is a soulslike adventure set in a crumbling underwater world. As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean. Steam LinkSaGa Emerald Beyond / Thursday 25 April
The latest standalone entry in the SaGa franchise, SaGa Emerald Beyond, brings together the very best elements of the beloved series to offer each player their own unique gameplay experience. Make use of glimmers and combos in battle; meet a diverse cast of races, including monsters, mechs, and vampires; and experience your very own story, created through your choices and actions. Steam LinkSand Land / Friday 26 April
Dive into a desert world where both humans and demons suffer from an extreme water shortage – Sand Land. Meet the Fiend Prince Beelzebub, his chaperone Thief, and the fearless Sheriff Rao, and follow the team on an extraordinary adventure in search of the Legendary Spring hidden in the desert. The end is only the beginning, as beyond this arid ground lies a new realm to explore. Steam Link