Ah, April. The birds are singing. The bees are having sex. Or at least, that’s how I understand it. And all the while, it’s probably raining. Well, at least in the northern hemisphere. So why not enjoy the rain from the inside and cuddle up with a fresh, delicious batch of indies?
This month, I went overboard. I was working from behind last year. I’ve always had a nose for indies, but I had never cataloged them or made any effort beyond wishlisting. This year, I have built up enough indies coming soon that every month is a pretty big list.
If you’re using social media and you don’t follow Dominic Tarason or Casey Explosion, they’re both great for highlighting indies. Garden of Indie and Indie Watcher are two more great resources for finding indie games.
Of course, if you’re not the social media type or just prefer to get your indie recs in one big batch, I’ve got you covered. I had a good time checking out all of these games. I hope one of them jumps out at you.
Fishbowl
Platforms: PC, PlayStation | Release Date: 4/2/2026
Fishbowl has players taking on the role of Alo, a sweet 21-year-old girl who has just moved into a new apartment in a new city after graduating college. Her first job is a junior video editor with a popular video content company.
Players must help Alo as she navigates her new job during a lockdown, dealing with the death of her close grandmother, and struggling to maintain contact with the world she left behind. Joined by her wind-up fish Paplet and a contact list full of old friends and new, help Alo connect her new life to old memories in this beautiful visual novel.
Fishbowl releases on April 2nd, 2026, for PC and PlayStation 5. Any interest at all should come with a wishlist, and if it seems interesting to you, a demo is available on the game’s Steam page.
[Vladimere Lhore’s] Bone Fire Effigy
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 4/6/2026
Bone Fire Effigy is a really novel look at the beginnings of something new. Originally released on itch.io in June of 2025, the Steam version must have something new, as the developer changed the estimated play time from 20 – 50 minutes to 30 – 60 minutes.
In the center of a forest, a fire is built. But the flames quickly dwindle, so the player must collect fuel to keep them going. You’re not alone in the forest, but only one of you is feeding the fire. Keep an eye on her, though, or things might get out of hand.
[Vladimere Lhore’s] Bone Fire Effigy releases on April 6th, 2026, for PC via Steam. A wishlist will remind you when the game releases and a demo is available on the game’s Steam page. Also, it’s already out on itch.io!
People of Note
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: 4/7/2026
I hope we all have a little musical influence on all of us. Cadence certainly does. She wants to become a big pop star. To do this, Cadence wants to participate in the Noteworthy Song Contest. Unfortunately, to participate, you need a band.
People of Note is a turn-based RPG in which players navigate a melodic world full of puns and musical influences to form a band and win the Noteworthy Song Contest. Build a band, fight powerful bosses, and help Cadence achieve her dream.
People of Note releases on April 7th, 2026, for PC, PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Wishlisting a game you think looks cool is always appropriate, and if you want to check it out, a demo is available on the game’s Steam page.
ChainStaff
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: 4/8/2026
Boy, the world’s really gone to shit, hasn’t it? Crazy alien things are flying around thanks to the Star Spores, and now, an alien has attached itself to YOUR head! Luckily, you have the one thing that’s going to save humanity. The ChainStaff.
ChainStaff is a 2D action platformer that has you shooting aliens and bugs in very novel and strange environments. They’re all cool as hell looking though. And when you come across humans needing your help, you can help them. Or suck their brains for upgrades!
ChainStaff releases on April 8th, 2026, for PC, PlayStation, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. You can wishlist the game to do your part, and a demo is available on the Steam page.
The House of Hikmah
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 4/8/2026
This is a little out of my wheelhouse as a white dude from the U.S., but The House of Hikmah is a very beautiful 3D platformer that’s heavy on the narrative. And it’s fully voiced! Maya is a 14-year-old girl who is looking to find out more about her father after his passing.
Maya’s father left behind an heirloom that allows Maya to alter the alchemical properties of items. By doing this, she’s able to solve physics puzzles that help her navigate the house, finding lost journal pages and discovering the secrets of the mysterious shadows lurking about.
The House of Hikmah will release on April 8th, 2026, for PC via Steam. You can help Maya a bit by throwing the game on your wishlist, and a demo is available on the game’s Steam page.
Gears of Glory
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 4/9/2026
I don’t know how they got into this situation, but the player controls a truck that drives around, hits robots, and collects gears. The truck then uses its gears to build a tower on its back, which it places around a city to shoot at robots.
Gears of Glory is a tower defense game that puts the player behind the wheel of an armored truck. The truck itself can hit and run over robots to give currency to build and upgrade towers. Pretty simple premise, but it’s executed well, and there’s an infinite mode which is pretty killer.
Gears of Glory releases on April 9th, 2026, on PC via Steam. Wishlist to keep the robots at bay, or check out the demo available on the game’s Steam page to try before you buy.
High Above
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 4/9/2026
In tumultuous times, one must take a moment to do something creative to clear the mind. Some people create art, others record music, and some write about indie games. If you like, though, you could create a cozy rooftop space for you and your friends.
High Above gives you the creative tools to create a cozy little rooftop space, to decompress without timed objectives or high stakes gaming. Just you, a little music, and a space up in the clouds. For those who like completing objectives, there are some of those as well if you’d like to create a space for others as well.
High Above releases on April 9th, 2026, for PC. Wishlist to begin the decompression process and, if you like, enjoy a cozy demo available on the game’s Steam page.
Moses & Plato – Last Train to Clawville
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 4/14/2026
The ambassador to Stowonia’s been shot! Unfortunately, the only other person in the train car with Ambassador Ignat Alexei Ivarrinich is the very fox that was tasked with protecting him. Now, everyone on the train believes Moses is the killer.
Trust your gut and listen to your eyes, nose, and ears at this point & click detective mystery. Moses & Plato – Last Train to Clawville is a gorgeously presented whodunnit that’s fully voiced with some fairly emotive animals.
Mosese & Plato – Last Train to Clawville releases on April 14th, 2026, on PC. Wishlist to help Moses find the real suspect, or head on over to the game’s Steam page to test your detective instincts with the demo.
REPLACED
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S | Release Date: 4/14/2026
Warren is working in his lab when his AI, Reach, alerts him to the instability of his brain function. Ignoring him, things go awry when the lab starts to explode, and the police show up. Reach assures Warren the police are here to help, but Warren quickly finds out that’s not the case.
REPLACED has come a long way since I was given a preview of the game in 2025. The cinematic 2.5D platforming is top notch, and the game is absolutely stunning to look at. A cinematic platformer that kicks hard and just keeps kicking.
REPLACED releases on April 14th, 2026, for PC and Xbox Series X|S. I don’t need to remind you that wishlists are always appreciated, and a demo is available on both the Steam page and the Xbox website.
Cleaning Up!
Platforms: PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: 4/15/2026
One thing I’ve always dreamed of doing is working a cleaning gig. Well, today my dream was realized when I played Cleaning Up! Players take the role of a cleaning gig worker breaking up grime and sucking up trash in their mega vacuum with a canister that grows as it fills.
Cleaning Up! Is sufficiently pithy about the gig economy and takes several shots at AI chatbots, which was fun. But the real joy came when I had to use all the tools in my cleaning arsenal to make sure I didn’t break any priceless vases. I only broke one!
Cleaning Up! releases on April 15th, 2026, on PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. Wishlist to show how much you want to be a gig worker, and if you’d like to try before you buy, a demo is available on the Steam page.
Blades, Bows and Magic
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 4/20/2026
Blades, Bows and Magic is a PvP-style deckbuilder. Your deck is your army, and the game follows a very simple rock, paper, scissors method to determine win/loss. At the end of the round, the survivor’s cards get another attack at your commander card.
I had to stop myself from playing more of Blades, Bows and Magic. Many of the cards you acquire through the campaign have fun abilities that trigger for various reasons and can completely change the battle makeup. Blades, Bows and Magic, I forgive you for not using the Oxford comma.
Blades, Bows and Magic releases on April 20th, 2026, for PC via Steam. Wishlisting shows your interest, don’t be coy! If you can’t wait to try it out, a demo is available on the game’s Steam page.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch | Release Date: 4/27/2026
It’s time to hibernate. Moominmama and Moominpapa have prepared the whole house for winter, and it’s time for Moomintroll to sleep. Don’t worry, though, when you wake up, it’ll be spring again, and everything will be new!
Unfortunately, Moominpapa didn’t do a great job locking things down. A squirrel has managed to break in, and now, Moomintroll can’t get back to sleep! Even worse, the winter creatures are nowhere to be found! Help Moomintroll experience winter for the first time and save the winter creatures of Moomin Valley.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth releases on April 27th, 2026, for PC and Nintendo Switch. A little wishlist won’t hurt you, especially for such a beautiful and charming game. Don’t believe me? A demo is available on the game’s Steam page. Check it out!
Lunchbreak Tactics
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 4/28/2026
Lunchbreak Tactics is a hybrid deckbuilder auto-battler, where anything in the store is a weapon! That store is Anymart because you just got a new job there! Condolences. Your hand is full of items from around the store that can be used as creatures or items.
Creatures are your frontline, and items can be used to either enhance them (permanently or temporarily) or act as a piece of equipment. I managed to pick up Lunchbreak Tactics quickly, and with its simplicity and battle flow, it was easy to make some killer teams.
Lunchbreak Tactics releases on April 28th, 2026, for PC via Steam. Wishlist to avoid being sucked into corporate servitude, or check out the demo available on the game’s Steam page if you’re unsure.
Bobo Bay
Platforms: PC | Release Date: 4/29/2026
Bobo Bay is a pet-breeding simulator game not unlike the Chao Gardens of yore. As Bobo Bay’s newest resident, you’ll be tasked with raising a Bobo and customizing it to compete in the various trials and sagas around the island.
With your winnings, you can improve your Bobo, but don’t forget that the town needs help too. Public works projects require money, but they can be used to open new shops so you can buy new stuff for your gardens.
Bobo Bay releases on April 29th, 2026, for PC via Steam. Wishlist to let the Bobos know you love them, or find your own with the demo available on the game’s Steam page.
If you read this far, thank you. This is a lot of work with very little payoff. If you enjoyed the article, please feel free to let me know on BlueSky or via e-mail. And I hope you found a couple of indies to support during these trying times.
Don’t forget to wishlist a game if you’re interested, check out the demo if one is available, and talk with your friends about games. I can only reach so many people, and more eyes on indies is usually a good thing.
Of course, if there’s a game coming up you want to see covered, feel free to email us at will@monstervine.com or ping our BlueSky account. You can also email me or ping me on BlueSky. I love hearing from devs. We’re always scoping out games to cover, so we appreciate the help. See you next month!
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