Sell books or shoot spaceships, your choice
April is a jam-packed month full of new games to check out, like the recently released People of Note and the upcoming Pragmata. But sometimes the best way to spend a weekend gaming is by revisiting an old favorite, and you’ll find plenty those on Xbox Game Pass. This week’s recommendations include your next cozy escape, an underappreciated twin-stick shooter, and one of the best (and cutest) Zeldalikes around.
1
Tiny Bookshop
As a former bookseller, I was smitten with Tiny Bookshop when it launched for Nintendo Switch and Windows PC last summer. It offered a cozy alternative to a real-life headache I knew all too well. It lands on Xbox Game Pass (and PlayStation 5) on April 10, and is primed to be a sleeper hit on the service. In Tiny Bookshop, you move to a quaint town on the coast to set up shop. Befriend the locals, sell ’em books, acquire new decorations, and embrace the quiet life. And adopt a dog! That alone makes it a 10/10. —Austin Manchester
2
Minishoot’ Adventures
Sometimes, it takes a game a few years for a game to find the recognition it deserves. That’s the case for Minishoot’ Adventures. The twin-stick shooter meets top-down Zelda game launched on PC in 2024, where it earned some buzz from players in the know. I played it at the time and was absolutely charmed by this wonderfully constructed space shooter that seamlessly blended bullet-hell action with open-ended exploration and tons of secrets to discover. With its console launch last month, I’ve seen a lot more people discover this indie gem that’s hard not to love. That could be you, if you give it a try this weekend. —Giovanni Colantonio
3
Tunic
Why stop at one Zeldalike for the weekend? Tunic proudly wears its Zelda inspirations on its sleeve. You explore dungeons as an adorable orange fox while solving puzzles and dodge-rolling your way through combat. Part of the fun (and frustration) of Tunic is how old-school it is. You collect manual pages throughout, explaining just how to play the game. The catch? They’re in a made-up language, and it’s up to you to decipher what they’re trying to communicate. If you get stuck, though, there are always guides to reference. No shame! —AM
