April is here, and that means it’s time to unwrap a new batch of free games for PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers. The lineup dropping on April 7, 2026, is a nostalgic yet surprisingly fresh mix — three titles that originally launched a couple of years ago but have aged like fine wine. I’m talking about Immortals of Aveum, Minecraft Legends, and Skul: The Hero Slayer. Sure, you might have missed them on release day, but now they’re landing in your library at no extra cost, and I genuinely believe this is one of the smartest Essential rosters we’ve seen in months.

Let’s be real: not every game is for everyone. But this month, Sony cast a wide net. You’ve got a magical FPS that flicks its wand at Call of Duty conventions, a cheerful strategy title that tucks base-building and combat into blocky bedfellows, and a rogue-lite platformer where you play as a pint-sized skeleton with a head-swapping obsession. I booted up all three over the weekend, and I’m ready to break down what makes each one worth your bandwidth.

First up, Immortals of Aveum. I remember when this game first dropped — it was marketed as “Call of Duty meets Doctor Strange,” and honestly, that description still holds up. The twist is that you’re not firing bullets; you’re slinging spells through a trio of Sigils, each mapped to a color of magic. Red magic hits like a shotgun, green is your rapid-fire machine gun, and blue offers precision sniping. Toss in a Lash ability that yanks enemies toward you (hello, Scorpion vibes) and a shield that turns projectiles into nothing, and suddenly you’ve got a flashy, chaotic rhythm that feels genuinely unique in the FPS space.

The campaign puts you in the boots of Jak, a street kid who discovers he’s a Triarch — someone who can wield all three colors of magic. He’s thrust into the Everwar, a brutal conflict over ley lines and magical supremacy. The story is unapologetically epic, full of towering castles, ancient orders, and a villainous faction called the Rasharnians who want to drain the world dry. The characters are a loud bunch; you’ll either love them or want to mute every cutscene. But here’s the thing — if you go in expecting a popcorn blockbuster and not a deep RPG, you’ll have a blast. Sales never quite matched the hype when the game launched in 2024, yet with the PS Plus boost, I think Immortals of Aveum is finally getting the audience it deserves. It’s the perfect example of a game you’d never buy at full price but will happily sink 15 hours into on a lazy Sunday.

Then there’s Minecraft Legends, which could not be more different if it tried. Where Jak’s journey is grim and tension-filled, this one is a pastel-colored strategy sandbox that encourages you to kick back and build bridges — literally. The piglins are invading the Overworld, and it’s up to you to rally mob allies, construct defensive towers, and smash their Nether-spawned outposts. I love how the game takes familiar Minecraft resources — wood, stone, redstone — and repurposes them into a top-down real-time strategy mode that feels effortless to learn. You gather materials during the day, build walls and turrets at night, and command squads of golems and skeletons to hold the line. The single-player campaign is charming, but the co-op and competitive multiplayer modes are where the game really shines. The Lost Legends monthly challenges also keep things fresh, and in 2026, the community has cooked up some wild custom scenarios. It’s slower, more methodical fun — and a perfect palate cleanser after Jak’s frantic spell-slinging.

But if I had to pick a personal favorite this month, it’s Skul: The Hero Slayer. This 2D rogue-lite action platformer flips the script from the very first screen. You are a tiny skeleton soldier whose demon king has been captured by humans. The “heroes” are your enemies, and the Imperial Army wants your bones. The gameplay feels instantly familiar if you’ve ever played Hollow Knight or Dead Cells — dash, slash, jump, die, repeat — but the skull-swapping mechanic gives it a bottomless ingenuity. Skul can wear two skulls at a time, each granting a completely different moveset. One run you might be a spear-wielding warrior with lightning dashes; the next you’re a frost mage who freezes enemies solid. The catch? You lose your skulls when you die, so every run demands you adapt and experiment.

The randomized stages, items, and boss patterns make each attempt feel like a fresh puzzle. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve whispered “just one more run” at 1 a.m. The difficulty curve is steep but fair, and the pixel art is so vibrant it practically dances off the screen. As indie additions go, this is a towering win for PS Plus Essential — and in a sea of AAA headliners, a reminder that the little guys often pack the sharpest claws (or skulls).

All three games together craft a well-rounded month. Whether you’re in the mood for cinematic wizard warfare, cozy strategic crafting, or fast-paced skeleton mayhem, April 2026 has you covered. I’ve been a subscriber for years, and these curated picks are exactly why I keep auto-renew active. So clear some drive space, grab your DualSense, and dive in — you might just find your next obsession hiding in the least expected place.