The best video game jokes, gags and pranks of of April Fools Day 2019

Got to love a good joke! If you’re the kind of person who doesn’t pull their nose up and feel compelled to broadcast just how gosh-darn intelligent you are because you haven’t been caught out by an obvious April Fools joke, then the beginning of the fourth month of the year is a right treat. Instead of scoffing to the max, April Fools Day has become a tradition of in-jokes within the gaming industry, as developers get less serious for a moment and take the opportunity to have something which seems to be missing in today’s toxic environment:

Fun.

Here’s a round-up of some of the best gags that went viral yesterday, and maybe a few jokes that we kind of wish were actually real.

Conan Chop Chop

Funcom has plenty of Conan on the way, but the concept of a chibi Conan game using roguelike elements in a dungeon that would do The Legend of Zelda proud? I kind of want that.

Raccoon City is running dangerously low on zombies

As if climate change wasn’t bad enough, now we have to deal with a declining population in the ravenous hordes of the undead. C’mon guys, we can make a difference! Sign up here!

Payday Battle Royale

It may be obvious, but points to Overkill for the sheer effort they put into making a lengthy video detailing their hop onto the industry bandwagon that is the battle royale genre.

The next Yakuza game is…turn-based?

As far as franchises go, Yakuza might just be the last bastion of the good ol’ fashioned beat ‘em up. A relic of a bygone era, Yakuza’s bloody streets of rage setup is still a ton of fun on a bun to play. A Yakuza game where you take turns inflicting horrific damage upon one another in Japan’s underworld though? I..I kind of want to play that.

Decently priced Elder Scrolls cosplay…for your cat

If you’ve got the coin, then your kitty has the wares! If you ever wanted to turn your trusty feline pal into the spitting image of a Khajit merchant, then Bethesda has you covered with this handmade cosplay that will only set you back $100 000.

Tekken adds the true king of the Iron Fist to its roster

A new champion is about to enter the King of Iron Fist Tournament! By popular demand, #TEKKEN 7’s very own Director @Harada_TEKKEN will step into the ring for some epic showdowns. Can you guess who he will side with in the war to settle the Mishima feud? pic.twitter.com/gPPRqmsYvd

— TEKKEN (@TEKKEN) April 1, 2019

Did you think Heihachi Mishima was Tekken’s most powerful villain? Well step aside bucko, because Tekken’s director Katsuhiro Harada is getting ready to enter the ring! And he looks quite snappy as well.

Warhammer Vermintide presents Bardins Songbook

You asked for it, and here it is – Bardin's Songbook. Get yours now before they run out of stock: https://t.co/VCbLgQbo1b pic.twitter.com/4b0y2TrmOR

— Warhammer Vermintide (@VermintideGame) April 1, 2019

If I had to choose between jamming rusty sporks into my ears or listening to Bardin rattle off various songs, I’d probably choose to leap face-first into a cutlery draw that required several Tetanus shots afterwards.

Total War Three Kingdoms mobile

Ever wondered if Total War could run in potato mode on something like a Motorola Razr? Well this mobile version that features “vastly inferior graphics” should answer that question!

Capcom World President Challenges: A Shooting Game

Capcom used to make some great schmups back in the day. Used to. Because while the company may have gone a step further than most game publishers yesterday, a part of me thinks that a game that allows you to step out of the oval office and into bullet hell as America’s number one citizen probably isn’t going to get greenlit for a full release.

Still, at least you can have some fun with what could have been!

For Honor adds Rabbids to the mix

Rabbids are invading For Honor for one day only! Think this is an April Fool's prank? Go in-game to find out! ?https://t.co/JXxOkn9q1b pic.twitter.com/XLojxN0loa

— For Honor (@ForHonorGame) April 1, 2019

I know you’re joking Ubisoft, but I’d pay good money for a chance to slaughter those damn Rabbids in For Honor’s arena of carnage.

Hatoful Sniper Elite

You thought we were done with announcements? Surprise, we've got one more! Presenting Sniper Elite: Love In Your Sights, a whirlwind wartime romance.

Get your coat Karl, you've pulled…the trigger.

Coming 20-never. pic.twitter.com/T9iXjK7ipo

— Sniper Elite (@SniperElite) April 1, 2019

Look, if you can date a pigeon, then dating a trusty Lee Enfield sniper rifle probably isn’t too much of a stretch. Consider my interest trigger to be fully pulled.

World of Tanks Classic

All the glory of the good ol’ days, including a lack of content, tweaks and gameplay additions as World of Tanks rolls back the clock by a good seven years!

DOOM presents the joy of Slaying

Introducing a new DOOM experience for the artist in everyone. pic.twitter.com/rU2NvMkHI6

— DOOM (@DOOM) April 1, 2019

Even if he were a homicidal demon-slaying maniac with a taste for guns and horse-hair paintbrushes, I’m sure DOOM Marine Bob Ross would still be a treat to hang out with.

Corsair launches a game launcher launcher

We are proud to announce our new, easy-to-use software that will change the way you manage all your games.

Introducing the CORSAIR Game Launcher. #CORSAIRLauncher pic.twitter.com/HiZ5oNhZ7k

— CORSAIR (@CORSAIR) March 31, 2019

This…this would actually be quite useful in today’s increasingly fractured game distribution environment. Make it so, Corsair. Also, RGBucks? I’ll take ten!

Platinum finally publishes their own game

Masters of the action genre, Platinum Games is finally venturing out into the wild with their very own self-published game: Chief Executive Omni-Weapon Ken-Ichi! I’D PLAY IT!

Hearts of Iron IV presents…too many sharks

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY SHARKS?

Last Updated: April 2, 2019