The Best April Fools' Day Gaming Jokes Of 2026 (So Far)

April Fools’ Day is upon us, and once again, it’s the most skeptical time of the year. You can’t believe anything that you see or hear on this particular day, as the gaming industry has a longstanding tradition of pulling “got ’em” pranks on people. Sure, some people might be allergic to fun on April Fools’ Day, but the intention here is to have a laugh and enjoy the silliness that comes with this celebration of mischief, lies, and trickery.

So far, it looks like a few games have jumped the gun and gone live with their gags. PUBG: Battlegrounds is going all-in on the event with a limited-time April Fools’ mode, and Pokemon Pokopia is referencing one of our favorite Family Guy jokes. We’ll be keeping an eye on everything for tomorrow and will update this post with all the new gags from publishers and developers, so be sure to bookmark this page. If you’re looking to do some more reading on the subject matter, you can also check out our feature on the best April Fools’ Day gaming jokes of all time.

PUBG: Battlegrounds will pit you against inanimate objects

Winning a chicken dinner in PUBG: Battlegrounds is no easy feat, as it requires skill, accuracy, patience, and luck–and who has time for that? Instead, you can cheese your way to victory with a new April Fool’s Day limited-time mode in the battle royale game and disguise yourself as a prop in the game. Each “Prop Hunt” match features 12 players divided into three Hunters and nine Props, and matches are designed to be a lighthearted alternative to PUBG’s traditional combat-heavy gameplay.

Each match plays out in several phases, with Hunters being restricted to a certain area while Props select a disguise and position themselves. Hunters must carefully identify and eliminate Props, because if they fire at an incorrect object, their health will be reduced. Once the clock starts to tick down to zero, a Fever Time modifier will activate, Hunters will gain increased firepower, and the penalties for incorrect shots will be removed.

Prop Hunt is available for a limited time from March 30 to April 7 in Arcade mode across multiple maps, including Rondo, Vikendi, and Miramar.

Pokemon Pokopia introduces a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube Sudowoodo

Wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube Pokemon! That’s right, you can now claim a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube Sudowoodo, and yes, it’s perfect for decorating those corners of your home where a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube Sudowoodo would fit right in. What can it do? Attract customers to your business, make a splash at your next presentation, keep grandma company, protect your crops, confuse your neighbors, and more!

Just don’t tell the CEO of the Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man Warehouse about this, or he might get jealous.

PowerWash Simulator is feeling romantic

You either die a hero, or you live long enough to become a dating simulator. The grime-fighting team behind the PowerWash Simulator games is choosing romance this year, as the inevitable PowerWash Simulator dating game, Date the Dirt, has been revealed. The big catch here? That all the muck and dirt you’re used to washing up has transformed into a group of romance-seeking people, and it’s up to you to choose who to settle down with.

Payday adds an NPC mode

Is it still a Payday game if you aren’t robbing banks? That’s what this new mode seeks to answer, as it puts players in the shoes of an NPC who is going about their daily scripted life. Wake up, explore the city, get rejected from working behind a fast food counter because you’re underqualified, and don’t try to be a hero when your bank is being robbed!

Pragmata is secretly a Mega Man game

Capcom, you can’t do this to us. This is too cruel. We know a new Mega Man game is on the way, but using Pragmata to stoke a desire in us for a 3D Mega Man adventure? Now that’s going too far.