Microsoft has announced the second wave of Xbox Game Pass games for April 2026. Ten titles arrive between April 21 and May 5, headlined by day-one launches for Vampire Crawlers, Kiln, Aphelion, and Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era.
Microsoft has officially revealed the Wave 2 lineup for Xbox Game Pass in April 2026, adding 10 titles to the service between April 21 and May 5. Following a stacked first wave that included Hades II, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, the second half of the month leans heavily into day-one launches. Five of the ten incoming titles are available from their release day on Game Pass, including Vampire Crawlers from the creators of Vampire Survivors, Double Fine’s Kiln, Don’t Nod’s Aphelion, and the long-awaited Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era.
What Games Are Available Today, April 21?
Three titles hit the Game Pass library today:
- Little Rocket Lab (Cloud, Console, PC): A cozy machine-building RPG where you play as Morgan, an aspiring engineer who returns home to help complete a family dream of building a rocket. Available with Game Pass Premium, Ultimate, and PC Game Pass.
- Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato (Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC): An emotional narrative adventure inspired by South American culture. Players follow Miho, who falls into a magical world while fetching a potato for his grandmother.
- Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC): A day-one Game Pass launch from the triple-BAFTA-winning creators of Vampire Survivors. This is not a sequel but an entirely new genre: a hyper turn-based, card-driven dungeon crawler (blobber) with roguelite elements. Familiar characters, items, and in-jokes from Vampire Survivors carry over into a deck-building experience where you can play as tactically or as frantically as you want.
Kiln: Double Fine’s Pottery Party Brawler Explained
Kiln launches on April 23 as a day-one Game Pass title for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, and PC. Developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Xbox Game Studios, Kiln transforms pottery into a 4v4 team-based multiplayer brawler. Players shape clay on a virtual pottery wheel to create “Vessels,” and the form you sculpt directly determines your character’s physics, abilities, and combat style. A tall vase plays differently from a squat cup.
The primary mode, Quench, tasks two teams with collecting water and pouring it onto the opposing team’s kiln to extinguish the fire. Combat is entirely physics-driven: characters chip, crack, and shatter based on the force and angle of impacts rather than preset health bars. Between matches, players gather in a social hub called The Wedge to practise pottery, decorate vessels with glazes, handles, and stickers, or trade customisation items.
The concept originated during Double Fine’s 2017 Amnesia Fortnight game jam, led by project lead Derek Brand, and has been developed into a full release that is also available on PlayStation 5 and Steam alongside Xbox.
Aphelion: Don’t Nod Goes Sci-Fi
Aphelion arrives on April 28 as a day-one addition to Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. The third-person sci-fi adventure is developed by Don’t Nod, the studio behind Jusant and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. Set in the 2060s, Earth is becoming uninhabitable and a space agency discovers a frozen planet called Persephone. Astronauts Ariane and Thomas are sent to scout it, but after a crash landing they must survive while being hunted by a mysterious entity called the Nemesis.
The game spans 11 chapters across roughly 8 to 10 hours. Ariane’s segments focus on action, traversal, and platforming with an Uncharted-like feel. Thomas’s gameplay centres on investigation and survival. The Nemesis reacts to sound rather than sight, creating tense stealth sequences that become progressively more complex as the creature gains new abilities. Don’t Nod partnered with the European Space Agency (ESA) to ground the experience in real-world science, making Aphelion feel plausible rather than fantastical.
Trepang2: A Love Letter to 2000s Shooters
Trepang2 joins Game Pass on April 29 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC across the Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass tiers. This fast-paced FPS is widely described as a spiritual successor to F.E.A.R. and Max Payne. Players control Subject 106, a mysterious super-soldier with bullet-time abilities, cloaking, and a devastating slide mechanic, on a mission to dismantle the Horizon Corporation. The campaign runs approximately 8 to 10 hours and is packed with spectacular gunfights, supernatural horror, and destructive set pieces. Critics praised its visceral combat and satisfying gunplay, with Metacritic scores reflecting a strong reception.
What Launches on April 30?
Three more titles round out the month on the final day of April:
- Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era (Game Preview, PC only): The official prequel to the genre-defining strategy series, developed by Unfrozen and published by Hooded Horse and Ubisoft. Set on the continent of Jadame, the game features six factions (Temple, Necropolis, Sylvan, Dungeon, Hive, Schism), classic turn-based tactical battles, and multiple multiplayer modes including Classic, One-Hero, and Arena. It enters Early Access as a day-one Game Pass title on PC.
- Sledding Game (Game Preview, Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC): A multiplayer snow-sports hangout developed by the solo creator known as The Sledding Corporation. Features proximity voice chat, ragdoll physics, customisable animal avatars, and lobbies for up to 50 players. Activities range from downhill racing and trick jumps to snowball fights and building ramps. Day one on Game Pass.
- TerraTech Legion (Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC): A bullet heaven builder where players construct battle vehicles block by block and mow down waves of robotic enemies controlled by a rogue AI. Combines the vehicle-building of TerraTech with Survivors-style action.
Final Fantasy V Arrives in Early May
Final Fantasy V joins Game Pass on May 5 for Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, available across Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass tiers. This is the remodelled 2D version of the classic RPG featuring updated retro graphics and improved quality-of-life features. It follows the addition of Final Fantasy I in January, Final Fantasy III in March, and Final Fantasy IV in early April, continuing Square Enix’s steady rollout of classic entries on Game Pass.
Full Wave 2 Schedule at a Glance
| Game | Date | Platforms | Day One |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rocket Lab | April 21 | Cloud, Console, PC | No |
| Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato | April 21 | Cloud, Console, Handheld, PC | No |
| Vampire Crawlers | April 21 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Yes |
| Kiln | April 23 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Yes |
| Aphelion | April 28 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, Handheld, PC | Yes |
| Trepang2 | April 29 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC | No |
| Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era | April 30 | PC | Yes |
| Sledding Game | April 30 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC | Yes |
| TerraTech Legion | April 30 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC | No |
| Final Fantasy V | May 5 | Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, PC | No |
Games Leaving Game Pass on April 30
As always, new arrivals come with departures. Nine titles are rotating out of the library on April 30:
- Citizen Sleeper (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Creatures of Ava (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Endless Legend 2 (PC)
- Goat Simulator (Cloud, Console)
- Goat Simulator Remastered (Cloud, Console, PC)
- Hunt: Showdown 1896 (Cloud, Console, PC)
- NHL 24 via EA Play (Cloud, Console)
- Revenge of the Savage Planet (Cloud, Console, PC)
Active subscribers can purchase any departing title at up to 20% off before removal.
Which Game Pass Tier Do You Need?
All Wave 2 titles are accessible through Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. Little Rocket Lab, Sopa, Trepang2, and Final Fantasy V are also available with Game Pass Premium. The day-one launches (Vampire Crawlers, Kiln, Aphelion, Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era, Sledding Game) require Ultimate or PC Game Pass specifically. If you are looking for an easy way to top up your Xbox balance for Game Pass or game purchases, Xbox gift cards are available on GamerMarkt with fast digital delivery and secure payment options.
Things Players Often Want to Know
Is Vampire Crawlers a sequel to Vampire Survivors?
Not exactly. It shares the same universe, characters, and items, but it is an entirely different genre: a turn-based, card-driven dungeon crawler with roguelite progression. Think of it as a spin-off rather than a direct follow-up.
Is Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era coming to consoles?
At launch, it is PC-only via Early Access. There has been no official confirmation of a console release, though the Xbox partnership suggests it could happen down the line.
Can I play Kiln solo?
Kiln is designed primarily as a 4v4 online multiplayer experience. You can enjoy the pottery creation and social hub solo, but the core Quench mode requires teams. There is no dedicated single-player campaign.
How long is Aphelion?
Don’t Nod has stated Aphelion runs approximately 8 to 10 hours across 11 chapters, with gameplay split between Ariane’s action-platforming segments and Thomas’s investigation sequences.
Will the departing games return to Game Pass later?
Some games do return after leaving, but there is no guarantee. If you want to keep playing a specific title, the 20% subscriber discount before removal is the safest option.
April 2026 has been one of the most loaded months in Game Pass history. Between the 18 titles in Wave 1 and the 10 in Wave 2, the service has added nearly 30 games in a single month, covering everything from AAA blockbusters to inventive indie experiments. Whether you are drawn to Vampire Crawlers’ card chaos, Kiln’s pottery mayhem, or the classic strategy of Heroes of Might & Magic, there is plenty to explore before May rolls around.
