April kicks off with the wave Xbox Game Pass subscribers have been waiting for. The first major first-party day-one release of 2026 arrives with Kiln, joined by highly anticipated indie releases Replaced, Vampire Crawlers, and Super Meat Boy 3D. We also got some massive backlog additions: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) may mark the long-awaited start of backlog COD games hitting Xbox Game Pass consistently post-Activision Blizzard King acquisition. NBA 2K26 also returns to the service after a year’s absence, and on PC for the first time. This is a massive wave that signals the beginning of what should be a first-party-heavy stretch for the rest of 2026.
The Headliners
Kiln (April 23)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
The first major first-party day-one release of 2026 arrives, and it’s wonderfully weird. Kiln is a pottery power-fantasy celebrating both creativity and destruction—the pleasure of making beautiful things, then smashing them to smithereens. Create your pot, grab your friends, and throw down in online arenas where the ceramic creations you sculpt become the bodies you bring into battle. It’s inventive, unconventional, and exactly the kind of creative swing Xbox Game Studios should be taking.
With Forza Horizon 6 confirmed for next month and titles like Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Call of Duty 2026, and Minecraft Dungeons II on the horizon, Kiln likely marks the start of a monthly rollout of first-party Game Pass releases.
Replaced (April 14)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
One of the most visually striking indies in recent memory arrives day one. Set in an alternate 1980s America, Replaced casts you as R.E.A.C.H., an AI trapped in a human body navigating a dark cyberpunk thriller. This cinematic 2.5D platformer blends narrative exploration with fluid free-flow action as you expose the sinister secrets of Phoenix Corp. The art direction alone has been turning heads since its reveal, and the promise of a compelling narrative and engaging combat makes this essential playing.
Vampire Crawlers (April 21)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
From the creators of Vampire Survivors, Vampire Crawlers transforms the Survivors formula into a hyper turn-based, rogue-lite card-driven blobber. Build busted decks, explore familiar dungeons, and unleash world-ending combos. You can take your time and play tactically or blast through turns as fast as humanly possible. Either way, the outcome is always accurate. For fans of the original’s addictive loop, this day-one Xbox Game Pass release promises a fresh take on the formula.
Super Meat Boy 3D (March 31 – In Case You Missed It)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass
The latest entry in the iconic indie platforming series brings brutal difficulty to the third dimension. Be prepared to die, die, and die again as you jump into Super Meat Boy 3D. Arriving day one on Xbox Game Pass, this carries forward the series’ legacy of precision platforming and punishing challenge.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) (April 17)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
This is the moment Call of Duty fans have been waiting for since the Activision Blizzard King acquisition. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) arrives on Game Pass, marking the first COD title to hit the service. This entry redefined the iconic series with a visceral, grounded campaign inspired by modern global conflict, alongside an immersive multiplayer experience and intense cooperative Special Ops missions. It’s a fair start to what subscribers hope becomes a steady rollout of COD’s back catalog.
NBA 2K26 (April 3)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
NBA 2K returns to Game Pass after being absent for over a year, and this time it’s available on PC as well as console. Pick up and play to hit the court with your favorite NBA teams in Play Now, experience an all-new immersive MyCareer storyline on new-gen consoles, manage a star-studded lineup in MyTeam, and climb the ranks in The City. The return of 2K to Xbox Game Pass is a big win for sports fans who’ve been missing the series.
Hades II (April 14)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Battle beyond the Underworld in Supergiant Games’ sequel to one of the most acclaimed roguelikes ever made. As the immortal Princess, explore a bigger, deeper mythic world and vanquish the Titan of Time in this action-packed, endlessly replayable dungeon crawler rooted in Greek myth. The story reacts to your every setback and accomplishment, creating a dynamic narrative that evolves with your journey.
The Thaumaturge (April 14)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
This character-driven RPG delivers a rich story with morally ambiguous choices and turn-based combat. Set in a city on the brink of change, use your mystical powers to read emotions, uncover motives, and command folklore-inspired demons—all while resisting the temptation of your own pride. For fans of narrative-heavy RPGs, this is a compelling addition.
Additional Games
- Final Fantasy IV (Available Now)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - DayZ (April 8)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, Game Pass Essential, PC Game Pass (PC Only) - Endless Legend 2 (Game Preview) (April 8)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - FBC: Firebreak (April 8)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - Planet Coaster 2 (April 9)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - Tiny Bookshop (April 10)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - Football Manager 26 (April 13)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - Football Manager 26 Console (April 13)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (April 16)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - EA Sports NHL 26 (April 16)
Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass - Little Rocket Lab (April 21)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass - Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato (April 21)
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass
Notable Updates
- Dome Keeper (Multiplayer Update) (April 13) – Four-player co-op and versus modes
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Season 03 – New maps Beacon and Abyss, new Ashwood Survival Map in Zombies
- Microsoft Bubble – Classic arcade-style puzzle game with Game Pass benefits
- World of Warships (April 9) – Player benefits for Game Pass subscribers
- Albion Online (April 21) – Now on cloud and console; exclusive Green Knight vanity, mount, and more
Games Leaving April 15
Don’t forget to wrap up these titles before they leave the service:
- Ashen
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
- Grand Theft Auto V
- My Little Pony: A Zephyr Heights Mystery
- Terra Invicta (Game Preview)
Final Thoughts — First-Party Has Arrived
April Wave 1 is exactly what Xbox Game Pass needed. After March’s quality-over-quantity approach worked well but left day-one releases light, April delivers in a massive way. Five day-one releases—Kiln, Replaced, Vampire Crawlers, Hades II and Super Meat Boy 3D—bring varied experiences ranging from pottery combat to cyberpunk platforming to card-driven dungeon crawling.
The arrival of Kiln as the first major first-party day-one release of 2026 signals a shift. This won’t be the last—Forza Horizon 6 drops next month, followed by a stacked lineup including Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Call of Duty (2026), and Minecraft Dungeons II. April marks the beginning of what should be a consistent first-party presence on Xbox Game Pass for the rest of the year.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) finally hitting the service, may start a trend. Since the Activision Blizzard King acquisition, fans have been waiting for COD’s back catalog to arrive. This is hopefully just the start and subscribers can expect more entries to follow. Paired with NBA 2K26‘s return (now on PC too), April has something to appeal to the “Ball and Gun Gamers” as well.
This is what a firing-on-all-cylinders Game Pass wave looks like: first-party presence, highly anticipated third-parties launching day one, and excellent backlog additions for players who missed them at launch. April sets a high bar for the rest of 2026.
