Bloody Hell, Game Pass Just Pulled a Rabbit Out of a Hat (and it's a Sexy Hades sequel!)
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Game Pass is serving up an absolutely stacked April 2026, with the highly anticipated Hades II leading the charge onto PlayStation and Xbox, alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) and a treasure trove of intriguing indie titles, proving the subscription service is still a chaotic but compelling force.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're just pottering along, minding your own business, and then the universe decides to drop a whole damn constellation right onto your doorstep? That's kinda how I felt digging into what Game Pass has cooked up for us this April 2026. Fair warning: I started poking at this expecting the usual mix, but mate, it's wilder than it first appeared, according to Ethan Gach over at Kotaku in his report, '2025 GOTY Contender Hades 2 Tops A Loaded Month For Game Pass'.
First things first, let's talk about the big one, the cosmic anomaly that's got us all buzzing: **Hades II**. Six months after doing its whole 'Switch exclusive' dance – a move that always feels a bit like a wizard casting a temporary invisibility spell on half the player base – Supergiant Games' much-anticipated roguelike is finally landing on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. And the best bit? It's a day-and-date Game Pass launch. Yeah, you heard that right. Melinoë is crashing the party, and she's bringing that 'just one more run' addiction with her.
Now, anyone who's played the original Hades knows Supergiant are absolute maestros. They didn't just make a game; they bottled lightning, dipped it in Greek mythology, and wrapped it in a narrative so good it made you *want* to die repeatedly. The first one was a legitimate GOTY contender, so Hades II being billed as a '2025 GOTY contender' already has my ears perked up. I'm genuinely stoked to see how they evolve the formula, what new boons the gods have cooked up, and precisely how many hours of my life will vanish into the Underworld once more. It's the kind of game that truly serves players, giving us depth, challenge, and an undeniable hook without any of the usual corporate fluff.
But wait, there's more! Because Game Pass, in its infinite, slightly chaotic wisdom, isn't just dropping one titan. Oh no. They're also rolling out **Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)**. Now, this one's an interesting addition, isn't it? It's a bit like finding a perfectly preserved, slightly dusty relic in a shiny new treasure chest. Not exactly fresh off the press, but a solid, foundational entry in a behemoth franchise. It's a reminder of the sheer muscle Microsoft now flexes with Activision Blizzard under its wing. You've got to appreciate the strategy there – bring in a proven crowd-pleaser that'll undoubtedly pull in millions of players who maybe haven't touched Game Pass before. It's a smart play, if a tad less 'magical' than a brand-new Supergiant title.
Beyond these two heavyweights, the April bounty includes a truly eclectic mix. It's like a wizard's ingredient cupboard: some potent elixirs, some surprisingly useful herbs, and a few things you're not entirely sure what to do with but might just explode wonderfully. For instance, **Tiny Bookshop** sounds like a delightful little cozy management sim. Running a bookstore? Sign me up. It's the kind of charming indie gem Game Pass excels at unearthing. Then there's **Replaced**, which Gach describes as a 'long-awaited HD-2D pixel art retro futurist action game that swerves between cinematic adventure and rhythm-based brawler.' That's a mouthful, but the 'HD-2D' and 'retro futurist' bits have certainly piqued my curiosity. Sounds like it could be a stylish stunner.
And for those of us who enjoy a good challenge that feels a bit like digital witchcraft gone wrong (in the best way), **Vampire Crawlers** – a card-based dungeon-crawler spin on Vampire Survivors – sounds utterly addictive. 'So tough to put down it should be illegal,' Gach warns. That's exactly the kind of unexpected, time-sink magic I'm looking for! And then there's **Kiln**, from Double Fine, described as a 'pottery party game about carrying water and breaking stuff.' Double Fine always brings something wonderfully unique and often hilariously chaotic to the table, so I'm keen to see what pottery-based mayhem they've brewed up.
Other notable additions include **Final Fantasy IV**, **DayZ** (for PC!), **Endless Legend 2** (Game Preview), **FBC: Firebreak**, **Planet Coaster 2**, **Football Manager 26**, **The Thaumaturge**, **The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered** (now *that's* a classic), **EA Sports NHL 26**, **Little Rocket Lab**, and **Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato**. It's a truly massive influx, showcasing Game Pass's commitment to variety, though the constant juggling of tiers (Ultimate, Premium, PC Game Pass, Essential) can sometimes feel a bit like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube with your eyes closed.
Of course, as with any grand magical experiment, there are some things leaving the cauldron this month. Say goodbye to **Grand Theft Auto 5** and the epic sci-fi strategy game **Terra Invicta**. It's the cycle of the subscription service, I suppose – a gentle reminder that nothing lasts forever, even digital empires. On the flip side, the excellent tower-defense roguelike **Dome Keeper** is getting a four-player co-op update, which Gach personally flagged as his most exciting bit of news. More co-op is always a good thing in my book; gaming's best when shared, isn't it?
So, what does this all mean for us, the intrepid gamers? Well, it means Game Pass is still aggressively trying to be *the* place to play, throwing a wild mix of brand-new, critically acclaimed, and comfort-food titles at us. Is it always perfect? Nah, sometimes the UI still feels like a forgotten scroll, and the tier system can be a bit of a head-scratcher. But when you get something like Hades II, a genuine GOTY contender, alongside a massive Call of Duty game and a smattering of intriguing indies, it's hard to be too skeptical. It's a reminder that amidst all the corporate chatter and 'synergies,' there's still a healthy dose of pure, unadulterated gaming magic to be found. And for that, I'm genuinely enthusiastic. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some demons to evade.
Tags: Game Pass, Hades 2, Call of Duty, Indie Games, Gaming News
Original article: kotaku