Microsoft has announced the next batch of games coming to the Xbox Game Pass Core library.
Kicking things off for this second wave is Harold Halibut, a day one Game Pass release that is already available to play on Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. Harold Halibut is a "handmade narrative game about friendship and life on a city-sized spaceship submerged in an alien ocean." Players will join Harold as he "explores a vibrant retro-future world in his quest to find the true meaning of ‘home’".
On April 17, Orcs Must Die 3! brings orc-slaying mayhem to the service. Playable solo or in two-player co-op, Orcs Must Die 3! is a variation of the traditional tower defense game. Players arm themselves with various weapons and special abilities, while also setting traps, to defend against armies of raiding orcs.
EA Sports NHL 24 will be available on April 18 through Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play. EA Sports NHL 24 was released in October 2023 and overhauls many of the gameplay systems from NHL 23, including new total control skill moves, a new exhaust engine, goalie fatigue, passing system, and physics-based contact.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is another Game Pass day one release, arriving on Cloud, Console, and PC on April 23. In this grand JRPG adventure, you'll assemble a 6-party team from a cast of over 100 heroes and explore a hand-crafted 2.5D world filled with war, magic, and intrigue. "Manage your town of vibrant characters, play delightful mini-games, and prepare for an unforgettable narrative of boundless charm," the description teases.
On April 25 comes Another Crab's Treasure, a soulslike adventure set in a crumbling underwater world. The description reads: "As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean." Another Crab's Treasure is another day one launch through Game Pass, playable on Cloud, Console, and PC.
Manor Lords, a medieval strategy game, arrives on PC via Game Preview on April 26. In this game, you rule lands as a medieval lord, building and managing your city and defending it through tactical battles.
Closing out the month of April will be Have A Nice Death Day. Coming on April 30th, this is a "darkly charming 2D action roguelike," in which you "play as an overworked Death, whose employees have run rampant, completely throwing off the balance of souls – and his vacation plans."
For Game Pass Core members, three more games are coming to the library on April 23: Deep Rock Galactic, Superhot: Mind Control Delete, and Wreckfest
Game Pass has already added a few games to its library earlier this month, including LEGO 2K Drive, EA Sports PGA Tour, Kona, and Botany Manor.