Next week on Xbox is absolutely packed with fresh game releases across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Game Pass, covering everything from chill puzzlers to intense strategy and dark fantasy RPGs. Xbox’s weekly “Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 20 to 24” round‑up highlights more than two dozen titles, but if your backlog is already groaning, it helps to know what to prioritize.
In this article, we’re spotlighting five standout games to keep on your radar, drawn from that latest Next Week on Xbox feature by editor Will Fulton. Kiln, Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors, Tides of Tomorrow, Kristala, and Sudden Strike 5 all bring something distinct to the table—whether you’re into competitive arena chaos, roguelite experiments, deep strategy, or Souls‑like action.
Kiln – Pottery, PvP, and Pure Chaos
Kiln is easily one of the most unique games launching next week, turning pottery into a full‑on competitive sport. Published by Xbox Game Studios and developed by Double Fine Productions, it’s described as a “pottery power‑fantasy,” where the beautiful ceramic creations you spin on a pottery wheel literally become your character’s body in online arena battles.
Once your pot‑warrior is sculpted, you jump into multiplayer arenas as a colorful spirit and smash other players’ handcrafted bodies to bits, embracing both creativity and destruction at the same time. With support for Game Pass and optimization for Xbox Series X|S, Kiln looks like a perfect pick for players who want something creative, social, and just a little bit unhinged.
Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors – Hyper Tactics
If Vampire Survivors locked you in that “one more run” loop, Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors should be high on your list. From the same triple‑BAFTA‑winning creators, this spin‑off trades real‑time bullet‑heaven chaos for a hyper, turn‑based, card‑driven dungeon crawler.
You explore maps, level up powers, build busted decks, and unleash wild combos in a first‑person “blobber” style adventure, mixing rogue‑lite progression with tactical decision‑making. The game supports Game Pass, Smart Delivery, Xbox Play Anywhere, and is optimized for Xbox Series X|S, making it easy to bounce between console and PC while you chase that perfect run.
Tides of Tomorrow – A Flooded World with High Stakes
For solo players who like story‑driven sci‑fi, Tides of Tomorrow stands out. Set in a flooded world where the advanced Delta civilization once mastered impossible technology, you play as a Delta Agent sent on a perilous mission across a dying oceanic landscape.
Although it’s a single‑player experience, the game emphasizes the sense that other “Tidewalkers” have been there before you, with echoes of their actions influencing your journey as you try to “shape the fate of this world before the tide turns.” Optimized for Xbox Series X|S, it’s a strong pick if you want something atmospheric and narrative‑heavy next week.
Kristala – Dark Fantasy Feline Souls‑Like
Kristala is a dark fantasy action RPG that puts you in the role of a magically gifted feline warrior learning to wield the ancient power of the Sacred Kristals. You’re dropped into a cursed world filled with mutated creatures and the remnants of a brutal war, where every encounter is unforgiving and every choice carries weight.
The game blends fast, challenging combat with agile parkour, stealth, and deep world‑building across the land of Ailur, all fully optimized for Xbox Series X|S. If you’re a fan of Souls‑likes and want something fresh that leans into atmosphere and lore, Kristala should be one of your first downloads from next week’s lineup.
Sudden Strike 5 – Big‑Scale WW2 Strategy
If you’d rather command armies than dodge monsters, Sudden Strike 5 brings classic World War II real‑time tactics back in a big way. This new entry features 25 missions across huge, varied maps and boasts the highest unit count the series has ever seen, giving you control of over 300 authentic WW2 units.
From Sherman tanks and T‑34s to air support like the Messerschmitt Bf 109, Sudden Strike 5 is all about careful positioning, combined arms tactics, and large‑scale engagements. With pre‑orders open, next week is the perfect time to jump in if you’re craving a deep, methodical strategy experience on Xbox Series X|S.
Also releasing next week on Xbox
Here’s a chronological list of all the other games releasing next week on Xbox.
April 20
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Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch – April 20
Over‑the‑top co‑op beat ’em up set in Kevin Smith’s View Askewniverse, with tag‑team moves, assists, and big boss fights.
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Saint Slayer: Spear of Sacrilege – April 20
2D action game set in 1698 about ex‑soldier Rudiger facing a relic‑stealing priest and his monsters.
April 21
- Collie Call: The Future is Calling (Xbox Series) – April 21
Strategic puzzle game where you play a robotic dog herding sheep into bubble pastures in outer space.
April 22
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Tides of Tomorrow – April 22
A story‑driven sci‑fi adventure set in a flooded world where you, a Delta Agent, undertake a high‑stakes solo mission whose choices echo across other “Tidewalkers” and ultimately decide the fate of a collapsing civilization.
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GluMe – Xbox Edition – April 22
Retro‑style sliding puzzle game where you control a slime, solving 80 grid‑based stages by sticking together and collecting gems.
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One Button Games 5-in-1 vol. 6 – April 22
Collection of five one‑button arcade games, including variants of Frogger‑style road crossing, Snake, shooters, and runners.
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Shy Cats Hidden Orchestra 2 – April 22
Cozy hidden‑object sequel where you search for shy cats, their instruments, and hidden keys across 10 whimsical levels.
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Star Fire: Eternal Cycle – April 22
Fast, side‑scrolling roguelite shooter focused on tight controls, random skill builds, and short, replayable runs.
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Urban Jungle – April 22
Relaxing apartment‑decor sim about turning rooms into lush plant‑filled spaces, no watering or pest control required.
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Wild Seas (Windows) – April 22
2D tower defense game starring a jewel‑guarding crocodile defending islands from waves of pirates.
April 23
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Causal Loop – April 23
Story‑driven sci‑fi adventure about an exo‑archaeologist trapped in time loops after activating an alien device.
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Combat Kart – April 23
Arcade kart racer with drift‑centric physics, nitro boosts, and time‑attack‑friendly track design.
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A Difficult Game About Letters – April 23
Puzzle‑platformer where you transform into different letters, each with unique movement abilities.
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Dragon Is Dead – April 23
2D roguelite action platformer with regenerating levels, permanent gear progression, and rune‑driven builds.
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Kingdom’s Return: Time-Eating Fruit and the Ancient Monster – April 23
Side‑scrolling action RPG about rebuilding a fallen kingdom using resources from 2D stages.
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Our Metal Bowl – April 23
Action game about exploring abandoned industrial complexes with a robot companion and engaging in fast, tactical combat.
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Piggy’s Farm (Xbox Series) – April 23
Sokoban‑style puzzle game where you push vegetables into the right spots as a farmer pig.
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Rumbral – April 23
Atmospheric exploration and puzzle game set in a dark forest filled with strange structures and magenta liquids hiding secrets.
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Until Then – April 23
Narrative adventure about high‑schooler Mark Borja in a post‑catastrophe world where people vanish and memories falter.
April 24
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DIMENSIONS 2 – April 24
Ambitious single‑dev action game that unifies and remasters the original Dimensions and The Catalyst into one multi‑dimension story.
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Emoji Battlefield – Summer Vacation – April 24
Rogue‑like FPS where you blast emoji hordes at beaches and resorts with optional modifiers like Hard Mode or Bouncy Mode.
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Farm Manager World – April 24
Deep farming sim with global locations, logistics and storage systems, crop rotation, and trading.
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Guts ‘n Grunts Sr. – April 24
Top‑down action shooter set in 2052 as veteran Gunnar Harsvin fights Slaughterhouse AI in new, tougher scenarios.
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Indoor Baseball – April 24
1v1 arcade baseball played indoors where smashing household objects is part of the fun.
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OBLITACRATER – April 24
Endless twin‑stick shooter on a tiny planet, with escalating alien waves and a push‑your‑luck scoring system.
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Party Club – April 24
Co‑op management game for up to four players about seating customers, serving drinks, and keeping a chaotic venue under control.
Next week’s slate is one of the most varied lineups Xbox has had in a while, whether you’re in the mood to throw clay in Kiln, theory‑craft busted decks in Vampire Crawlers, lose yourself in the flooded futures of Tides of Tomorrow, test your skill in Kristala, or take command in Sudden Strike 5.
With so many other indies, puzzlers, sims, and shooters also dropping between April 20 and 24, there’s genuinely something to plug into every kind of Xbox session—quick runs, long RPG nights, or deep strategy marathons. So whether you’re picking up one of these headliners or sampling a few of the smaller curios from the full list above, your Xbox library is about to get a serious upgrade next week.
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