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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the platform has introduced several high-profile launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current picks include a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning independent gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem targeting enemy targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with memories of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. If all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one representing a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric investigating the death of his church's head priest. A trader striving to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a character with an unknown past, of course). Some of these plots connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.