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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has welcomed a number of big-name launch day releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current recommendations include a cathartic shooter, an award-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy forces. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each representing a different genre. There's a investigative story about a priest investigating the death of his church's head priest. A trader striving to solve destitution through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs require a hero with an unknown past, of course). Some of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.