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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of big-name day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi targets. This year, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each representing a different genre. There's a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the death of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to solve poverty through the power of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.