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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it may not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several high-profile launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current recommendations feature a cathartic shooter, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy targets. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from there. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). But, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each representing a distinct genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest investigating the death of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.