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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name launch day games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current picks feature a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning independent 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 delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these plots connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.