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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current recommendations feature a cathartic action game, 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 franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance is a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the series' trademark killcam showing each shot's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent excitement for every pacifist looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, along with memories of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, which is also included). But, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, every one representing a distinct story style. There's a procedural story about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.