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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile launch day releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current picks include a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, 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 exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with memories of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, also available). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each embodying a distinct genre. There's a investigative story about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to solve poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.