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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. Although it might not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed several big-name launch day games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

Our current picks include a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour 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 visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, which is also included). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a procedural tale about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to solve poverty through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.