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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming now, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current picks feature a therapeutic shooter, an award-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist looking to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left 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, as well as memories of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each embodying a different genre. There's a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the death of his church's head priest. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). Some of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.