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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast library of numerous games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current recommendations include a cathartic action game, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her school and home life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each embodying a distinct story style. There's a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.