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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the service has introduced several high-profile day-one games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, along with experiences of her school and home life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, every one representing a distinct genre. There's a procedural story about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (because all great RPGs need a character with an unknown past, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.