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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it might not be seen as the top offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several high-profile launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current picks include a therapeutic shooter, an award-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her education and home life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). However, with a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a different story style. There's a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.