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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it might not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several high-profile launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current picks include a therapeutic action game, an award-winning independent gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent carnage targeting enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished dose of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from there. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one representing a distinct genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest investigating the death of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a hero with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.