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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name launch day games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem targeting enemy forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic life, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her education and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

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 masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a different genre. You'll find a procedural story about a priest investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious past, of course). Some of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.