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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several high-profile day-one games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem against enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, family trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, along with experiences of her education and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. If all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping start 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 HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a procedural tale about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to solve poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs need a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired setting. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.