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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a vast library of hundreds games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current picks feature 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 provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It examines these themes through a sci-fi perspective; 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 explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth trying the effort 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, which is also included). But, due to a break in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a distinct story style. There's a investigative tale about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (because all great RPGs require a hero with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.