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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it might not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of big-name day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the game's signature killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning story touching on post-pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from there. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with 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 achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a distinct genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.