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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished dose of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the game's trademark killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week 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 departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, which is also included). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a distinct story style. There's a procedural tale about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs need a character with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.