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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced several high-profile day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current picks include a cathartic action game, an award-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy forces. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic life, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; 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 delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). But, with a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a different genre. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs need a hero with an unknown past, of course). Some of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.