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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be seen as the top offer in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic life, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with memories of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from there. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). But, with a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a priest looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.