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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current recommendations feature a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem against enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on life after a pandemic life, family trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic 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 education and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. Is there a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just 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 masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a different story style. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a hero with an unknown past, of course). Some of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.