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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. Although it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage against enemy targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit detail. It's a bloody excitement for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind 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, which is also included). However, with a break in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, every one representing a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.