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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name day-one games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for every pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning story exploring post-pandemic life, family trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as memories of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. There's a investigative tale about a priest looking into the death of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a character with an unknown past, naturally). A few of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.