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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. While it might not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of big-name day-one releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive library of hundreds games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent mayhem targeting enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, 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 displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent excitement for any pacifist looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.