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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile day-one games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy forces. 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 open environments filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her education and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a distinct genre. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these plots connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.