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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it might not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the service has welcomed several big-name launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

Our current recommendations include a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning independent gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for any pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a sci-fi lens; you play as 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 recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from there. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, which is also included). But, with a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one embodying a different genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown past, naturally). Some of these plots connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.