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

Our current picks feature a therapeutic action game, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, one 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 recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a distinct genre. There's a investigative story about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate poverty through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown past, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.