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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it may not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed several high-profile launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

Our current picks include a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage against enemy forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her education and home life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, also available). But, with a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest investigating the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these plots connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.