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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody excitement for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic life, family trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, which is also included). But, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each representing a different genre. There's a procedural story about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a hero with an unknown background, of course). Some of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.