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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it might not be seen as the top offer in gaming now, the service has welcomed a number of big-name day-one games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

Our current picks include a cathartic shooter, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, which is also included). But, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a character with an unknown past, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.