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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of big-name launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current recommendations feature a cathartic action game, an award-winning independent gem, 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 series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi forces. This year, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for every peace-lover looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story touching on post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, each embodying a distinct genre. There's a investigative story about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a hero with an unknown past, of course). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.