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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced several big-name launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

Our current picks include a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning independent gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam showing each shot's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for every pacifist looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore 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 learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from that point. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). But, with a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.