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After 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 service has introduced several big-name launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current picks feature a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her education and home life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. If all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). However, with a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, each representing a different story style. There's a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a character with an unknown background, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.