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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several big-name day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

Our current recommendations include a cathartic action game, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, along with memories of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the story unfolds from there. If all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the effort 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, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, every one embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown past, of course). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.