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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it may not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile day-one games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage against enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam showing each shot's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic life, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her education and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one embodying a distinct genre. There's a procedural story about a priest looking into the death of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.