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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several high-profile launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

Our current picks feature a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist looking to let off steam in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic life, family pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (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 features 8 characters, each embodying a different story style. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.