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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several high-profile day-one games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot develops from there. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). However, with a break in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, each representing a different genre. There's a procedural story about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.