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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several big-name launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current recommendations feature a cathartic shooter, an award-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players ultraviolent carnage targeting Nazi targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every peace-lover wanting to unwind in the security of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic existence, family 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 human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each embodying a distinct genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since every good RPGs require a character with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.