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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed several high-profile launch day releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players intensely graphic carnage against 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 open environments filled with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting 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 original game, which is also included). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a different story style. There's a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A trader striving to solve destitution through the power of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious past, naturally). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.