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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of big-name launch day games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

Our current picks feature a cathartic action game, an award-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the series' signature killcam showing every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist looking to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic life, 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 person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, as well as experiences of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). However, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a priest investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to solve poverty through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs need a character with an unknown past, of course). Some of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its essence.