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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced a number of big-name launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent thrill for any pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic life, family pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her education and home life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, which is also included). However, with a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each embodying a distinct genre. There's a investigative story about a cleric investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to solve poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). Some of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.