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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced a number of big-name day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current picks include a cathartic shooter, an award-winning indie 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 delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't 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 compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). However, with a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each representing a different genre. You'll find a procedural tale about a priest looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its essence.