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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as always, with the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning story touching on life after a pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one representing a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.