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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile launch day releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, also available). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a different genre. There's a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral'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 herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.