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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. Although it might not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed several big-name launch day games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast library of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem against enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her education and family life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from there. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.