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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the service has introduced several big-name day-one releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current recommendations feature a therapeutic shooter, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, 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 eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as memories of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from there. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.