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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. While it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of big-name day-one games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a vast collection of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for every peace-lover wanting to unwind in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative touching on life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her education and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than this?

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 grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). But, with a break in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. There's a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). A few of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.