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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. While it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming now, the service has introduced several big-name launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her education and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one representing a different story style. There's a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a character with an unknown past, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.