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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several high-profile day-one games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current recommendations include a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi targets. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her education and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a different story style. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.