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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several high-profile launch day releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

Our current picks feature a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning independent gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with memories of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from there. If all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). However, with a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a hero with an unknown background, naturally). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.