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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it might not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several big-name launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak 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 memories of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from that point. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, also available). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each representing a distinct story style. There's a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.