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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. While it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current picks feature a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, also available). However, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a priest investigating the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to solve destitution through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.