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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of big-name launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her education and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game deserving attempting 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 first game, which is also included). However, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each embodying a different story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the death of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs require a character with an unknown past, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.