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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of big-name launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast library of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current picks feature a therapeutic shooter, an award-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage against enemy forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the game's trademark killcam displaying each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. If all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one representing a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs need a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.