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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. 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 recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage against enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). However, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs need a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.