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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it may not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current recommendations feature a therapeutic action game, an award-winning independent gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic mayhem against enemy targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on life after a pandemic life, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several 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 beset by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should 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 II

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, also available). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one embodying a different story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs need a hero with an unknown background, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” boiled to its essence.