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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several big-name day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current picks include a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the game's signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic life, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting 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 original game, also available). However, with a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each embodying a distinct genre. There's a investigative story about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.