🔗 Share this article

Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

Our current picks include a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, 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 precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy targets. This year, Rebellion 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 long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, explicit detail. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her education and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game worth 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, also available). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a procedural story about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.