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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed several big-name launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's picks include a therapeutic action game, an award-winning independent 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 exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only 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 plague, along with memories of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural story about a priest looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs need a hero with an unknown background, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its essence.