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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a therapeutic action game, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her education and home life, both of which were bearable 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 does begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each embodying a different genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.