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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. While it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several big-name day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as memories of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one representing a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to solve poverty through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.