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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it may not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several big-name day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations include a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning independent gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy targets. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, as well as memories of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. If all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, which is also included). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each embodying a distinct genre. There's a investigative story about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the power of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a character with an unknown past, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its essence.