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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed several big-name day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks include a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.