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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for any pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. 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 human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore 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 learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from there. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, which is also included). However, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one embodying a different story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the power of commerce stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.