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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed several high-profile launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's recommendations feature a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent thrill for any pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the story develops from that point. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying 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 first game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one embodying a different story style. There's a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.