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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the service has welcomed several big-name day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with memories of her education and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days 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 leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, every one embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the force of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.