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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. While it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players ultraviolent mayhem against enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning story touching on life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, every one embodying a different story style. You'll find a procedural story about a priest investigating the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.