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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with memories of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. Should all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired setting. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.