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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of big-name launch day releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's recommendations feature a cathartic action game, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent carnage targeting Nazi targets. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic life, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with memories of her school and home life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). However, with a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a character with an mysterious past, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.