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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it may not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of big-name day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's picks include a therapeutic action game, an award-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi targets. This year, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, along with memories of her education and family life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game indeed begin with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the grind 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 first game, also available). But, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each representing a distinct genre. There's a procedural story about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.