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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name day-one releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a vast library of numerous games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

This week's picks feature a cathartic shooter, an award-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from there. If all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each representing a different genre. There's a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the death of his church's head priest. A trader striving to solve destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.