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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem against enemy targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody excitement for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning story touching on life after a pandemic existence, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as experiences of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth 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 (along with the first game, also available). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one representing a distinct genre. There's a procedural story about a priest investigating the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a hero with an unknown background, naturally). Some of these plots connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its essence.