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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several high-profile launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations include a cathartic action game, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage against enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the series' signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her education and home life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story develops from there. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). However, with a break in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each embodying a different genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.