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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players ultraviolent mayhem against enemy forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days 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 masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a different genre. There's a procedural tale about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a hero with an unknown past, naturally). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its essence.