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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced several high-profile launch day games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance is a polished dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as memories of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative story about a priest looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (because all great RPGs need a hero with an unknown past, of course). Some of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.