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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations feature a therapeutic action game, an award-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance is a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic life, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one representing a different genre. There's a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the power of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since all great RPGs need a hero with an unknown past, naturally). Some of these plots connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.