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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. Although it may not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the service has welcomed several big-name launch day releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage against enemy forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her school and home life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, which is also included). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one representing a distinct story style. There's a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.