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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several high-profile day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive library of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks include a therapeutic action game, an award-winning independent gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative touching on post-pandemic life, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with memories of her education and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, also available). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century inspired setting. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.