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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of big-name day-one games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi targets. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the game's signature killcam showing each shot's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic life, family trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her education and family life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each representing a distinct story style. There's a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the death of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.