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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced several big-name day-one releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem against enemy targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody excitement for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her school and home life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, which is also included). But, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one representing a distinct genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest looking into the death of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.