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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed several high-profile launch day releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not 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. Is there a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a distinct story style. There's a procedural story about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a character with an unknown background, of course). Some of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.