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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best offer 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 additions only enhance a vast library of hundreds games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in graphic, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story touching on post-pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, each embodying a distinct story style. There's a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.