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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for any pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning story touching on post-pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you play as 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 recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences 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 fails to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing 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 visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one embodying a distinct genre. There's a procedural tale about a priest investigating the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a character with an unknown past, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.