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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a polished dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. If all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's head priest. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired world. And the combat is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.