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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several big-name day-one releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage against enemy forces. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a polished dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the game's signature killcam showing every bullet's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific disease, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the story develops from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting 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 first game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each representing a different genre. There's a procedural story about a cleric investigating the death of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these plots connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.