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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it might not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a cathartic action game, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic life, family trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, also available). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, each embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the death of his cathedral's head priest. A trader striving to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.