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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the service has welcomed a number of big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

This week's picks include a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy forces. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling 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 deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). But, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one representing a distinct genre. There's a investigative story about a priest investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to solve poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious past, of course). Some of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.