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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the service has welcomed several big-name day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a vast library of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for every peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed begin with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each embodying a distinct genre. There's a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a character with an unknown past, of course). Some of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.