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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. While it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, along with experiences of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate destitution through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.