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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has welcomed several big-name day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage targeting enemy targets. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her school and home life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the grind 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, also available). But, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (since every good RPGs need a hero with an unknown background, of course). Some of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.