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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several high-profile day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem against enemy targets. This year, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with memories of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game worth 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, also available). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one representing a different story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to solve destitution through the power of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.