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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of big-name day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations include a therapeutic action game, an award-winning independent gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem targeting enemy forces. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). But, with a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, each representing a different genre. There's a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of commerce stars in a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.