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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast collection of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi forces. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit detail. It's a bloody excitement for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. If all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each representing a distinct story style. There's a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since all great RPGs need a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.