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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of high-profile day-one games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's picks feature a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in graphic, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story exploring post-pandemic life, generational pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from there. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a distinct story style. There's a investigative tale about a priest looking into the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a hero with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.