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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced 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 numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers 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 begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, which is also included). But, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, every one representing a different story style. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric investigating the death of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs need a character with an unknown background, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.