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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. While it may not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed several big-name day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi forces. This year, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the game's signature killcam showing each shot's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent thrill for every peace-lover looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from there. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, which is also included). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural story about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate poverty through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.