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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed several high-profile launch day games recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with memories of her education and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. If all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one embodying a different story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.