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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it might not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi forces. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story develops from that point. Should all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, every one embodying a distinct story style. There's a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a hero with an unknown past, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.