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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem against enemy forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the game's signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for every pacifist looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only 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 masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each representing a different genre. There's a investigative story about a priest looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to solve destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.