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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations feature a cathartic shooter, an award-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While 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 brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, along with memories of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth trying 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, also available). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a distinct genre. There's a procedural tale about a priest looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.