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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several high-profile launch day releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a vast library of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody excitement for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story exploring post-pandemic life, family trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her education and family life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the grind 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, also available). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one representing a different genre. There's a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these plots connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.