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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast library of numerous games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent carnage targeting enemy forces. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning story exploring post-pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. What could be a more gripping start 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 break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one representing a distinct story style. There's a procedural story about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.