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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several big-name day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks include a cathartic shooter, an award-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any pacifist looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a character with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.