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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it may not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the service has introduced several big-name day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive library of hundreds games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent 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 delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent carnage targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, along with memories of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, which is also included). But, with a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant striving to solve poverty through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown past, of course). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.