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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. While it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has welcomed a number of big-name day-one releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her education and home life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving 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 original game, which is also included). However, with a break in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each embodying a distinct story style. There's a investigative story about a priest looking into the murder of his church's archbishop. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the force of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious past, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.