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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the service has welcomed several big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations include a therapeutic action game, an award-winning independent gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, family pain, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from there. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, which is also included). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one embodying a different genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.