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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced several big-name launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning story exploring post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. 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 pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into 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 discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the effort 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 those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a character with an mysterious past, of course). Some of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its essence.