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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of big-name day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive library of hundreds games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance is a polished dose of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam showing each shot's impact in graphic, explicit detail. It's a bloody excitement for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with memories of her education and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one representing a different story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to solve destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.