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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy forces. This year, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished dose of simulation World War II open environments filled with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for every peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on life after a pandemic life, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with memories of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, also available). But, with a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a different story style. There's a investigative tale about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to solve poverty through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.