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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. While it might not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced several high-profile launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, 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 series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic life, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each embodying a different genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate destitution through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.