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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's picks include a cathartic action game, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with memories of her education and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot develops from there. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 characters, every one representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs need a hero with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.