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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 anymore, the service has introduced a number of high-profile launch day games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's recommendations include a cathartic action game, an award-winning independent gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy forces. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. While 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 satisfying as always, with the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with memories of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the original game, also available). But, with a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, every one embodying a distinct genre. There's a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the power of commerce stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious past, of course). Some of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its essence.