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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several big-name day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations feature a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem against enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on life after a pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). But, with a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural story about a priest investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.