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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name day-one releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage targeting enemy targets. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the series' signature killcam showing every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each representing a distinct story style. There's a investigative tale about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.