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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it may not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming now, the platform has introduced several big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

This week's picks include a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage against enemy forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story touching on post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with 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 that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, also available). However, with a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each representing a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.