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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed several big-name day-one games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if any game deserving trying the grind 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, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each representing a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.