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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming now, the platform has introduced several big-name launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing every bullet's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if 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 first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, each representing a different genre. There's a procedural story about a priest looking into the death of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.