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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed several big-name day-one releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a vast collection of hundreds games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

This week's recommendations feature a therapeutic shooter, an award-winning independent gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a hero with an unknown past, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed world. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.