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Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage targeting enemy targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist looking to let off steam in the security of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her education and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from there. If all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long 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 departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). However, with a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one embodying a different genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.