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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced several big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

This week's recommendations feature a cathartic action game, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy targets. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, along with memories of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, every one embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.