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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. Although it may not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's picks include a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi targets. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning story touching on post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her school and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the story develops from there. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). But, with a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative story about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's head priest. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious past, naturally). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.