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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it might not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one 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 marathon sessions.

This week's picks include a cathartic shooter, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem against enemy forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative touching on post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game deserving attempting 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 first game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one embodying a different story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.