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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed begin with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a procedural story about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.