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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of big-name launch day releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive library of hundreds games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem against enemy forces. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the game's trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for every peace-lover wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning story touching on life after a pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. 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, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from there. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long 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 HD-2D masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). However, with a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each embodying a different genre. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric investigating the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.