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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the top offer 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. Those titles further enrich a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on post-pandemic life, family trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her education and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story develops from that point. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. There's a procedural tale about a cleric investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a hero with an unknown past, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.