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After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile launch day games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players ultraviolent carnage against enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody excitement for any peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a murder. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, 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 end of November (as is the original game, also available). However, with a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a different story style. There's a procedural story about a priest looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a character with an unknown background, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.