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After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it might not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed several high-profile launch day releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, with the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for any pacifist looking to let off steam in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning story exploring life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her education and home life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed begin with a murder. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve poverty through the power of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since every good RPGs need a character with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed world. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.