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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it may not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming now, the service has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

This week's picks include a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, featuring the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, as well as experiences of her education and family life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just 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 HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a character with an unknown past, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.