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After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile day-one releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the game's trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, family pain, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). But, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's head priest. A trader striving to solve poverty through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the combat is superb — “number go up” boiled to its essence.