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After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of high-profile launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi forces. This year, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover wanting to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is departing 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 States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each representing a distinct genre. There's a investigative story about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the force of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.