🔗 Share this article

After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it might not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several big-name launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting Nazi targets. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on life after a pandemic existence, family trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with experiences of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the story develops from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, also available). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, each embodying a different genre. There's a procedural tale about a priest investigating the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (since all great RPGs need a hero with an unknown past, naturally). Some of these stories intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.