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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. While it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of big-name day-one releases recently, such as 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 picks include a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a polished dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, with the series' trademark killcam displaying each shot's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic life, family trauma, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as memories of her school and family life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story develops from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, which is also included). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a different story style. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric looking into the death of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a character with an unknown past, naturally). Some of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.