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Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming now, the service has introduced several high-profile day-one games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative touching on life after a pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with memories of her education and family life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if there's any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one embodying a distinct story style. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (because all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.