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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, 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 vast library of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's recommendations include a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi forces. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the series' trademark killcam showing each shot's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on post-pandemic existence, family pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with memories of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. Should all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the original game, also available). But, with a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one embodying a distinct story style. There's a investigative story about a priest investigating the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.