🔗 Share this article

Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed a number of big-name day-one releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations feature a cathartic action game, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players ultraviolent mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story touching on post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, a member 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 memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with memories of her education and family life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed begin with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour 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 visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one embodying a different genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a western-themed adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.