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Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it may not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of big-name launch day games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's recommendations include a therapeutic action game, an award-winning indie gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy 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 well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the game's signature killcam displaying each shot's effect in graphic, explicit clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every peace-lover wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, generational pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with memories of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth 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 (along with the original game, also available). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, every one embodying a different story style. You'll find a procedural story about a priest investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these plots connect in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its essence.