🔗 Share this article

Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile launch day releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic life, family pain, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot develops from there. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game deserving trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, every one representing a different genre. There's a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the murder of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a hero with an unknown past, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.