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Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it may not be seen as the top offer in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several high-profile day-one releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current recommendations include a therapeutic shooter, an award-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam showing every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on post-pandemic existence, family trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her education and family life, both of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the story unfolds from there. Should all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does start with a killing. Is there a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, every one embodying a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric investigating the death of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, of course). Some of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.