After the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has subsided. While it might not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name day-one releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a massive collection of hundreds games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.
This week's recommendations include a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.
Resistance: Sniper Elite
Every so often, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players intensely graphic carnage targeting enemy forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.
Resist 1000x
1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as memories of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more gripping start than that?
Octopath Traveler II
Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, also available). But, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the force of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because all great RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these stories intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the combat is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.
