3 Game Pass Titles That Will Justify Your Subscription During the Weekend (Nov. 21-23)

Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several high-profile launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions only enhance a vast library of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's picks feature a therapeutic action game, an prize-winning independent gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent mayhem against enemy targets. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as always, with the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent thrill for any pacifist looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, generational pain, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a pandemic that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. If all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). However, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one representing a different genre. There's a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A trader aiming to solve destitution through the force of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a character with an mysterious past, naturally). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century themed world. And the combat is superb — “number go up” distilled to its essence.