3 Game Pass Games That Can Justify Your Membership This Weekend (Nov. 21-23)

After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. While it might not be seen as the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

Our current picks feature a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent mayhem targeting enemy targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II open environments packed with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing every bullet's effect in graphic, explicit detail. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed narrative exploring post-pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from when Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, along with experiences of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story develops from there. If all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, finishing a extremely long RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one representing a different story style. You'll find a procedural story about a priest looking into the murder of his church's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate destitution through the power of commerce stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a hero with an unknown past, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.