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

Following the recent cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. While it might not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed several high-profile launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive collection of numerous games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's picks include a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, we all require a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's trademark killcam showing each shot's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the safety of a digital world.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic life, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, as well as memories of her education and family life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a killing. What could be a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a tall order, 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 end of November (along with the original game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, each embodying a distinct story style. There's a investigative story about a priest investigating the death of his church's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs need a hero with an mysterious past, of course). Some of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.