Three Game Pass Games That Will Validate Your Subscription During the Weekend (Nov. 21-23)

After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of big-name launch day releases recently, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a vast library of hundreds games ideal for weekend gaming binges.

Our current recommendations include a cathartic action game, an award-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent carnage targeting enemy targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and satisfying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for every pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic life, family trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her education and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if there's any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a different genre. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because every good RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.