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

After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has subsided. Although it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced several big-name day-one games recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive collection of hundreds games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's picks feature a cathartic shooter, an prize-winning independent masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a little catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent mayhem against Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a polished serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's impact in graphic, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent excitement for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative touching on life after a pandemic life, generational pain, and much more. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific disease, as well as experiences of her education and home life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not what she appears, and the plot unfolds from there. Should all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. What could be a more compelling opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game deserving attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, also available). But, with a break in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A trader aiming to solve poverty through the force of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. There's even a enigma about an apothecary with amnesia (because all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious past, of course). A few of these stories intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is superb — “number go up” boiled to its purest form.