Three Xbox Game Pass Games That Can Justify Your Subscription This Weekend (Nov. 21-23)

Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the top offer in gaming anymore, the platform has welcomed several big-name launch day releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast library of hundreds games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent carnage against enemy forces. This year, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments packed with Nazi objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover wanting to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic life, family pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with memories of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the story develops from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler 2

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is leaving Game Pass at the close of the month (along with the first game, which is also included). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight protagonists, every one embodying a distinct genre. There's a investigative tale about a priest investigating the death of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a enigma about an herbalist with memory loss (since all great RPGs need a character with an mysterious background, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay boiled to its purest form.