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

Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial uproar has calmed down. Although it may not be considered the top offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles only enhance a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent carnage against Nazi forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. Although it doesn't reinvent the gameplay, Resistance is a polished serving of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam displaying every bullet's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a violent excitement for every peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, one of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a pandemic that wiped out human life. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible plague, along with memories of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. Is there a more gripping start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just 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 masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, which is also included). However, with a holiday in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, each embodying a distinct story style. There's a procedural story about a priest investigating the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to solve poverty through the power of commerce headlines a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a enigma about an herbalist with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a character with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, as you play through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired world. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.