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

After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the platform has introduced a number of high-profile launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks feature a cathartic action game, an prize-winning indie gem, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players ultraviolent carnage targeting enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion 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 open environments packed with enemy targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as always, with the series' signature killcam showing each shot's effect in gory, explicit clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to let off steam in the security of a virtual space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic life, family trauma, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, along with experiences of her school and home life, both of which were easy for a young person. Watcher discovers Iris is not what she appears, and the plot develops from there. Should all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game indeed begin with a killing. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, completing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, also available). But, due to a break in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, every one embodying a different genre. You'll find a procedural story about a cleric investigating the death of his church's archbishop. A merchant aiming to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a character with an mysterious past, of course). Some of these plots connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.