Three Game Pass Titles That Can Justify Your Membership This Weekend (Nov. 21-23)

Following the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the platform has introduced a number of big-name day-one games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a vast collection of numerous games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

This week's recommendations feature a therapeutic shooter, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Every so often, everyone needs a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series presents players intensely graphic carnage against Nazi targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The sniping is as brutal and gratifying as ever, featuring the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist wanting to let off steam in the security of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only person left of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible disease, as well as experiences of her education and family life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story develops from that point. If all that intrigue fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more gripping start than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the States, it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, each representing a distinct genre. You'll find a investigative tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's head priest. A merchant aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because all great RPGs need a hero with an unknown past, of course). A few of these plots intertwine in surprising, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution themed setting. And the combat is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.