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

Following the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has calmed down. While it may not be seen as the top deal in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of high-profile day-one releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles further enrich a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend marathon sessions.

Our current picks include a cathartic action game, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play 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 precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players ultraviolent carnage targeting Nazi targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II open environments packed with enemy targets. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as ever, with the game's signature killcam showing every bullet's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent excitement for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the safety of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist presents an award-winning story touching on life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the sole survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that horrific plague, along with memories of her school and family life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that mystery isn't enough to grab your interest, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more gripping opening than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in only nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, which is also included). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's technically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight characters, every one representing a distinct story style. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate poverty through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (since all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious past, of course). Some of these plots intertwine in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century themed setting. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” boiled to its essence.