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

Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it may not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced several big-name day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions further enrich a massive collection of hundreds games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has delivered exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem against enemy forces. Recently, the studio launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the series. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a polished dose of simulation World War II open environments filled with enemy objectives. The long-range combat is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the game's signature killcam showing every bullet's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for every peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a virtual world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an critically acclaimed story exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these subjects through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from when Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with memories of her education and home life, neither of which were bearable for a young person. Watcher learns Iris is not all that she seems, and the story unfolds from that point. Should all that intrigue fails to grab your interest, the game does start with a murder. What could be a more gripping opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a tall order, but if any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking gem is departing Game Pass at the close of the month (as is the first game, also available). But, due to a break in the middle, at least for players in the U.S., it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 characters, every one representing a different story style. There's a investigative tale about a priest looking into the murder of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to solve destitution through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed adventure. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (since every good RPGs require a hero with an unknown past, of course). Some of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired setting. And the combat is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.