Three Game Pass Games That Will Justify Your Subscription This Weekend (Nov. 21-23)

After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has calmed down. Although it might not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of big-name day-one games lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. Those titles only enhance a massive library of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, we all require a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite franchise has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line presents players ultraviolent carnage targeting Nazi forces. This year, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes filled with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and gratifying as always, featuring the series' trademark killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a digital world.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an award-winning narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as memories of her school and home life, neither of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than that?

Octopath Traveler 2

Admittedly, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in only over a week is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). However, due to a break in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, each representing a different genre. You'll find a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's archbishop. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the power of commerce stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a enigma about an apothecary with memory loss (because every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). Some of these plots connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.

Rita Jenkins
Rita Jenkins

A financial strategist with over a decade of experience in wealth management and investment planning, dedicated to empowering others.