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

After the latest price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming now, the service has introduced several big-name launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive library of hundreds games ideal for weekend-long gaming binges.

Our current picks include a cathartic shooter, an award-winning indie masterpiece, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite franchise has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter line presents players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi forces. This year, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed dose of immersive sim World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as always, with the series' signature killcam displaying every bullet's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a violent thrill for every pacifist wanting to unwind in the security of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist presents an award-winning narrative exploring post-pandemic existence, generational trauma, and much more. It approaches these themes through a sci-fi lens; you assume the role of Watcher, a member of multiple clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her fellow clones delve into Iris's recollections from the time Earth was ravaged by that horrific plague, as well as experiences of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot develops from that point. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does start with a murder. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth trying the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 features 8 protagonists, every one embodying a different genre. There's a procedural story about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A trader aiming to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. There's even a mystery about an apothecary with amnesia (since every good RPGs require a character with an unknown background, naturally). A few of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning 19th-century inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.