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

Following the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it might not be considered the absolute best deal in gaming anymore, the service has welcomed several high-profile day-one releases lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a massive collection of hundreds games ideal for weekend marathon sessions.

This week's recommendations feature a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning independent gem, and a essential HD-2D RPG.

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a little catharsis. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided precisely that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic mayhem against Nazi targets. Recently, the studio released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a timely addition to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of immersive sim World War II open environments packed with Nazi targets. The sniping is as visceral and satisfying as ever, featuring the game's signature killcam showing each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a bloody excitement for every pacifist looking to let off steam in the safety of a virtual world.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It approaches these themes through a science fiction lens; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's recollections from when Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as memories of her school and family life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the story develops from that point. If all that intrigue isn't enough to hook you, the game does begin with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a extremely long RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (as is the first game, also available). But, with a break in the middle, at least for those in the U.S., it's theoretically achievable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows 8 protagonists, each embodying a distinct story style. There's a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his church's archbishop. A trader aiming to eradicate destitution through the power of capitalism stars in a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with memory loss (because every good RPGs require a hero with an unknown background, of course). A few of these stories connect in surprising, fascinating ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution themed world. And the battle system is superb — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.