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

After the latest cost hike for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it might not be seen as the absolute best offer in gaming now, the platform has welcomed a number of high-profile launch day games lately, including Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These additions only enhance a vast collection of numerous games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, everyone needs a bit of release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' enduring shooter line offers players intensely graphic carnage against enemy forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. While it doesn't revolutionize the formula, Resistance remains a polished dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with enemy objectives. The sniping is as visceral and gratifying as ever, with the game's trademark killcam displaying each shot's impact in gory, testicle-crunching clarity. It's a bloody thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the security of a virtual space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed story touching on life after a pandemic existence, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these subjects through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the only survivor of a global outbreak that eradicated humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that terrible disease, along with experiences of her school and home life, both of which were bearable for a teenager. Watcher discovers Iris is not all that she seems, and the plot unfolds from there. If all that mystery fails to hook you, the game does begin with a murder. Is there a more compelling start than this?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, completing a gazillion-hour RPG in just nine days is a challenging task, but if there's any game worth attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's visually striking masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (as is the original game, which is also included). But, with a break in the middle, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight protagonists, each representing a different genre. You'll find a investigative story about a cleric looking into the murder of his cathedral's head priest. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired adventure. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (since all great RPGs require a hero with an unknown background, of course). Some of these plots connect in unexpected, fascinating ways, while you progress through a gorgeous Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the battle system is excellent — “number go up” distilled to its purest form.