Three Xbox Game Pass Titles That Will Justify Your Membership This Weekend (Nov. 21-23)

After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the initial commotion has subsided. Although it might not be considered the top deal in gaming now, the service has introduced a number of big-name launch day releases lately, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a vast collection of hundreds games perfect for weekend gaming binges.

This week's picks include a therapeutic shooter, an prize-winning indie masterpiece, and a must-play HD-2D RPG.

Resistance: Sniper Elite

Every so often, everyone needs a little release. For 20 years, the Sniper Elite series has delivered precisely that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting enemy targets. Recently, Rebellion released Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed addition to the series. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance remains a well-constructed serving of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi targets. The long-range combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, with the game's signature killcam showing each shot's effect in gory, explicit detail. It's a bloody thrill for any pacifist wanting to let off steam in the safety of a digital space.

1000xResist

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative exploring life after a pandemic life, generational trauma, and other deep themes. It examines these themes through a sci-fi perspective; you play as Watcher, a member of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a global outbreak that eradicated human life. Watcher and her sister clones explore Iris's memories from the time Earth was beset by that horrific disease, along with memories of her school and home life, neither of which were easy for a teenager. Watcher learns Iris isn't what she appears, and the plot develops from that point. Should all that mystery fails to grab your interest, the game indeed start with a murder. Is there a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Admittedly, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in only nine days is a challenging task, but if any game worth attempting the grind for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D masterpiece is leaving Game Pass at the end of November (along with the first game, which is also included). However, due to a holiday in the middle, at least for those in the States, it's technically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a distinct genre. There's a procedural tale about a cleric looking into the death of his cathedral's head priest. A merchant striving to eradicate poverty through the force of capitalism stars in a frontier-inspired narrative. There's even a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because every good RPGs need a hero with an mysterious past, naturally). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, as you play through a stunning Industrial Revolution inspired world. And the combat is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its essence.