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

After the recent price increase for Game Pass Ultimate, the earlier commotion has subsided. While it may not be considered the absolute best offer in gaming anymore, the service has introduced a number of big-name launch day releases recently, such as Ninja Gaiden 4 and The Outer Worlds 2. These titles further enrich a massive collection of numerous games perfect for weekend-long marathon sessions.

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

Sniper Elite: Resistance

From time to time, we all require a bit of catharsis. Over two decades, the Sniper Elite series has provided exactly that. Rebellion Developments' long-running shooter series offers players intensely graphic mayhem targeting Nazi forces. Recently, Rebellion launched Sniper Elite: Resistance, a well-timed new entry to the franchise. Although it doesn't revolutionize the gameplay, Resistance is a well-constructed dose of simulation World War II sandboxes packed with Nazi objectives. The long-range combat is as brutal and satisfying as always, featuring the game's signature killcam showing each shot's effect in gory, testicle-crunching detail. It's a violent thrill for any peace-lover looking to unwind in the safety of a digital space.

Resist 1000x

1000xResist tells an critically acclaimed narrative touching on life after a pandemic existence, generational pain, and much more. It examines these themes through a science fiction perspective; you assume the role of Watcher, one of several clones of Iris, the sole person left of a pandemic that wiped out humanity. Watcher and her sister clones delve into Iris's memories from the time Earth was ravaged by that terrible plague, as well as experiences of her education and home life, neither of which were easy for a young person. Watcher learns Iris isn't all that she seems, and the plot develops from there. Should all that mystery isn't enough to hook you, the game indeed start with a killing. What could be a more compelling opening than that?

Octopath Traveler II

Yes, finishing a gazillion-hour RPG in just over a week is a tall order, but if any game deserving attempting the effort for, it's Octopath Traveler 2. Square Enix's HD-2D gem is departing Game Pass at the end of November (along with the original game, also available). But, due to a holiday in the midst, at least for players in the States, it's theoretically doable. Octopath Traveler 2 follows eight characters, every one representing a distinct genre. There's a procedural story about a cleric looking into the death of his church's archbishop. A trader striving to eradicate destitution through the power of commerce headlines a western-themed narrative. Additionally, there's a mystery about an herbalist with amnesia (because all great RPGs require a hero with an mysterious background, naturally). A few of these stories connect in unexpected, intriguing ways, while you progress through a gorgeous 19th-century inspired setting. And the battle system is excellent — stat-focused gameplay distilled to its purest form.