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Following Microsoft's recent announcement of Xbox Game Pass subscription changes, including a cost hike for the Ultimate Tier to $thirty monthly, many members are seeking fresh ways to get the most from their subscription. For those holding onto their subscription or considering signing up, we present our latest picks.

This weekend's titles feature a beloved Japanese role-playing game, a charming independent journey, and a superb puzzle game scheduled to leave the platform soon.

Persona 4: The Golden Edition

Among the best methods to get your money's worth from your subscription is by immersing yourself in a lengthy, captivating RPG — and Persona 4 Golden fits that description exactly. Players take on the role of a teenager who has just moved to the quiet rural town of Inaba. During the day, your objectives include making new friends, working employment, and managing schoolwork. At night, you investigate a chilling string of murders by venturing into unique locations based on your companions' deepest insecurities.

With a unforgettable cast of characters, tactical turn-based combat, impeccable art design, and a plot full of twists, Persona 4 Golden is considered a masterpiece for many reasons. It also boasts a incredibly engrossing gameplay loop that will keep you up past bedtime, night after night.

Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato

While big titles like Ninja Gaiden 4 are a key selling point for the service, the subscription also highlights smaller games. A great example of this is Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato. Inspired by Spirited Away, this charming indie adventure is a fantasy tale rooted in Latin American culture. Players follow Miho, who, after assisting his grandma make soup, is transported to a colorful world populated by potato-stealing frogs and various eccentric creatures.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato plays out similar to an educational computer title from the 1990s, as Miho tackles challenges and helps the realm's residents by collecting an inventory of items. Even if it's a little unpolished, Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato is a heartwarming little game that openly showcases its appreciation for South America.

Cocoon

Cocoon is scheduled to leave the service on October 15, leaving only a short time to play it via your membership — and you definitely should. Developer the creators crafted one of the best puzzlers of this generation in 2023's Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure. Its central puzzle mechanic revolves around transitioning between realms within other worlds, and often you'll carry those worlds, in the shape of colorful spheres, with you.

While it doesn't have direct instructions, everything about Cocoon's challenges is built in a very intuitive manner, yet they will challenge you as well. 2023 was a massive year for video games, so it's no surprise if Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure was a bit missed by the masses. Let's correct that while we can.