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After Microsoft's recent announcement of Xbox Game Pass membership updates, including a price increase for the Ultimate Tier to $30 monthly, numerous subscribers are looking for new methods to maximize their subscription. For those holding onto their subscription or considering signing up, we present this week's picks.

This weekend's games include a beloved Japanese role-playing game, a delightful independent journey, and a superb puzzler set to depart from the platform shortly.

Persona 4: The Golden Edition

Among the top ways to get your money's worth from your subscription is by immersing yourself in a extensive, engaging RPG — and Persona 4 Golden fits that description exactly. Players step into the part of a teenager who has just moved to the sleepy rural town of Inaba. During the day, your goals involve making new friends, working employment, and managing studies. At night, you work to solve a disturbing string of murders by venturing into unique dungeons themed around your friends' deepest insecurities.

With a memorable cast of characters, strategic turn-based combat, flawless art design, and a storyline packed with twists, Persona 4: The Golden Edition is regarded as a masterpiece for many reasons. It also boasts a incredibly addictive cycle that will have you playing past bedtime, repeatedly.

Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato

While big releases like Ninja Gaiden IV are a key selling point for the service, the platform also showcases smaller indie gems. A great example of this is Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato. Inspired by the animated classic, this charming independent adventure is a magical realist journey rooted in Latin American culture. Players follow Miho, who, after helping his grandma prepare soup, is transported to a colorful realm populated by potato-stealing frogs and various eccentric creatures.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato unfolds similar to an learning-focused computer title from the 1990s, as Miho tackles challenges and aids the world's residents by gathering an inventory of items. Though it's a little rough around the edges, Sopa is a heartwarming little experience that openly celebrates its appreciation for the region's culture.

Cocoon

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure is scheduled to leave Game Pass on October 15, leaving only a few days to experience it via subscription — and you definitely should. Developer the creators designed one of the finest puzzle games of recent years in 2023's Cocoon. Its core gameplay element focuses on moving among worlds within additional worlds, and often you'll carry those worlds, in the shape of vibrant spheres, with you.

While it lacks direct instructions, everything about Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure's challenges is built in a very intuitive way, yet they can challenge you as well. 2023 was a massive period for video games, so it's no surprise if Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure was a bit missed by many players. Let's rectify that while we can.