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Following the company's latest announcement of Game Pass subscription updates, featuring a price increase for the Ultimate Tier to $30 per month, numerous subscribers are looking for new ways to get the most from their subscription. For those keeping their subscription or thinking about signing up, here are this week's picks.

This weekend's titles feature a beloved JRPG, a charming indie journey, and a brilliant puzzler set to leave the service soon.

Persona 4: The Golden Edition

One of the best methods to maximize value from Game Pass is by immersing yourself in a extensive, captivating role-playing game — and Persona 4: The Golden Edition matches that description exactly. Players step into the part of a high school student who has relocated to the sleepy countryside of Inaba. By day, your objectives involve making friendships, working part-time jobs, and managing schoolwork. At night, you investigate a disturbing serial murder case by exploring unique locations themed around your companions' inner fears.

With a memorable group of heroes, strategic turn-based combat, impeccable visuals, and a storyline full of twists, Persona 4 Golden is regarded as a classic for many reasons. It also boasts a incredibly addictive cycle that will keep you up past bedtime, repeatedly.

Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato

While big releases like Ninja Gaiden IV are a primary selling point for the service, the platform also highlights smaller games. A perfect instance of this is Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato. Drawing from Spirited Away, this charming independent game is a magical realist journey rooted in South American traditions. You follow Miho, who, after assisting his grandma make soup, is pulled into a colorful realm populated by potato-nabbing frogs and various eccentric creatures.

Sopa unfolds like an educational computer title from the 90s, as Miho tackles challenges and helps the realm's inhabitants by collecting an assortment of items. Even if it's a little unpolished, Sopa is a sweet small experience that proudly celebrates its love for the region's culture.

Cocoon

Cocoon is scheduled to exit Game Pass on Oct. 15, leaving only a short time to experience it via subscription — and you absolutely should. Developer the creators designed one of the finest puzzlers of this generation in 2023's Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure. Its core puzzle mechanic revolves around transitioning among worlds within other worlds, and often you'll transport those worlds, in the shape of colorful orbs, alongside you.

While it lacks direct guidance, everything about Cocoon's challenges is designed in a very intuitive manner, yet they can test you as well. 2023 was a massive year for video games, so it's understandable if Cocoon was somewhat missed by many players. We should correct that while we can.