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After Microsoft's recent news of Game Pass membership changes, including a cost hike for the Ultimate Tier to $30 per month, numerous subscribers are seeking fresh methods to maximize their subscription. For those keeping their subscription or considering joining, we present our latest picks.

This weekend's titles include a acclaimed Japanese role-playing game, a charming indie journey, and a superb puzzler scheduled to leave the platform soon.

Persona 4 Golden

One of the top methods to maximize value from Game Pass is by immersing yourself in a lengthy, captivating role-playing game — and Persona 4 Golden fits that bill exactly. You step into the part of a teenager who has just moved to the quiet countryside of Inaba. During the day, your goals involve forming friendships, working part-time jobs, and keeping up with schoolwork. By night, you investigate a chilling string of murders by venturing into strange locations based on your companions' inner fears.

With a unforgettable group of heroes, tactical turn-based combat, impeccable art design, and a storyline packed with surprises, Persona 4 Golden is regarded as a masterpiece for many reasons. It also features a highly engrossing cycle that will have you playing late into the night, repeatedly.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato

While big titles like Ninja Gaiden IV are a primary attraction for the service, the platform also showcases lesser-known games. A perfect instance of this is Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato. Inspired by the animated classic, this charming indie adventure is a magical realist tale steeped in Latin American culture. You join Miho, who, after helping his grandmother make soup, is transported to a vibrant realm populated by potato-stealing frogs and various eccentric animals.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato unfolds similar to an learning-focused PC game from the 90s, as Miho solves challenges and helps the world's residents by collecting an assortment of items. Though it's a bit rough around the edges, Sopa is a sweet small game that openly showcases its love for the region's culture.

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure is set to leave Game Pass on Oct. 15, giving you only a short time to experience it via subscription — and you definitely must. Developer the creators designed one of the best puzzle games of recent years in the 2023 release Cocoon. Its core gameplay element focuses on transitioning between realms inside additional worlds, and often you'll carry those realms, in the shape of colorful orbs, alongside you.

While it doesn't have direct instructions, everything about Cocoon's challenges is built in a highly natural way, yet they can challenge you as well. The year 2023 proved a massive period for games, so it's understandable if Cocoon was somewhat overlooked by the masses. Let's correct that now.