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Following the company's latest announcement of Xbox Game Pass membership changes, including a cost hike for the Ultimate Tier to $30 monthly, numerous subscribers are seeking new ways to maximize their membership. For those holding onto their subscription or considering signing up, here are our latest picks.

This weekend's games feature a acclaimed JRPG, a delightful independent journey, and a superb puzzler set to leave the platform soon.

Persona 4: The Golden Edition

One of the top ways to maximize value from your subscription is by immersing yourself in a extensive, engaging RPG — and Persona 4 Golden fits that description exactly. Players step into the role of a teenager who has relocated to the quiet rural town of Inaba. By day, your objectives include making new friends, taking on part-time jobs, and keeping up with schoolwork. At night, you work to solve a disturbing string of murders by exploring strange locations themed around your companions' inner fears.

With a unforgettable cast of characters, tactical battle system, flawless art design, and a plot packed with surprises, Persona 4: The Golden Edition is considered a masterpiece for many reasons. It also features a highly addictive gameplay loop that will have you playing late into the night, night after night.

Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato

While big titles like Ninja Gaiden IV are a primary selling point for the service, the subscription also showcases lesser-known indie gems. A great instance of this is Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato. Inspired by Spirited Away, this charming indie game is a fantasy journey rooted in South American culture. You follow Miho, who, after assisting his grandmother prepare soup, is pulled into a colorful world filled with potato-stealing frogs and various quirky creatures.

Sopa unfolds similar to an learning-focused computer title from the 1990s, as Miho solves challenges and helps the realm's residents by collecting an inventory of objects. Though it's a bit rough around the edges, Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato is a sweet small experience that openly showcases its love for South America.

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure is set to leave Game Pass on Oct. 15, leaving only a short time to play it via your membership — and you definitely should. Studio the creators crafted one of the best puzzlers of recent years in 2023's Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure. Its central gameplay element revolves around transitioning between realms inside additional worlds, and often you'll carry those worlds, in the shape of vibrant spheres, with you.

Although it doesn't have explicit guidance, everything about Cocoon's challenges is designed in a very natural manner, though they can challenge you as well. The year 2023 proved a big period for video games, so it's no surprise if Cocoon was somewhat overlooked by the masses. Let's correct that while we can.