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After Microsoft's latest announcement of Game Pass subscription changes, featuring a price increase for the top tier to $30 monthly, numerous subscribers are seeking new methods to maximize their membership. If you holding onto their membership or considering signing up, we present this week's picks.

This weekend's games feature a beloved JRPG, a charming independent journey, and a brilliant puzzler scheduled to leave the service soon.

Persona 4 Golden

Among the best methods to maximize value from your subscription is by immersing yourself in a extensive, captivating role-playing game — and Persona 4: The Golden Edition matches that description exactly. You take on the role of a high school student who has relocated to the sleepy countryside of Inaba. During the day, your goals include forming new friends, taking on employment, and keeping up with schoolwork. By night, you investigate a chilling serial murder case by venturing into unique locations based on your friends' inner fears.

With a unforgettable cast of characters, strategic turn-based combat, impeccable art design, and a plot full of twists, Persona 4 Golden is considered a classic for many reasons. It also features a highly addictive gameplay loop that will have you playing past bedtime, repeatedly.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato

While big releases like Ninja Gaiden 4 are a key attraction for the service, the subscription also highlights lesser-known indie gems. A great instance of this is Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato. Inspired by Spirited Away, this enchanting independent game is a fantasy journey rooted in Latin American culture. Players follow Miho, who, after assisting his grandma make soup, is transported to a colorful world filled with potato-nabbing frogs and various quirky creatures.

Sopa unfolds similar to an learning-focused PC game from the 90s, as Miho tackles challenges and helps the realm's residents by gathering an assortment of objects. Even if it's a bit unpolished, Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato is a heartwarming small experience that openly showcases its love for the region's culture.

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure

Cocoon is scheduled to exit Game Pass on Oct. 15, leaving only a short time to experience it via subscription — and you definitely must. Studio the creators crafted one of the best puzzlers of this generation in the 2023 release Cocoon. Its central puzzle mechanic revolves around moving among realms within other worlds, and frequently you'll transport those worlds, in the form of vibrant spheres, with you.

While it lacks direct guidance, everything about Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure's challenges is designed in a highly natural way, yet they can challenge you as well. 2023 was a big year for games, so it's understandable if Cocoon was a bit overlooked by many players. Let's rectify that while we can.