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Following Microsoft's recent announcement of Game Pass membership changes, featuring a cost hike for the Ultimate Tier to $30 per month, many members are seeking fresh ways to maximize their membership. If you keeping their subscription or considering signing up, we present this week's picks.

This weekend's games feature a acclaimed JRPG, a charming independent adventure, and a brilliant puzzle game set to leave the service shortly.

Persona 4 Golden

Among the top methods to maximize value from your subscription is by diving into a lengthy, captivating role-playing game — and Persona 4: The Golden Edition matches that description perfectly. You take on the part of a high school student who has relocated to the quiet countryside of Inaba. By day, your objectives include forming friendships, taking on part-time jobs, and keeping up with studies. At night, you investigate a disturbing serial murder case by exploring unique dungeons themed around your friends' inner fears.

With a unforgettable group of heroes, tactical turn-based combat, impeccable visuals, and a plot full of surprises, Persona 4 Golden is considered a masterpiece for many reasons. It also features a incredibly addictive gameplay loop that will keep you up past bedtime, night after night.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato

Although big releases like Ninja Gaiden IV are a key selling point for the service, the platform also highlights smaller games. A perfect example of this is Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato. Drawing from the animated classic, this charming independent game is a fantasy journey steeped in Latin American culture. You join Miho, who, after assisting his grandmother prepare soup, is transported to a colorful realm populated by potato-stealing frogs and other quirky animals.

Sopa plays out like an learning-focused computer title from the 1990s, as Miho solves challenges and aids the world's residents by collecting an assortment of objects. Though it's a little rough around the edges, Sopa is a sweet small experience that proudly celebrates its love for the region's culture.

Cocoon

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure is set to leave Game Pass on October 15, leaving only a few days to experience it via your membership — and you definitely must. Studio the creators crafted one of the best puzzlers of this generation in 2023's Cocoon. Its central gameplay element focuses on moving among worlds within other worlds, and frequently you'll carry those realms, in the shape of vibrant spheres, with you.

Although it doesn't have explicit instructions, everything about Cocoon's puzzles is designed in a very intuitive manner, yet they will challenge you as well. The year 2023 proved a massive year for games, so it's no surprise if Cocoon was a bit overlooked by the masses. We should rectify that while we can.