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After 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 methods to maximize their subscription. For those keeping their subscription or thinking about joining, here are this week's recommendations.

Our selected games include a beloved JRPG, a charming independent adventure, and a brilliant puzzler set to leave the service soon.

Persona 4 Golden

Among the best ways to get your money's worth from Game Pass is by diving into a extensive, captivating role-playing game — and Persona 4 Golden matches that bill perfectly. You step into the part of a high school student who has relocated to the quiet rural town of Inaba. During the day, your goals include making new friends, working part-time jobs, and managing studies. By night, you work to solve a disturbing string of murders by venturing into strange dungeons themed around your friends' deepest insecurities.

With a unforgettable group of heroes, tactical turn-based combat, flawless visuals, and a plot packed with surprises, Persona 4: The Golden Edition is considered a masterpiece for many reasons. It also features a incredibly addictive cycle that will have you playing past bedtime, repeatedly.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato

While major releases like Ninja Gaiden 4 are a primary attraction for Game Pass, the platform also showcases lesser-known games. A great instance of this is Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato. Inspired by Spirited Away, this enchanting indie game is a magical realist tale rooted in South American traditions. Players follow Miho, who, after helping his grandmother prepare soup, is transported to a colorful world populated by potato-nabbing frogs and various quirky creatures.

Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato unfolds similar to an learning-focused computer title from the 90s, as Miho tackles challenges and aids the realm's residents by collecting an assortment of objects. Though it's a bit unpolished, Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato is a sweet little experience that proudly celebrates its love for the region's culture.

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure is scheduled to leave Game Pass on Oct. 15, giving you only a few days to play it via subscription — and you definitely should. Developer Geometric Interactive designed one of the finest puzzlers of this generation in 2023's Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure. Its core gameplay element revolves around moving between realms inside other worlds, and frequently you'll carry those worlds, in the form of vibrant spheres, alongside you.

Although it doesn't have explicit instructions, everything about Cocoon's challenges is designed in a very natural way, yet they can challenge you as well. The year 2023 proved a massive period for games, so it's no surprise if Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure was somewhat overlooked by many players. Let's rectify that while we can.