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After Microsoft's recent announcement of Game Pass subscription changes, including a cost hike for the Ultimate Tier to $30 monthly, many members are looking for new methods to get the most from their subscription. For those holding onto their subscription or thinking about signing up, here are this week's picks.

Our selected titles include a acclaimed Japanese role-playing game, a delightful independent journey, and a brilliant puzzler set to leave the service soon.

Persona 4 Golden

Among the best ways to get your money's worth from your subscription is by immersing yourself in a lengthy, engaging role-playing game — and Persona 4: The Golden Edition matches that bill perfectly. You take on the role of a teenager who has relocated to the quiet countryside of Inaba. During the day, your goals include making friendships, taking on part-time jobs, and managing schoolwork. At night, you investigate a chilling string of murders by exploring strange dungeons themed around your companions' deepest insecurities.

With a unforgettable group of heroes, strategic battle system, flawless art design, and a storyline full of surprises, Persona 4 Golden is regarded as a masterpiece for good reason. It also boasts a incredibly addictive cycle that will keep you up past bedtime, night after night.

Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato

Although major titles like Ninja Gaiden 4 are a primary selling point for the service, the subscription also showcases smaller indie gems. A great example of this is Sopa - Tale of the Stolen Potato. Inspired by the animated classic, this enchanting independent game is a magical realist tale steeped in Latin American traditions. You join Miho, who, after assisting his grandmother make soup, is transported to a vibrant realm filled with potato-stealing frogs and various quirky animals.

Sopa plays out like an learning-focused PC game from the 90s, as Miho tackles puzzles and helps the world's residents by gathering an inventory of items. Though it's a little unpolished, Sopa: Tale of the Stolen Potato is a heartwarming little game that proudly celebrates its love for the region's culture.

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure

Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure is scheduled to exit Game Pass on October 15, giving you only a short time to play it via subscription — and you absolutely should. Studio the creators crafted one of the best puzzle games of recent years in 2023's Cocoon. Its core puzzle mechanic focuses on moving among realms inside additional worlds, and often you'll carry those realms, in the form of colorful spheres, alongside you.

Although it lacks direct instructions, everything about Cocoon's puzzles is built in a highly intuitive manner, though they will test you as well. The year 2023 proved a big period for video games, so it's no surprise if Cocoon: A Puzzle Adventure was somewhat missed by the masses. We should correct that while we can.