When it comes to figuring out how to spend your gaming weekend, one of the best places to start is Xbox Game Pass, if you are subscribed to the service. If you are subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, you have access to an ever-changing catalog of a couple hundred games, available on both Xbox consoles and on PC via the Microsoft store. It might be hard to decide what to play with that many games at your disposal, but don't worry, I've narrowed it down to three games, with a nice mix of genres. Two of these games you could finish in a weekend, but the third you can play enough to know if you want to continue with it.

3 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4

A brand-new arcade skating game

First up is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, one of the biggest Xbox Game Pass launches of 2025. It just released last week and is available on Xbox Game Pass, making it a great game to check out. It combines the content from the third and fourth games in the series, applying the classic two-minute timer to a series of parks. It includes a combination of new and old skaters, a ton of returning maps, and a few new ones, like Waterpark and Pinball. Running through the goals for each level and unlocking new parks won't take you more than six hours, depending on your skill level, but there are tons of other challenges and modes to keep you entertained beyond that. THPS 3 + 4 is also a more arcade-style sports game, so it doesn't require you to be phenomenal at sports games. There are also accessibility options under the mods menu, like making balancing easier or increasing the level timer to make it easier to complete all the challenges.

2 Metaphor: ReFantazio

One of the best JRPGs of 2024

Metaphor: ReFantazio is not a game you can beat in a weekend, but if you haven't played it and aren't sure that you will like it, one weekend is enough to know. You can play through the first main dungeon, which will lead to you getting a good idea of what the game is and if you are interested in continuing with it, in about 10 hours or so. The game itself takes 60 to 80 hours, depending on side content, to complete, which is a lot, but it is truly an excellent game. The story follows a young crew of people trying to help save the crown prince, who was poisoned and locked away. The king, his father, was assassinated, and without the prince the crown is up for grabs, leading to an all-out scramble to determine who will take the crown. The turn-based combat is deeply tactical, thanks to a great job system that allows you to swap jobs on the fly and combine different skills into a single class, creating unique combinations. The story is excellent, and it doesn't include some of the more off-putting aspects of other JRPGs, like Persona, which was made by the same team, like romance. Spend your weekend discovering something new.

1 Banjo-Kazooie

Enjoy the summer time with a classic 3D platformer

Late July in the summer reminds me of playing games during summer break from school, so why not relive those memories with Banjo-Kazooie? Unlike the other two games, this one is only available on console and cloud, not PC. That said though, even if you didn't play Banjo-Kazooie during summer break as a child, the colorful and light 3D collectathon fits those vibes in a way that can make anyone feel nostalgic. Run around with Banjo and Kazooie as you try and defeat the evil Gruntilda by collecting puzzle pieces and advancing through levels. It's simple, fun, and it only takes between 12 and 14 hours, meaning you could beat it in a single weekend, depending on how much time you want to dedicate to it. Plus, Banjo-Tooie and Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts are both also available on Game Pass if you want to experience the whole series.

Plenty to play on Xbox Game Pass

All three of these are fantastic options to spend your weekend with, especially if you are looking for something to match the summer vibes. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 and Banjo-Kazooie are both clearly summer games, and while Metaphor: ReFantazio isn't quite in the same category, I'm sure a race across the continent to become king sort of feels like a summer road trip. And if none of these speak to you and your taste, there are plenty of other options of the service.