Just when you thought February was packed with releases, March 2023 arrives with a hefty helping of triple-A titles. Action RPGs, remakes, sports sims, horror and co-op shooter heists await, providing something for everyone. Let’s look at ten of the most exciting new games releasing in March.
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
Koei Tecmo is on a roll with WILD HEARTS receiving critical acclaim (despite its technical issues) and looks to continue that success with Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty. Developed by Team Ninja, with Nioh producer Fumihiko Yasuda and Bloodborne producer Masaaki Yamagiwa at the helm, the action RPG is based on Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Set during the fall of the Han Dynasty, the player is a nameless soldier who rises to fight the Yellow Turban Rebellion while becoming embroiled in a conspiracy surrounding the mysterious Elixir.
Unlike Nioh, there’s no stamina bar in combat, with players battling to break an enemy’s Spirit and execute powerful critical strikes. Levels are more open and vertically designed, while Morale adds a back-and-forth momentum to fights. Releasing on March 3rd, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty will be available for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC, along with Game Pass.
Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse
After Maiden of Black Water, the Fatal Frame remasters continue, this time with Mask of the Lunar Eclipse in the spotlight. Set a decade after a kidnapping incident in Rougetsu, three girls and a detective return to the island to discover what happened. Of course, evil spirits are involved and fighting them with the Camera Obscura, which damages ghosts through photography, is necessary to survive. Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse features new costumes, the new Snap Mode for creating images, and updated visuals and controls.
If you couldn’t get enough of the series’ psychological horror, the remaster may be worth checking out when it releases on March 9th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
WWE 2K23
WWE 2K23 is the latest in the franchise from Visual Concepts and 2K Games, launching on March 17th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC. If it looks and feels the same, that’s pretty much intentional. Instead of overhauling systems, the development team has polished them further, with more animations, updated character models and new modes.
The 2K Showcase this year focuses on John Cena and his biggest losses, played from the perspective of his opponents while he provides commentary. WarGames is the newest match type, allowing 3v3 and 4v4 matches in a double ring surrounded by a giant Steel Cage. Other than that, MyRISE returns with new stories, MyGM is getting more options, match types for four players, and much more.
The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR
The PlayStation VR2 is officially available worldwide, ushering in a new generation of virtual reality gaming (at least on consoles). If the launch offerings don’t interest you, then The Dark Pictures: Switchback VR may be worth looking into. It’s a rail shooter set on a rollercoaster screaming through various set pieces and locations based on The Dark Pictures Anthology series as you shoot enemies, keep your eyes open to survive teleporting mannequins, and much more. It releases on March 16th, exclusively for Sony’s VR headset.
The Last of Us Part 1 (PC)
With The Last of Us HBO series a massive success, it’s always a good time to revisit the original. For PC fans, The Last of Us Part 1, Naughty Dog’s remake of the first game, will release on March 28th. While its PC-exclusive features have yet to be detailed, one can look forward to 4K and 60 support, along with faster loading times and revamped visuals. In addition to the base game, the remake includes the Left Behind DLC, several improvements to AI, extensive accessibility options and improved crafting interface.
EA Sports PGA Tour
For all the attention its other sports titles usually get, the marketing for EA Sports PGA Tour has been rather low-key. It’s available on March 24th for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 with 30 courses to play on. Career Mode returns, allowing one to create a golfer and work up to the pro level, learning 20 different Shot Types along the way and improving their skills. Pure Strike provides fluid and realistic movement on swings, and revamped Ball Behavior makes for more accurate bounces based on the course’s terrain.
Crime Boss: Rockay City
Ingame Studios’ Crime Boss: Rockay City is a co-op multiplayer shooter, with players pulling off different jobs in the 90s-inspired Rockay City. Battle rival gangs and steal whatever valuables you can with up to four players. Perhaps the coolest part is the star-studded cast from Michael Madsen, Danny Glover, Damion Poitier and Kim Basinger to Danny Trejo and Chuck Norris (who plays Sheriff Norris, because of course he does).
It looks promising, but can it unseat the Payday series, especially with Payday 3 on the way? We’ll find out when Crime Boss: Rockay City launches on March 29th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.
MLB The Show 23
The premier baseball blockbuster gets even better with MLB The Show 23. Launching on March 28th for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, it features the new Storylines mode, focusing on African American leagues that rose to prominence in the 1920s. Featuring players like Jackie Robinson, Rube Foster, and Satchel Page, it also provides some backstory on their historical significance. Some gameplay changes include High Fielding attributes having a bigger impact, defense and offense getting new quirks, and over 5,000 gameplay animations to enhance the immersion.
System Shock
To say that System Shock, a remake/reboot of the franchise, is a long time coming would be an understatement. It was announced as a remaster in 2015 and has seen numerous delays, changes (including a shift from Unity to Unreal Engine 4) and much more. Nevertheless, a substantial amount of work has been done, with fully revamped HD visuals, a new interface, and brand-new audio effects. Combined with the excellent story-telling, sci-fi horror, and FPS/RPG mechanics of the original, System Shock could end up a dark horse. It’s out next month for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4 and PS5.
Resident Evil 4 Remake
Leon S. Kennedy travels to a village in Spain to rescue the US president’s daughter Ashley Graham while dealing with the brutal cult. Upon entering the village, it becomes clear that things are very wrong with the villagers under the influence of the parasite. The visuals have a dark and bleak atmosphere, and gameplay includes parrying with knives, side quests, and much more. Resident Evil 4 Remake is out on March 24th for Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and PC, but even more content is coming post-launch, including a free VR mode for PlayStation VR2 and The Mercenaries.