With the excitement of Resident Evil Requiem coming to a head, it’s time to look forward to March and its releases. And to say there are many is an understatement. A new Pokémon life-sim, a new Bungie title, a new Monster Hunter Stories, Death Stranding 2 on PC, a new Fatal Frame remake – and, of course, one of the biggest games of the year. Let’s dive straight in, starting with…
Crimson Desert
The big one, with arguably the most hype, is Crimson Desert. It’s been a long journey towards release, and no matter how many interviews or videos we see, it has something new to reveal every time. Can it meet all the hype? Maybe. Maybe not. One thing that’s for sure is we’re looking forward to scouring Pywel for secrets, learning the ins and outs of each character’s fighting style, and wreaking havoc with our favorite mech/dragon/bear mount when it launches on March 19th.
Pokémon Pokopia
A Ditto imitating a human deciding to open a farm and bring on other Pokémon to help from the team behind Dynasty Warriors – sounds about right. Far be it from Pokémon Pokopia, out on March 5th, to just be Nintendo’s take on “Palworld” but with a 20 to 40 hour story, post-game content and even four-player co-op, there should be just enough to hold you over until the next generation arrives.
Marathon
Even as a Destiny player who’s been disappointed by many Bungie decisions over the years, I have to admit – Marathon doesn’t look half-bad. Maybe it’s because the six Runner Shells actually have compelling kits, or due to the quality of life features, or the killer presentation – from that sick match loading screen to the extraction. Either way, Marathon should have some impact when it launches on March 5th – whether Bungie can keep that going is another issue.
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf
Following up on the original’s gorgeous hand-painted aesthetic and environmental storytelling, Children of the Leaf promises to be even bigger and more mysterious. Which is all well and good, but it’s also packing plenty of new mechanics, including expanded traversal options. If it can mirror the original’s cinematic excellence, Planet of Lana 2 could very well be a dark horse when it arrives on March 5th.
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake
If Fatal Frame proves anything, it’s that the camera is sometimes mightier than the gun and also sometimes just as ineffective against angry spirits if you can’t aim right. Fortunately, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly Remake has a lot more going for it – including a new over-the-shoulder perspective, gorgeous overhauled visuals, and new features like holding hands – perfect for trying to survive the night. It’s out on March 12th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2, and even includes a new ending over the original.
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando
There’s something about the cheesy, 80s action movie-esque mayhem that Saber brings to the table in John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando. Maybe it’s also about seeing the Swarm Engine applied to zombies, ensuring plenty of massive hordes that you don’t know whether to shoot or gawk at (the former. Always the former). After the surprisingly fun demo, we’re keen to go commando even more when the full game launches on March 12th.
Docked
Of course, Saber Interactive doesn’t just want to cater to your urge for co-op chaos. No, it also knows there’s an audience for operating big machinery and solving real-world problems, like in Docked. As the lead operator of a dock wrecked by a hurricane, it’s your job to keep the cargo moving, managing and operating heavy equipment, bringing in contracts, and building it back up. It’s out on March 5th for just $29.99 on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection
Maybe you’re interested in the antics of Azuria and Vermeil, two kingdoms at odds while the Crystal Encroachment wreaks havoc. But if you’re just here for the monsters, Monster Hunter Stories 3, launching on March 13th, has plenty to throw at you. From old-school classics like Yama Tsukami to the contemporary, Malzeno, Narwa, Ibushi and Arkveld, there is a lot to choose from. And best of all, you can obtain variants with Habitat Restoration, including a fiery Zinogre.
Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!
Speaking of surprisingly fun demos, Starship Troopers may very well be back courtesy of Auroch Digital’s raucous new first-person shooter, which launches on March 16th. No building or resource collection here – it’s a straight-up, Boltgun-style retro shooter where you slay many, many bugs. Does it feel a little Helldivers-esque at times, especially with the drop pods? Well, sure, but full circle and whatnot, and how can you possibly say no to Johnny Rico himself?
GreedFall: The Dying World
The other game to drop the “2”, that too before Overwatch, is GreedFall: The Dying World. Furthermore, it’s out on March 12th, finally exiting early access after an…ambitious entry on September 24th. But there’s new content, improved combat, more companions, additional quests, and even more to come, including a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S release. Maybe it can finally redeem the GreedFall name, such as it is.
Screamer
I’ll admit to some consternation, especially after JDM: Japanese Drift Master tried to fuse manga and street racing, but Screamer is clearly on another level. Boasting anime cutscenes, multiple playable characters, and the ECHO for power-ups like Strikes and Boosts, it’s a surprisingly intriguing mix. The futuristic setting and team racing modes, where your crew can take on others, are just the icing on top when Screamer launches on March 26th.
WWE 2K26
WWE Creative being dull and CM Punk headlining a new video game – name a more iconic duo. Thankfully, the latter means a new 2K Showcase focused on his best matches and some fantasy warfare against Legends that could have been. Other notable features include the return of Inferno, I Quit and 3 Stages of Hell matches, the ability to stack tables, and over 400 characters, perhaps the largest in history (and that’s not including DLC following the post-March 13th release).
Scott Pilgrim EX
Toronto’s time-space has been messed up, with fantastical threats like Robots and Vegans laying claim to the city. Who better to fight back, other than literally anyone else, than Scott Pilgrim and friends? Following up on Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, this is a new beat ’em up from Tribute Games with seven playable fighters, four-player local and online co-op (with drop-in/drop-out supported) and a progression system centered around Badges. If you enjoyed Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, then EX may be up your alley when it launches on March 3rd.
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection
Following up on the well-received Battle Network Legacy Collection, Mega Man Star Force gets its own compilation on March 27th with all three titles and their versions. And considering the dozens of hours you can invest in each, complete with a new gallery and online play for battling, it may be just what the Doctor (not Wily) ordered.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (PC)
One of the least surprising announcements of all time – thanks ESRB and Kojima – Death Stranding 2: On the Beach nevertheless promises to be the most stunning version when it releases on March 19th. It includes Ultrawide support, upscaling and Frame Generation across DLSS 4, FSR 3 and XeSS 2.0, and even lets you enable Decima’s own Pico upscaling tech. Combine this with hardware requirements that are more than achievable – just maybe buy a new SSD – and it may very well warrant another playthrough.