Beholder 3 puts players in the center of the action straight away. You play as Frank Schwarz, a paper-pushing employee at a government organization. After your work computer gets implanted with a virus from an unknown hacker, you are taken into custody by the authorities – wherein you are given two options – either scrape coal through your bare hands in the mines for the rest of your life or work as an undercover informant for the government. Unsurprisingly, Frank chooses the latter of the options – following which he is appointed as a property manager for an apartment.

" Unsurprisingly, Frank chooses the latter of the options – following which he is appointed as a property manager for an apartment. "

As the property manager, you have to take care of all the public services within the apartment – such as the laundry, heating machines, and garbage cans. But most importantly, you have to keep a close eye on your tenants at all times; carefully monitoring their activities using your tools of espionage and tricks of social engineering. Should you get a hold of anything suspicious, it falls upon your shoulders to report them to the authorities.

The story isn’t anything exceptional, although it manages to do a great job of depicting a totalitarian state where rules need to be followed to a tee in order to survive. It’s rather interesting to see citizens hiding a pair of jeans in their closets because that’s a symbol of modernism, or having a conversation describing what a CD player is and how earphones work as you work on a reform to legalize listening to Rock, Pop, and Punk music. However, most of these interesting concepts are punctuated by dialogue that’s extremely bland and a chore to sit through.

The overarching narrative is all about Frank climbing the ranks of the Ministry and making a ton of choices along the way. Beholder 3‘s choice and consequence mechanics are very well done, and many of them alter the relationships between the characters in meaningful ways. For instance, you could cater to the officials who are forward-thinking and revolutionary, or you could carry out all orders from the Great Leader with utmost sincerity. However, with your life always on the line – you are very likely to end up in a moral middle ground where you are constantly teeter-tottering with your moral choices in the hopes of making it out alive and hopefully, climbing through the ranks as quickly as possible. Beholder 3 is at its best when it is operating on this tight-rope choice and consequence mechanic, which it manages to retain for a good amount of its runtime.

"Beholder 3 is at its best when it is operating on this tight-rope choice and consequence mechanic, which it manages to retain for a good amount of its runtime."

Beholder 3‘s gameplay is standard point-and-click adventure stuff minus any puzzles. Most of the time, you will constantly run around the same spaces over and over again, interacting with various objects and engaging in conversations with NPCs to complete quests. Your tools of espionage include a hidden camera which can be planted in a tenant’s apartment or a colleague’s office cabin and lockpicks that can be used to break into these spaces to either gain or implant evidence that can be used in Frank’s reports or blackmails.

In Beholder 3, money and time are your most valuable resources. You see, most of the quests are time-sensitive, and failure to complete the tasks given to you by superiors will always result in a game over. Additionally, players also have to manage their money wisely, as the moment you get bankrupt – it’s game over. You can earn additional money by completing side quests, doing chores in a timely fashion, and providing any relevant information about your tenants to the Ministry.

"You see, most of the quests are time-sensitive, and failure to complete the tasks given to you by superiors will always result in a game over. "

On the flip side, if you forget to do your chores or get caught snooping around – you will be liable to a fine that needs to be paid in due time alongside the usual bills that come with managing a property. So, while you can easily load a previous save state should things go awry, Beholder 3 demands players to take every action with intent and a forward-thinking approach to maximize the chances of success. This creates a sort of knock-on effect where the choices you make in a haste to complete in the given time will affect future choices and quests.

For instance, saving up money early on will allow you to easily pay up for high-level equipment later on or bribe some personnel to complete certain missions. On the other hand, if you spend money carelessly  you might not be able to make ends meet later on making the game harder. It’s a neat concept that works well for the most part, but the core issue with the gameplay is that it is very thin – so much so that it borders on being unenjoyable. You will be subjected to the same tasks, sitting through the same boring dialogues, writing the same reports over and over again until you start to stretch yourself out too thin. It’s tedious. As such, Beholder 3 can be a tense game at the best of times and a boring walking simulator at its worst.

"Beholder 3 can be a tense game at the best of times and a boring walking simulator at its worst. "

Coming to the presentation, Beholder 3 presents itself in a dark and gloomy presentation marked by black and gray as the dominant colors. It has a clean and distinct look, which adds a lot of personality to the game. The interface is also minimalist and easy to understand which is a win in my book. However, what soured my experience with Beholder 3 the most were the bugs. During my time with the game, the protagonist would randomly get stuck when jumping back from a menu screen for no reason -requiring me to completely quit out of the game and load in all over again. Other bugs include characters getting stuck on surfaces or getting overlapped on each other – making it impossible to interact with them in certain situations. Other times, quest objectives would randomly disappear out of my HUD for seemingly no reason. A point worth noting here is that the review version of Beholder 3 is a work-in-progress build and version 1.0 will go live on launch day which may fare better in terms of technical stability.

Beholder 3 takes all that worked in Alawar’s previous Beholder games, and coalesces them into a neat little package that doesn’t shy from going into dark spaces with its political drama and depiction of a totalitarian state. Its choice and consequence mechanics work really well in tandem with its constantly high-stakes gameplay. However, many of these ideas get dragged down by bland design and dialogue, and loads of technical inefficiencies. Beholder 3 might not appeal to everyone, but the bottom line is this – if you liked Beholder and Beholder 2, you will probably end up liking this one as well. 

This game was reviewed on the PC.

ELEX 2

Jax is back. “From where” you may ask but that’s not important because there’s a new threat in Magalan. As a result, Jax must unite the different factions, from the Outlaws and the Morkons to the Berserkers and Albs. That means a huge expansive world to explore (made easy thanks to a jetpack), numerous foes including wild creatures, and a wide range of combat abilities to master. If Gothic and Risen are your thing, then Piranhabytes’ ELEX 2 will be worth checking out when it launches on March 1st for Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Gran Turismo 7

For all the acclaim that Gran Turismo Sport rightfully garnered, there’s just something special about a new mainline Gran Turismo game. Gran Turismo 7 looks to be the series’ best yet with over 400 cars and more than 90 tracks to race on. Extensive customization with thousands of parts, new features like GT Cafe and Museum that emphasize the history and allure of different brands, new modes like Music Replay, and much, much more await in gorgeous 4K/60 FPS. Gran Turismo 7 is out on March 4th for PS4 and PS5.

Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin

Team Ninja’s action RPG spin-off of Final Fantasy 1, which sees Jack and his friends striving to save the world, releases on March 18th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5 and PC. Combining Nioh-like combat with Final Fantasy’s Job system, it looks to present a darker, edgier take on the franchise. The combat has drawn praise for its executions, abilities, and combo potential even if the writing leaves a lot to be desired. But you never know – the power of memes could propel it to greatness.

Triangle Strategy

As Serenoa Wolffort, you must decide how to proceed in a world driven to conflict, acting in the interest of your allies while also opposing the villainous Aesfrost. When major decisions come up, everyone in your council will vote with the Scales of Conviction, potentially leading to betrayals and other twists. With solid gameplay, a strong variety of abilities and classes, and great characterization, Triangle Strategy looks to leave its mark on the genre when it releases on March 4th for Nintendo Switch.

WWE 2K22

After the embarrassing release of WWE 2K20, Visual Concepts’ WWE 2K22 offers a much more refined gameplay experience. In terms of features, there’s a new 2K Showcase focusing on Rey Mysterio’s illustrious career; the return of MyGM and Universe Mode for booking your own shows; and the new MyFaction where you construct a stable and dominate. Of course, the visuals have also been polished extensively so you won’t mistake Superstars like Becky Lynch or Edge for someone else. Could it redeem the franchise? We’ll find out when it releases on March 11th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Xbox One

Grand Theft Auto 5 (Xbox Series X/S, PS5)

For all the exasperation over Grand Theft Auto 5 being re-released yet again, there are more than a few reasons to be hyped. Along with ray tracing, 4K, 60 FPS support, improved textures and draw distances, and so on, GTA Online is getting some new features to coincide with its standalone release. These include a Career Builder for selecting a business from the start, five new vehicles (and five existing ones) that can be upgraded, and even an option for existing players to start afresh. It’s out on March 15th for Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Ghostwire: Tokyo

Though it contains some traces of the horror titles that Tango Gameworks is so well known for, Ghostwire: Tokyo is more of a supernatural thriller/action adventure. It follows Akito who becomes possessed by KK, a spirit detective, and uses powers to fight off evil spirits called The Visitors. The duo investigate Tokyo where almost the entire population has vanished under mysterious circumstances. Along with using Ethereal Weaving to fight, you’ll venture to dimension-warping environments, help untethered Spirits and much more while investigating a strange group with Hannya masks. Releasing on March 25^th for PS5 and PC, Ghostwire: Tokyo is a timed PS5 exclusive for one year.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land will be the first 3D mainline title in the series’ history, which is crazy considering how long the character has been around. Nevertheless, it looks to have everything that fans of the pink puffball will enjoy. There’s a wide range of old and new Copy abilities to unlock, many which can now be upgraded. The environments are richly detailed and teeming with interesting puzzles, obstacles and enemies. Then there’s the borderline terrifying Mouthful Mode where Kirby can “possess” larger objects like cars, vending machines and so on, further expanding on the range of possibilities. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is out on March 25th for the Switch and already looks like an instant classic.

Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands

Instead of the chaotic interplanetary Vault hunting of Borderlands, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands opts for, well, chaotic fantasy loot hunting. As the Fatemaker in the tabletop game Bunkers and Badasses, players attempt to save the kingdom from the Dragon Lord. Battle skeletons, Shrooms and other horrors while choosing from one of six classes; multi-class with different skills and abilities; equip melee weapons and spells; and much more along with the classic FPS gameplay. If Borderlands 3 didn’t scratch that looter shooter itch, then perhaps Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands will fare better when it launches on March 25th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5 and PC.

Weird West

An immersive sim set in the supernatural Wild West with five different characters and where actions have gruesome consequences? Throw in the Dishonored and Prey pedigree, and WolfEye Studios’ Weird West has our attention. Take control of a bounty hunter and werewolf among other unlikely individuals, either relying on stealth or brute force to progress through fights. Be honorable or kill indiscriminately and see what happens – it’s up to you. Weird West launches on March 31^st for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Dawn of Ragnarok

Ragnarok is here but unfortunately, it’s not the God of War kind. Instead, it’s Eivor – and by extension, Odin – who must fight against the forces of Surtr, the fire giant, to save his son Baldr. You’ll venture to Svartalfheim and wield new powers like shape-shifting to transform into a raven; necromancy to raise fallen enemies to fight for you; and even teleportation. This is in addition to new upgrades, a new rune slot, new gear and weapons, and new activities like the Valkyrie Trials. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – Dawn of Ragnarok releases on March 10th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Google Stadia.

Tunic

After years in development and numerous delays, Andrew Shouldice’s Tunic finally has a release date. Inspired by old-school Zelda titles, it sees players controlling a fox who explores a mysterious land. Along with discovering weapons to defend themselves, they’ll also venture into ruins and catacombs while taking on bosses. Relics, puzzles, and much more await along with secrets for those brave enough to explore. Tunic is out on March 16^th for Xbox One, PC and Xbox Series X/S with the console version being a timed exclusive for Xbox.

Beholder 3

As the latest title in the acclaimed Beholder series, Beholder 3 sees you controlling Frank Schwarz who masquerades as a landlord and spies on his tenants for the authoritarian government. When not using surveillance cameras, the player must maintain their disguise but choose a faction to ally with behind the scenes to return to glory. Beholder 3 arrives on March 3^rd for PC.

Little Orpheus

Though The Chinese Room is better known for titles like Dear Esther, Little Orpheus is a significantly different endeavor. It sees Soviet cosmonaut Ivan Ivanovich venturing to the centre of the Earth and discovering prehistoric civilizations and other wonders. Sporting bright technicolor visuals, this 2.5D side-scrolling platformer originally released for Apple Arcade in June 2020. It’s coming to PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC on March 1^st with improved visuals, high-resolution textures and new moves (along with a bonus episode).

Babylon’s Fall

The trajectory of Babylon’s Fall from announcement to re-reveal as a live-service title has been…interesting, to say the least. Nevertheless, PlatinumGames’ action RPG offers co-op for up to four players. The key appeal is wielding four weapons at once, each with their own skills, and battling foes across a fantasy landscape. If that sounds cool, then Babylon’s Fall may be worth looking out for when it releases on March 3rd for PS4, PS5 and PC.