Doom Eternal, Animal Crossing and Other Exciting Games Coming Out in March

Nathan Birch

Keeping track of all the latest video games coming out is an increasingly complex task, what with multiple PC storefronts, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, mobile, and more to keep track of, but don’t worry, I’m here to help. Every month I'll be running down the games you need to be keeping an eye on, from the big triple-A headliners, to the intriguing indies you might otherwise overlook.

After a slow start to 2020, we’re finally starting to get a decent flow of big releases in March. These include the demon-blasting epic Doom Eternal, hard-as-nails action-RPG Nioh 2, and chill island vacation Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Meanwhile, on the indie front we have a handful of promising titles including the charming kingdom management sim Yes, Your Grace and the Mega Man Battle Network spiritual successor One Step from Eden.

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Note: While I may have played demos or got early access to some of the games recommended in this article, in most cases I’m simply choosing games that look promising, and can’t vouch for the end product. Do wait for reviews before buying!

That said, here are the games you should be looking out for in March…

The Headliners

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (Switch, March 6)

The ultra-popular Pokemon series gets a roguelike dungeon-hack makeover in Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX. This is a remake of the original Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games that came out on the GBA and DS back in 2005, featuring a new slightly impressionistic art style, more monsters to collect, and a few other tweaks and modernizations. The Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games have never really been up to the same level as the Game Freak’s core RPGs, but they can be some low-key fun if you’re looking for something a little different from the franchise. Pre-order on Amazon.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps (PC & Xbox One, March 11)

Ori and the Will of the Wisps looks like it follows pretty closely in the footsteps of its predecessor Ori and the Blind Forest, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Ori series developer Moon Studios has promised “Will of the Wisps should be to Blind Forest what Super Mario Bros. 3 was to the original Super Mario Bros.” Sounds good to me! Xbox fans have been starved for quality exclusive platformers over the years, so they ought to gobble this one up. Pre-order on Amazon.

Nioh 2 (PS4, March 13)

Steel yourself! The original Nioh was a brutally-difficult adventure that put even From Software’s games to shame, and by most accounts, Nioh 2 ratchets up the challenge even further. But Nioh 2 isn’t all about the difficulty – it also significantly improves on the original game’s visuals, adds new abilities and weapons, and lets you customize your look with a new character creator. Nioh 2 looks to be the first must-have action RPG of 2020. Pre-order on Amazon.

Doom Eternal (PC, Xbox One, PS4 & Stadia, March 20)

How do you top 2016’s Doom, which many consider one of the best single-player shooters of all time? If you’re id Software, you go bigger in every possible way. Doom Eternal serves up a much more elaborate story that takes you to the moons of Mars, a demon-infested Earth, and both Hell and Heaven. The monsters you’ll face along the way are tougher than even before, but the Doom Slayer has also been upgraded with some new badass tools, including a grappling hook, which basically turns you into a demon-slaughtering Batman. Doom Eternal ought to be a headbanging (and head-splattering) good time. Pre-order on Amazon.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch, March 20)

Need something to soothe your jangled nerves after binging on Nioh 2 and Doom Eternal? Nintendo’s got just the thing in the long-awaited Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This time around, you’ll have more control over your little village than ever before, as you set up on a deserted you can decorate and micromanage to your heart’s content. New Horizons doesn’t appear to do anything too daring, but Animal Crossing fans have been jonesing for a fix, and Nintendo and Tom Nook are all too happy to provide. Pre-order on Amazon.

Half-Life: Alyx (Oculus Rift, HTC Vive & Valve Index, March 23)

The Half-Life series is finally making its official return…with a VR-exclusive game. Needless to say, fans have mixed feelings about Half-Life: Alyx, but Valve has promised the game is no quickie “experience” or tech demo. This is a true full-length Half-Life game, featuring everything you’d expect – shooting, story, humor, horror, and more. So far, Valve has only shown a few scraps of actual Half-Life: Alyx footage, so the question of whether this is the that elusive VR killer app is still very much up in the air, but Valve knows the expectations attached to this franchise are a sky high. They wouldn’t release anything sub-par…right? Pre-order on Steam.

Persona 5 Royal (PS4, March 31)

The best-reviewed JPRG of all time returns with a bigger, better deluxe edition. Persona 5 Royal includes everything in the original game and adds a slew of characters, party members, sidequests, story moments, and a whole new semester at Shujin Academy to play through. If you never got around to trying the original Persona 5, this is obviously the version to get, but even P5 veterans might find themselves tempted to double dip. Pre-order on Amazon.

Promising Indies

The Longing (PC, March 5)

The Longing is a new adventure game in the same stylistic vein as Amanita Design’s mini masterpieces, but with a unique twist. You play as the servant of a subterranean king who’s gone to sleep for 400 days, and in the meantime, you just have to…wait. The Longing unfolds in real time and you can just wait 400 days to see what happens at the end, or you can use those 400 days to explore your underground world, uncovering various collectibles and secrets. Obviously, this one isn’t for everyone, but I find its “morose Animal Crossing” pitch kind of fascinating. Here’s the Steam page for The Longing.

Yes, Your Grace (PC, March 6)

Yes, Your Grace is a new kingdom management sim that goes beyond the sometimes-dry politics and military strategizing most games of this type focus on. Featuring charming pixel-art graphics, Yes, Your Grace almost feels like a lost LucasArts game – it looks like it’ll be good to be king. Here’s the Steam page for Yes, Your Grace.

Smart City Plan (PC, March 6)

Games like Cities: Skylines have carried on the SimCity tradition in solid fashion, but do you sometimes yearn for something a little more retro? Smart City Plan looks to provide all the depth you’d want from a good city-building sim, with a visual style that makes it look like an HD remake of SimCity 2000. As someone who whiled a way a good chunk of the 90s with SC2000, this one looks to scratch some itches. Here’s the Steam page for Smart City Plan.

One Step from Eden (PC & Switch, March 26)

Do you ever find yourself missing the Mega Man Battle Network games? Sadly, Capcom’s probably never going to make another one of those, but maybe we don’t need one as One Step from Eden is basically a new Battle Network game in everything but name. Cute anime characters, card-based battles that take place on a rectangular grid – it’s all here, with the addition of some modern roguelike elements. Here’s the Steam page for One Step from Eden.

Full List of Games Worth Watching in March:

  • Granblue Fantasy Versus (PS4, March 3; PC, March 13)
  • The Longing (PC, March 5)
  • Murder by Numbers (PC & Switch, March 5)
  • Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (Switch, March 6)
  • Yes, Your Grace (PC, March 6)
  • Smart City Plan (PC, March 6)
  • Langrisser I & II (PC, PS4 & Switch, March 10)
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps (PC & Xbox One, March 11)
  • Alder's Blood (PC & Switch, March 13)
  • My Hero: One's Justice 2 (PC, Xbox One, PS4 & Switch, March 13)
  • Nioh 2 (PS4, March 13)
  • MLB The Show 20 (PS4, March 17)
  • Panzer Corps 2 (PC, March 19)
  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch, March 20)
  • Doom Eternal (PC, Xbox One, PS4 & Stadia, March 20)
  • Half-Life: Alyx (Oculus, HTC Vive, Valve Index, March 23)
  • Bleeding Edge (PC & Xbox One, March 24)
  • Iron Danger (PC, March 25)
  • One Step from Eden (PC & Switch, March 26)
  • One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 (PC, Xbox One, PS4 & Switch, March 27)
  • The Complex (PC, Xbox One, PS4 & Switch, March 31)
  • Persona 5 Royal (PS4, March 31)

And those are the games you should be keeping an eye on this coming month. What games are you planning to pick up in February? Did I miss anything you’re looking forward to?

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