Following the relative lulls in the video game release schedule that traditionally comes after the holiday season, developer and publishers are set to begin to ramp up their efforts in March as they approach spring and summer. Of course, the biggest news for the month is the Nintendo Switch releasing, alongside a handful of launch day titles, but there are also plenty of offering for other platforms for those who aren’t getting their hands on Nintendo’s new console just yet.
To make things a little easier formatting wise for this month, considering there is a brand new console launching, we’ve separated all of the Nintendo Switch games into their own section. They’ll be included in the other sections as normal from April.
Big Hitters
Perhaps the most anticipated game of the year in 2017 is Mass Effect: Andromeda. This RPG from BioWare is a brand new entry in the series, which does not directly follow-on from the original trilogy of games. In it, players take on the role of a new commander who has travelled to the Andromeda galaxy as part of a mission to find a new home for humanity after the events of the previous games. With a lighter, more explorative tone, than its predecessors, players will have travel across this new galaxy as they try to establish new colonies and protect those that have already settled. It is set to launch on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on March 21 in the US and on March 23 in the rest of the world.
Another big release for March is Ghost Recon Wildlands. The latest Tom Clancy game, it is the first Ghost Recon game of this generation of consoles. It is another game that is departing from its traditional formula, bringing the action back from the near future to modern times and including an open world setting where players have free reign over how they proceed rather than structured missions. It will release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on March 7.
Nier: Automata is the other big release for this month and another role-playing game. Developed by PlatinumGames, who were responsible for games such as MadWorld and Bayonetta, it is a spin-off of the Drakengard series that sees humanity in a war with robotic enemies. It is due to launch on PlayStation 4 and PC on March 7 in the US and March 10 in other parts of the world.
Nintendo Switch
While the Nintendo Wii had tremendous success with its mainstream appeal it successor, the Wii U, failed to live up to those high expectations. Now Nintendo is looking to get itself back on top with its latest hardware offering – the Nintendo Switch. This hybrid machine combines elements of both a traditional home console and a handheld system, giving users more freedom and flexibility in how they play. Of course, a console is only ever as good as its games and the Switch has two first-party games at the ready and a selection of other titles that are due out in March to keep you entertained.
The first, and arguably one of the biggest launches this year, is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Set many years before the events of most of the games in the series, it sees Link and Zelda teaming up to defeat Calamity Ganon as he grows more powerful. It will also be a departure from traditional gameplay in the series, with the open-world setting allowing for much more exploration and freedom to tackle the dungeons in whatever order players want, while voice-acting and new weapons also make an appearance. Releasing as a launch title for the Switch, it will also be coming to the Wii U on the same day.
The other major release for the console is the party game 1-2 Switch. Following in the footsteps of Wii Sports and Wii Play, 1-2 Switch offers a variety of minigames that can be played in local multiplayer using the Joy-Con controllers. It is unique in that the players usually won’t have to look at the screen to play but will rather face each other as they attempt to beat their opponent by relying on audio cues and the rumble function of the controller.
Third Party Releases
Blaster Master Zero | March 9th
Fast RMX | March 3rd
Has Been Heroes | TBA
Human Resource Machine | March 3rd
I Am Setsuna | March 3rd
Just Dance 2017 | March 3rd
Little Inferno | March 3rd
Pocket Rumble | TBA
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition | March 3rd
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove | March 3rd
Skylanders Imaginators | March 3rd
Snipperclips | March 3rd
Steep | TBA
Super Bomberman R | March 3rd
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ | TBA
Voez | March 3rd
World of Goo | March 3rd
Other Releases
Baja: Edge of Control HD | March 1st | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One
Castaway Home Designer | March 1st | iOS
DiRT Rally | March 2nd | Linux
KIDU: A Relentless Quest | March 3rd | iOS
Super Blackjack Battle II Turbo Edition | March 3rd | PC
Has Been Heroes | March 3rd | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / PC
WRC 6 | March 3rd | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / PC
Revelation Online | March 6th | PC
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 | March 7th | Xbox One / PC
Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey | March 7th | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / PC
Shardlight | March 8th | iOS
Sublevel Zero – Redux | March 8th | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One
Subsiege | March 8th | PC
Verdun | March 8th | Xbox One
AcroSplat | March 9th | Android / iOS
Table Top Racing: World Tour | March 10th | Xbox One
Dead Rising 4 | March 14th | PC
Red Barton & The Sky Pirates | March 14th | Android / iOS
Dimension Jump | March 15th | PC
Waking the Glares | March 15th | PC
2Dark | March 17th | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / PC
Danganronpa 1.2 Reload | March 17th | PlayStation 4
Narborion Saga | March 21st | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / PC
Toukiden 2 | March 21st | PlayStation 4 / PS Vita / PC
Holobunnies: Pause Café | March 22nd | Linux / Mac
This is the Police | March 22nd | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One
Mario Sports Superstars | March 24th | 3DS
Monster Slayers | March 24th | PC
Dreamfall Chapters | March 24th | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / PC
Vikings – Wolves of Migard | March 24th | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / PC / Mac
Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King | March 28th | PC
STRAFE | March 38th | PC / Mac
KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX | March 31 | PlayStation 4
Atari Flashback Classics – Volumes 1 and 2 | March 31st | PlayStation 4 / Xbox One
Free Games
Games With Gold
Layers of Fear | Xbox One
Evolve | Xbox One
Borderlands 2 | Xbox 360
Heavy Weapons | Xbox 360
PlayStation Plus
TBA
