The Month in Games – March 2024

0
897
©Red Barrels/Visual Concepts/2K Games/WWE/Capcom/Team NINJA/Nintendo/The Open Roads Team/Annapurna Interactive

As spring arrives, so does a new crop of gaming delights to enjoy. From mind-bending horrors as a human guinea pig to epic tales of Samurai and Dragon-marked Arisen, March’s gaming releases are a wide range of adventures. So, ring the bell, grab your crown and head out on the open roads to enjoy all this month has to offer.


The Outlast Trials

Dare to survive in this twisted horror co-op making its way to consoles. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Outlast Trials puts players into the role of a test subject. After being involuntarily “recruited” by the Murkoff Corporation and trapped in a building with all manner of monsters, it will be up to the player – either alone or with up to three friends – to find a way out of the madness. With only your wits and a pair of night vision goggles to help, and no ability to fight back, players will have to watch their every move in this world of distrust, fear and violence – all in the name of progress, science and profit for the corporation.

Players who pre-order will unlock the Grizzly Hazmat suit. The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, four Legendary outfits cell items and posters, player icons and the Grizzly Hazmat suit pre-order bonus item. The soundtrack for The Outlast Trials is also available to purchase separately on the Red Barrels website.

The Outlast Trials will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 from March 5*


WWE 2K24

Write your own story in this year’s WWE 2K release. Whether it’s making your way through the ranks from rookie to champion in MyRISE, becoming a general manager and building your dream rosters in MyGM or reliving some of the most iconic moments from the Showcase of the Immortals, players will be the authors of their own stories in the squared circle. This year’s edition also brings with it a host of new match types to get stuck into the action. From Casket and Ambulance matches, the challenge of a Gauntlet or even adding a Guest Referee, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Players who pre-order the Standard Edition or the Cross-Gen Bundle will receive the Nightmare Family Pack – which includes additional cards for MyFACTION and four bonus playable characters. The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, three days of Early Access, the Nightmare Family pack, the Season Pass (which covers five DLC packs post-launch), a MyRISE Mega-Boost, SuperCharger item, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley MyFACTION Gold cards and bonus attires for both Belair and Ripley.

The Forty Years of WrestleMania Edition includes the game, Nightmare Family pack, all the content of the Deluxe Edition and the Forty Years of WrestleMania pack – which unlocks the Showcase Superstars roster, includes the WrestleMania 40 Arena and five bonus playable characters – “Macho King” Randy Savage (WrestleMania 6), Rey Mysterio (WrestleMania 22), Triple H (WrestleMania 30), Charlotte Flair (WrestleMania 33) and Rhea Ripley (WrestleMania 36) along with Gold MyFACTION cards for those characters.

WWE 2K24 will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 from March 8*


Dragon’s Dogma 2

Reclaim what has been stolen in this RPG epic. In Dragon’s Dogma 2 players are the Arisen, who have been marked by the dragon that has stolen their heart. Accompanied by a Pawn – a servant of the Arisen – players will journey through a world of magic, mystery and intrigue as they try and track down the Dragon and reclaim their heart. That is not their only quest as the Arisen is an important figure in the worlds of Human, Elf and Beastren as the future of two nations rests in the choices you make.

Players who pre-order will receive the Superior Weapons Quartet, with a sword & shield, a bow, staff and daggers. The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, the Explorer’s Camping Kit, the Dragon’s Dogma Music & Sound Collection (allowing you to alter the in-game music and sound effects to those from the original Dragon’s Dogma), 1500 Rift Crystals, a Wakestone, Art of Metamorphosis tome (to change the appearance of either your Arisen or a Pawn), a set of Harypsnare smoke beacons, Ambivalent Rift incense, Heartfelt pendant and Makeshift Gaol key.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC from March 22*


Rise of the Rōnin

Forge your own fate in this Samurai action adventure. Set in 19th Century war-torn Japan, Rise of the Rōnin follows the players as they try and navigate the changing world. The country around this masterless Samurai has plunged into war, as three centuries of rule by the Tokugawa Shogunate comes under threat with the arrival of the Black Ships – a force from the West looking to dominate new lands. East and West will collide, and players are caught in the middle, with every decision carrying with it potential life-changing consequences.

Players who pre-order will unlock four combat styles – Hayabua-ryu for Katana & Naginata, Nioh-ryu for Katana and Aisu Kage-ryu for Katana – alongside the Iga Ninja armour set and katana. The Deluxe Edition includes a copy of the game, a digital Artbook, a digital soundtrack, Bando Warrior armour set, Japanese formal wear set, Iga Ninja’s staff and Toyokuni paired swords as well as the pre-order bonus content. Players will also be able to claim PSN avatars from a selection of nine characters via the PlayStation Store’s Rise of the Rōnin page.

Rise of the Rōnin will be available on PlayStation 5 from March 22*


Princess Peach: Showtime

Step into the spotlight and save the show in this royal adventure. In Princess Peach: Showtime!, players will follow the titular Princess as they battle to save Sparkle Theatre from a mysterious masked villain. With the Theatre’s guardian, Stella, by her side, Peach must rally the actors and take her place on the stage to do battle with the villain’s forces. Players will also be able to choose from the Theatre’s costume supply to unlock new powers and abilities for Peach to give her the upper hand so that the show can go on as planned.

Players who pre-order physical copies at select retailers will receive the exclusive Princess Peach Showtime notebook along with their copy of the game.

Princess Peach: Showtime will be available on Nintendo Switch from March 22*


Open Roads

Uncover long-hidden secrets in this mother-daughter story. Open Roads follows the story of Tess Devine, a 16-year-old setting out on a road trip with her mother Opal as they look to explore some locations from their family’s past after discovering some old papers in the attic. With tales of lost family treasure, decades-old burglaries abandoned homes, the duo set out to try and solve the mystery. What awaits them is a journey not only to discover the past but the reality of their present and what it means for them both going forward as individuals and as a family.   

With a cast led by Keri Russell (The Americans) and Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart), Open Roads blends an intriguing and mysterious story with classic hand-drawn animation and classic road trip vibes. The game’s dialogue system allows for a realistic dynamic between mother and daughter, with many options revealing themselves as the two women open up to each other during their shared adventures.

Open Roads will be available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC from March 28*


Free to Play

This month players with any tier of PlayStation Plus subscription will have four games available to download and keep for free. From March 5* EA Sports F1 22, Sifu, Hello Neighbour 2 and Destiny 2: The Witch Queen will all be available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

Over on Prime Gaming, there are eight games available to claim for free that will be released through the course of the month:

  • Fallout 2 (March 7*)
  • Scarf (March 7*)
  • Mystery Case Files: Moths to a Flame (March 14*)
  • Invincible Presents: Atom Eve (March 14*)
  • Pearls of Atlantis: The Cove (March 21*)
  • Bus Simulator 21: Next Stop (March 28*)
  • Through the Darkest of Times (March 28*)
  • Bridge to Another World: Secrets of the Nutcracker (March 28*)

Full details on how to claim these titles, along with content drops and more playable titles on Luna, can be found on the Prime Gaming website.


Also Released This Month

March 1* – Ufouria: The Saga 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC), Cricket Through The Ages (PC, Switch)

March 4* – Biomorph (PC), The Thaumaturge (PC), Sixty Four (PC)

March 5* – Expeditions: A MudRunner Game (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Ps4, PS5, PC, Switch), Life by You (PC – Early Access), Mediterranea Inferno (Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch), Quilts and Cats of Calico (PC), Classified: France ’44 (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC)

March 6* – Berserk Boy (PC, Switch), Reveil (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), Hex Gambit: Respawned (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC)

March 7* – As Dusk Falls (PS4, PS5), Top Racer Collection (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Crown Wars: The Black Prince (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), Taxi Life: A City Driving Simulator (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley (Switch, PC), Zoria: Age of Shattering (PC), The Pirate Queen (PC, Quest 2, Quest 3), Astro Duel 2 (Switch, PC), Blade Prince Academy (PC), Potions: A Curious Tale (PC)

March 8* – Unicorn Overlord (Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch, PC), Ancient Weapon Holly (PS5, Switch, PC), Stolen Realm (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch), Star Racer (PC – Early Access), Summerhouse (PC), Akka Arrh (PS5, PS VR2), Bore Blasters (PC), Paw Patrol Grand Prix: Complete Edition (Switch), Emergency Call: The Attack Squad (PS4, PS5, Switch)

March 11* – Death of a Wish (PC)

March 12* – Contra: Operation Galuga (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Goblin Stone (PC), Passing By – A Tailwind Journey (Switch, PC), Slavania (PC)

March 13* – Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch)

March 14* – Ib (PS4, PS5), Star Wars Battlefront: Classic Collection (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Paint the Town Red VR (Meta Quest, PS VR2, Steam VR), Where’s The Golf? (PS4, PS5), Cartel Tycoon (Xbox Series X/S, PS5), Gylt (Switch), Highwater (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Ps4, PS5, Switch, PC), Lawn Mowing Simulator (Switch), the Inquisitor: Deluxe Edition (Xbox Series X/S, PS5), Garden Life: A Cosy Simulator (Switch)

March 15* – Outcast: A New Beginning (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Switch), PJ Masks Power Heroes: Mighty Alliance (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Switch)

March 18* – Hi-Fi Rush (PS5)

March 19* – MLB The Show 24 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC), Yolk Heroes: A Long Tomago (PC), Lightyear Frontier (Xbox Series X/S, PC – Early Access), Stardew Valley 1.6 (PC)

March 20* – Alone in the Dark (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC)

March 21* – Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition (PC), Krimson (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Dungeons 4: Deluxe Edition (Xbox Series X/S, PS5), House Flipper 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PS5)

March 22* – The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered (PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Plate Up! (PS4, PS5)

March 23* – Madison (PS VR2)

March 25* – Acolyte of the Altar (PC), Between Horizons (PC), Palia (PC), Railway Empire 2: Deluxe Edition (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch)

March 26* – Planet Zoo (Xbox Series X/S, PS5), South Park: Snow Day! (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch, PC), Prison Architect 2 (Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC), Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC), Millennia (PC), Farming Simulator Kids (Switch), Outpost: Infinity Siege (PC)

March 27* – Necrosmith 2 (PC)

March 28* – Amairo Chocolate (Switch), Mars 2120 (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Switch), Pepper Grinder (Switch, PC), Outward (Switch), Medieval Dynasty New Settlement (Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest Pro), Vellum (PC)

March 29* – Pocket Bravery (PS4, PS5, Switch)

*Dates refer to UK release only. International dates may vary. Dates are subject to change. Information correct at the time of writing.

Words by Megan Roxburgh


Support The Indiependent

We’re trying to raise £200 a month to help cover our operational costs. This includes our ‘Writer of the Month’ awards, where we recognise the amazing work produced by our contributor team. If you’ve enjoyed reading our site, we’d really appreciate it if you could donate to The Indiependent. Whether you can give £1 or £10, you’d be making a huge difference to our small team.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here