It’s no mystery that 2020 is filled to the brim with highly anticipated games. Even though several have been delayed until later in the year, March is still set to be one of the biggest months of the year. These games span numerous genres, but each has a following that has been patiently waiting for this month to show up. If you’re a fan of several, you may want to start checking your schedule to see how you’re going to get to play them all.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps – March 11
The sequel to 2015’s Ori and the Blind Forest is one of the first major releases of the month. The Metroidvania-styled platformer once again puts you in the role of Ori, a white guardian spirit as you take on enemies, unlock abilities, leap to platforms, and unlock doors. This title previously stood out for its touching narrative and incredible artistic design for the various environments. It will release on Xbox and PC and will be available on launch from Game Pass.
Nioh 2 – March 13
Another sequel (in the form of a prequel) coming in the first half of the month is Nioh 2. Instead of playing as the character from the previous game, William, you’ll be creating your character this time around. The game will most likely continue the challenging Souls-like-styled gameplay for those fans of nuanced stamina-based hack and slash action. Nioh 2 will be released on PlayStation 4 first and will be coming to PC at an undetermined time in the future.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – March 20
Fans of this franchise are always excited to get a new title in the series. This marks one of the first of the core series on a home console (if you consider a Switch that) since the Wii. While I haven’t played any of these games, it has a die-hard following that can’t be denied. Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be released on the Nintendo Switch exclusively.
Doom Eternal / Doom 64 – March 20
The item on this list I’m most excited about is Doom Eternal. This sequel to 2016’s Doom and is set to put you back in the role of the Doom Slayer as he returns to Earth to try and put an end to the new demon assault. Doom 64 will be releasing on the same day and is also a preorder bonus for Doom Eternal. It marks the first time that this ‘sequel to Doom II’ will be released on a platform other than the Nintendo 64. Doom Eternal will be coming to the PC, Xbox, and PS4 on the 20th, and Doom 64 will be on those platforms as well as the Nintendo Switch.
Half-Life: Alyx – March 23
While it may not be the Half-Life 3 we’ve all been waiting for, Half-Life: Alyx is the first real venture back into the Half-Life universe in nearly 13 years. You’ll be playing the role of Alyx Vance, a prominent character from Half-Life 2 and its expansions. One thing to note, however, is that this is a VR game and requires that equipment to play. As such, and since it’s a product from Valve, it will only be releasing on PC via Steam.
Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord – March 31
Mount and Blade was a game that won the hearts of people that played it, but the iterations on the series mostly only expanded from the original design. Several DLC expansions were released within the past decade, but the sequel was rarely discussed unless it was delayed. Now fans of the series will finally see an all-new design for the rich medieval fantasy game. It is important to note that this release will be early access at launch and only on PC.
Having a half-dozen games of this magnitude with such huge followings released in the same month is going to be interesting. I’d be willing to wager just about any one of these has the potential to be a top game for the year. Lesser-known games like Mount and Blade II: Bannerlord may not generate the sales of the others, but those that are interested are brewing up plenty of hype. Hopefully, none of these highly anticipated games disappoint their fanbase. If they don’t, March 2020 will be one of the most exciting months for gaming released I can recall.
What games are you excited to play this month? Are they any notable titles that you think should be on this list?
