The games industry has gotten off to a great start this year, with early bangers like Resident Evil 9 and indie darlings like Cairn setting a high bar. And with games like Grand Theft Auto 6 and Fable around the corner, it feels like we're just getting started.
We have some time before those flagship AAA titles drop, but that’s no problem: there are almost too many promising games dropping in the interim, which are sure to dominate the free time of countless gamers. March will certainly be a good month, what with hotly anticipated releases like Crimson Desert and Monster Hunter Stories 3 dropping in a few weeks, although the onslaught of games is actually starting a bit sooner than that. Indeed, perhaps March 5 is an auspicious date, as there’s a veritable deluge of great-looking games launching then.
This Marathon Class Will Be the Day-One Meta for Solo Players
Solo Marathon players have a clear preferred class that is sure to dominate the meta once the game official launches on March 5.
Slay the Spire 2 (Early Access)
If you’ve enjoyed any major deck-builder roguelike released post-2017, there’s a fairly decent chance that it was inspired, to some extent, by Slay the Spire. The intense and unforgiving turn-based game seemingly perfected the deck-building model, making for an endlessly addicting experience that is deep enough for genre veterans while being accessible to newcomers. Its influence on roguelikes and deck-builders cannot be overstated.
Almost a decade later, its sequel is set to arrive in early access on March 5, making it available exclusively to PC players. The first Slay the Spire was released in early access in 2017, with its full, multiplatform release coming in 2019. Assuming Slay the Spire 2 follows roughly the same trajectory as its predecessor, we can expect its early access period to last about two years. Hopefully, this release strategy will result in Slay the Spire 2 being at least as polished, addictive, and alluring as the first game.
- Released
- March 5, 2026
- Developer(s)
- Mega Crit
- Publisher(s)
- Mega Crit
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Prequel(s)
- Slay the Spire
WHERE TO PLAY
The ultimate roguelike deckbuilder returns!
For 1,000 years, the Spire lay dormant, its secrets buried and its horrors forgotten. Now, it has reopened, hungrier and more dangerous than ever, devouring all who dare to ascend.
New perils demand sharper strategies, relentless cunning, and unwavering resolve. Outwit the Spire’s brutal trials, and uncover the truths hidden at its peak. Will you survive the climb?
AN EVER-CHANGING SPIRE
Step into the newly evolved Spire, a twisted labyrinth teeming with strange and deadly foes. Adapt to an arsenal of brand new cards, relics, and potions, each offering game-changing possibilities—or dangerous consequences.
Climb the Spire with a new and returning cast of characters, each with their own cards, motives, and secrets. No two climbs are ever the same. Unpredictable challenges and evolving strategies await those brave—or foolish—enough to ascend.
CLIMB ALONE OR WITH ALLIES
Brave the ascent on your own, or play with up to 4 players and face the Spire together in the all new co-op mode. Discover multiplayer-specific cards, powerful team synergies, and carry your friends (or get carried) to victory!
A NEW AND RETURNING CAST OF CHARACTERS
Embark on your quest to Slay the Spire as one of five different characters, some of whom will be familiar to seasoned Slayers and two of whom who are brand new. Discover each character’s unique playstyle, full potential, and secret backstory as you conquer all who stand in their way.
UNCOVER THE SPIRE’S LORE
The history of the Spire and its inhabitants, be they friend or foe, can now be discovered in entirely new ways. Unlock fragments of its mysterious timeline and encounter the most ancient of its residents through your myriad attempts.
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Early Access Release
- March 5, 2026
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Roguelike, Digital Card Game
- Platform(s)
- PC
Marathon
Here’s a game that, for better or worse, will probably be among the most significant releases of the year. As the next full, new game from Bungie, Marathon is following two mega-popular IPs in Halo and Destiny, hoping for the same level of success. Things have been bumpy for Marathon so far, though, as lukewarm previews, the oversaturation of the extraction shooter space, and even a high-profile plagiarism scandal have tainted its reputation ahead of launch.
Although it's a radically different take on the IP in terms of gameplay, art design, and overall structure, Marathon is a reboot of a 1990s franchise of the same name, which Bungie cut its teeth on before moving on to Halo.
The Marathon server slam just wrapped up, and while impressions have been generally positive, it’s hard to say if that will be enough for the game in the long term. There have been a number of complaints about things like balance and feature richness, so here’s hoping that Marathon can address such concerns and get a foothold in the uber-competitive live-service, extraction shooter market.
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf
March 5 will play host to another hyped-up indie, though of a much different kind than Slay the Spire 2. Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf is a sequel to 2023’s Planet of Lana, an atmospheric puzzle-platformer echoing the likes of Inside. Its sequel, Planet of Lana 2, follows an “older, more agile Lana” as she embarks on yet another adventure with her adorable companion Mui. It follows a recognizable David and Goliath archetype, with the protagonist filling the shoes of a vulnerable avatar surrounded by relatively massive threats.
Like the first game, Planet of Lana 2 is all about atmosphere, with a cinematic, orchestral soundtrack and awe-inspiring hand-drawn environments; the blend of 3D animation and painted background art is especially compelling. This art style, coupled with the lack of any real dialog and a far-future setting, makes Planet of Lana 2 feel like a true, bold adventure. If it can meaningfully build upon the platforming and puzzle systems of the first game, then Planet of Lana 2 will be quite a treat indeed.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82/100 Critics Rec: 86%
- Released
- March 5, 2026
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Wishfully
- Publisher(s)
- Thunderful Publishing
WHERE TO PLAY
A World After the Machines Came
On Lana and Mui’s home planet, new technology brings progress but also stirs greed and imbalance. As different tribes adopt it in their own ways, tensions grow and the world’s harmony begins to shift.
When those seeking power push too far, Lana and her little companion are pulled into a journey that reveals long-buried truths about their planet and about themselves.
A World That Tells Its Story
Journey across frozen peaks, deep oceans, and forgotten ruins in a hand-painted world where nature meets technology. With no spoken dialogue, characters express themselves through an alien language, letting the world, music, and your choices carry the story and inviting you to find its meaning for yourself.
A Bond at the Center of the Journey
Planet of Lana II is a cinematic puzzle-adventure built around companionship and trust. Guide an older, more agile Lana and her loyal companion Mui as their bond becomes the key to moving forward in a world where beauty and danger live side by side.
Thoughtful Puzzles & Fluid Movement
Puzzles are woven naturally into the world, rewarding awareness, timing, and cooperation instead of complex logic. Turn Lana’s expanded agility, from wall jumps to smooth movement and momentum, into your path through danger.
An Emotional, Carefully Paced Adventure
As Lana and Mui travel, new discoveries unravel the history of their planet and the truth behind Mui’s origins. Their journey grows into an intimate tale of coexistence, responsibility, and the cost of progress, carried forward by a moving orchestral score that gives weight to quiet moments, bold discoveries, and every emotional turn across its 6 to 8 hour adventure.
A Standalone Experience
Planet of Lana II welcomes new players while offering a deeper journey for those returning, an intimate story about connection, resilience, and protecting what still matters in a changing world.
- Prequel(s)
- Planet of Lana
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- March 5, 2026
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 5, 2026
- PS5 Release Date
- March 5, 2026
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- March 5, 2026
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- March 5, 2026
- Genre(s)
- Puzzle, Platformer, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 7 GB
Pokemon Pokopia
Finally, we have one of Nintendo’s strangest-looking games in quite some time. Pokemon Pokopia is a novel blend of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, with its all-Pokemon focus, and Animal Crossing, courtesy of its robust customization and low-stakes premise. You play as a Ditto in the form of a human, who can use their shapeshifting abilities to manipulate the landscape around them. The core gameplay loop is about befriending fellow Pokemon, much like how Animal Crossing is all about bonding with your anthropomorphized neighbors. Pokemon Pokopia even has a day-night cycle tied to real-world time, like Animal Crossing.
Pokemon Pokopia is developed by Omega Force, a studio whose credits include, interestingly enough, the mainline Dynasty Warriors games.
Pokemon Pokopia’s reviews are actually already out, and they paint a pretty picture: Pokopia is now the highest-rated Pokemon game on Metacritic, and reviewers have praised it for its charm and compelling gameplay. Fresh spins on the tried-and-true Pokemon formula are always worthwhile in my book, and Pokopia seems like an excellent example of why they're so valuable. It does mean some stiff competition for the aforementioned games launching on March 5, however.
Pokemon Pokopia
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89/100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- March 5, 2026
- ESRB
- Everyone / Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Koei Tecmo, Game Freak
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
Play as a Ditto and Build a New Life with Pokémon—from the Ground Up! With help from your Pokémon friends, rebuild a desolate world into a charming utopia, one step at a time. After a satisfying day of crafting, building, and gardening, relax in your very own paradise or invite Pokémon and your friends to visit.
• Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
• Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
• Meet and befriend more Pokémon as you help nature flourish.
• Gather materials to create items and furniture, till the fields to grow delicious crops, build homes for the Pokémon you meet, and more—there’s so much to do!
• Experience a world with varied weather, real-time days and nights, and other surprises.
• Build a nice big home of your own, then invite Pokémon, and even other players via local wireless* or online**, to visit.
• Host your friends playing on Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch, even if they don’t have the game, via GameShare****
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Pokemon
- Number of Players
- Single-player - other players can visit your base via the internet.
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- March 5, 2026
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation, Simulation
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch 2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty