It’s not unusual for games to share the same release date or for major titles to arrive practically on top of each other. But on March 5, there’s going to be an usually large logjam of new releases that’s inevitably going to crowd out a few titles.
We fully expect some of these games to be successful out of the gate, but the sheer number of them means that the majority may fall by the wayside.
Out of this group, Pokemon Pokopia seems likely to be the big winner, given the ongoing popularity of Pokemon. Marathon has a good chance of getting a huge sampling of players, but the real test of that game will be its ability to hold its fans and continuously add new ones.
The rest of the titles fit into certain niches, and it’s entirely possible one or more of them could be a breakout hit as well. We’ll just have to wait to see which games rise to the top.
The complete lineup of games coming on March 5 is listed below.
Back to the Dawn
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2
Back to the Dawn casts players as Thomas the Fox and Bob the Panther as they manage their resources over 21 days in-game while planning their escape from prison.
Docked
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC
Saber Interactive’s Docked is a work simulator that puts players in charge of a dock. Players have to oversee the operations, repair and enhance the infrastructure, and operate heavy machinery to keep the overseas shipments flowing.
Marathon
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC
The stakes are high for the launch of Bungie’s new live-service game Marathon. Cross-play and cross-progression are available from the start in this survival-extraction shooter. Bungie has a good track record with Halo and Destiny, but that’s no guarantee of success.
Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse
Platforms: Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
Pocketpair’s Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse is a 2D roguelike and metroidvania that casts players as a witch who can use her magic to take out an assortment of enemies. Each stage has procedurally generated areas to keep players on their toes. Fortunately, the witch can use her hat to turn the tide of battle and possess her enemies.
Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea
Platforms: Mac, iOS
If The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Horizon slammed into each others’ worlds, it would probably look a lot like Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea. For now, this title is exclusive to Mac and iOS phones, but previous games in the franchise have made it PC and other consoles.
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf
Platforms: Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Planet of Lana 2: Children of the Leaf finds Lana and her companion, Mui, on a new planet called Novo. Both Lana and Mui have new abilities they can use to get into and out of trouble in this 2D sidescroller.
Pokemon Pokopia
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
The latest Pokemon title is heading into cozy game territory. Pokemon Pokopia is a Switch 2 exclusive that lets players control a Ditto in human form as they transform their island into a paradise for Pokemon.
Poker Night at the Inventory
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4 and Switch
Poker Night at the Inventory is a remaster of Telltale Games’ poker title from 2010. The player takes on four characters from other franchises for the winner-takes-all prize. But first, you’ll have to beat Strong Bad, Penny Arcade’s Tycho, Max from Sam & Max, and The Heavy from Team Fortress 2.
Slay the Spire 2
Platforms: PC
The original Slay the Spire was a hit roguelike deck-building game, and the sequel, Slay the Spire 2, looks like it’s taking the action to the next level. This is an early-access release on Steam, so console and mobile players are gonna have to wait their turn.
Timberborn
Platforms: PC, Mac
After nearly five years in early-release, lumberpunk beavers are finally ready to inherit the Earth in Timberborn‘s 1.0 release. You won’t have to worry about humans anymore, as the post-apocalypse has favored animals over humanity. These beavers are out to create a new world for themselves, one dam at a time.
