Winter is trying to hold on but is slowly losing from Spring, judging by the little narcissi that have turned up above ground. Always a special time of year, when nature wakes up again. Time too to look at the upcoming new release games on our favourite handheld, the Nintendo Switch, for March 2023. Plus, we also feature Upcoming Steam games. For those of you who prefer gaming on Steam!
Not all games to be released are on the list here. Alternatively, you will see games that the other gaming sites don’t mention. We are taking notice of these games. You can expect reviews for many of them if given half a chance! It should be noted that unless we have some personal experience with the game, there’s a link to the descriptions on the Nintendo website.
Meg’s Monster – March 2nd
Welcome to the Underworld—a land of monsters and mutants who eat humans for breakfast. In this a short, story-driven JRPG with a big twist, one such monster—a hulking ogre by the name of Roy—has no interest in eating humans. But one day, he and his best friend Golan stumble upon a lost little girl named Meg, and discover something truly terrifying: the moment she starts wailing in fear, a blood-red hue washes over the sky, and the earth itself begins to tremble and quake.
That’s right: this small girl’s tears hold the power to bring forth the apocalypse—and the only way to stop it is for them to help find her mother so she can make it safely back home.
James reviewed Meg’s Monster and said this in his conclusion.
Meg’s Monster is a game that tickled my heartstrings, something quite rare in gaming. The moment that hit the hardest was when Meg and Roy argued and later apologized to each other in a very adorable way. As a new parent trying to learn the hardest but most rewarding job of my life, I could not help but connect to the relationship between Roy and Meg.
So it goes without saying I highly recommend this game. I will add caution because this game is pretty casual with minimal challenge. You’re playing this more for the story and less for the RPG mechanics. But if that sounds good to you, Megs Monster might be the monstrous cuddle you need in your gaming life.
Dream Park Story – March 2nd
Throw open the gates to a magical kingdom of fun and thrills!
Create and customize your own amusement park. From humble attractions like the teacup ride or trampolines, you’ll be able to build up to bigger and better things. You can even hire mascots and hold fantastic parades!
What do your visitors like best? How can you improve? There’s no better place to check up-to-the-minute feedback than the park’s social media. Work hard, and you might attract the attention of famous online influencers!
Railway Islands – March 2nd
A minimalist and relaxing experience with a unique look. You are the manager of a railway line responsible for delivering resources to Islanders, residents of a group of distant islands. Create a safe path and deliver all the resources to the small towns on the islands. With 50 islands you have your work cut out for you!
Lynne reviewed Railway Islands – Puzzle and said this in her conclusion.
Although the controls are slightly awkward, Railway Islands – Puzzle is a fun little puzzle game. There are a few challenging levels to test your puzzle-solving skills, but every level, regardless of complexity, gives an air of satisfaction when completed.
Ruku’s Heart Balloon – March 3rd
A cute puzzle board game about a rabbit, Ruku, and a cat, Lish, who look like they just came out of a picture book. String as many flowers together as you can, and make a heart balloon out of them. See how far you can fly with it.
Paula reviewed Ruku’s Heart Balloon and said this in her conclusion.
Ruku’s Heart Balloon is an enjoyable take on the matching puzzle genre. While I wouldn’t rush out to buy the game as it didn’t offer me much of a challenge, puzzle fans may still enjoy it. However, its target audience of the younger age group will thoroughly enjoy this sweet tale of Ruku and Lish and won’t notice the grammar mistakes.
Pronty – March 7th
In this action-adventure game, you dive through four hundred years of technological advancements into the underwater city of Royla, where humanity once found a new home. That is until this future Atlantis was beset by fierce monsters mutated by toxic marine waste. Take on this unprecedented threat as the sea guardian Pronty, and fight alongside your javelin partner Bront to take down the mutants, discover the truth behind the creatures’ sudden invasion, and uncover the secrets behind Pronty’s origins.
Caverns of Mars: Recharged – March 9th
In Caverns of Mars: Recharged, an action arcade game, you descend into tunnels beneath the surface of Mars in a mad dash to destroy the reactor and farthest depths of the enemy’s base. Dodge debris, clear out obstacles and blast enemies, all while conserving ammunition as you descend at high speed into enemy territory. Your ammo is limited and enemies are plentiful, so make every shot count.
James reviewed Caverns of Mars: Recharged and said this in his conclusion.
Caverns of Mars: Recharged is another worthy entry in the Recharged series. A quick pick-up and play arcade fun that will cost less than a trip back in time and a night out at the old 80s arcade. Plus, this has the added benefit of playing with a loved one, something that’s become a running theme in this series but is always welcome for local co-op fans.
I liked my time with this title, but the experience feels like it stops a bit short in places and could use some extra development. This includes more level variation and upgrades and even an endless mode. As it stands, this is a decent arcade game. You may play a few times but might not return once you have had your fill.
ONI: Road to the Mightiest Oni – March 9th
The story of this action game takes place on Kisejima, a small island in the middle of the ocean. Here, it is said that the power that lies dormant within the local demon spirits can be drawn out by challenging them to trials, where ancient demons who were once defeated by Momotaro are summoned to battle. However, few have ever returned from Kisejima alive.
Kuuta, the protagonist, is the only survivor of the Demon King’s army that faced Momotaro in battle. He and Kazemaru, a mysterious spirit that lives on Kisejima, team up to take oni challenges of all shapes and sizes!
Figment 2 Creed Valley – March 9th
Figment 2: Creed Valley is an action-adventure game set in the human mind. Nightmares are spreading chaos, and enemies have overrun once-peaceful lands. Join Dusty, The Mind’s courage, as you navigate puzzles, musical boss fights and unique environments. Face your fears head-on.
Nightmares have shattered the Moral Compass, making The Mind unable to function properly. Dusty and his ever-optimistic sidekick, Piper, must travel to Creed Valley, where The Mind’s ideals are formed to restore peace. A journey filled with musical showdowns and mind-bending puzzles awaits.
Island Cities – March 9th
Cities are usually concrete jungles, noisy and stressful. But you can also entertain yourself by looking at how they are organized, finding interesting details, and seeing life unfold. Then you can see that they are also vibrant and full of life. Here, the cities are set up on islands over calm and clear water.
In this tiny fantasy-building experience, it is easy to do and very relaxing, just like a 3D jigsaw puzzle. Carefully observe the island, try to memorize it, and then shuffle the blocks. Swap blocks to reproduce the desired island and the city will emerge.
There is no time limit, logic challenges, or resources to manage, so you can calmly focus on the core mechanics while listening to a soothing soundtrack.
Paula already reviewed the game on Steam and gave it our highest score:
After reviewing Island Farmer and then playing Island Cities – Jigsaw Puzzle for this review, I think Island Cities is a step up from the previous game. I enjoyed the game and I haven’t any complaints about it. It sure beats scrabbling about on the floor, looking for that last precious jigsaw piece to complete the puzzle.
Mari & Bayu: The Road Home – March 9th
Mari & Bayu: The Road Home is a cooperative 2D ant-venture. Help Mari to get back home and find her brother, Tom, after going astray in the world. Experience the journey of how Bayu, her magical friend, develops the strength in finding all of his kidnapped family while helping Mari to gain confidence in getting back home.
Yair already reviewed the game on Steam, and wrote this in his conclusion:
Playing this game only gave me enjoyment, with brief moments of thoughtfulness and challenging problems to solve. It kept me quite entertained and the end of each stage made me curious about the next one. It has co-op which seems like a great experience to have with a friend. I would firmly recommend accompanying Mari and Bayu on their journey and playing this game, especially if you enjoy a serene yet challenging platformer adventure with a nice story and charming aesthetics.
Train Life: a Railway Simulator – March 9th (EU) and 28th (US)
For the first time in a railway simulator, you are the driver and the company manager!
Drive your passengers or goods across 10 countries and explore the countryside, towns, forests and mountains of Europe from your cab. Each locomotive has its own characteristics (power, braking, etc.), which you need to learn to control expertly while following the railway signs and adapting to the weather conditions.
As well as driving trains, you need to operate a successful company. Create your own company; buy and maintain your trains; hire conductors and give them new contracts; explore new routes; and optimize your Passenger and Freight activities. Make the right choices to earn money and grow your business.
Paula reviewed Train Life: A Railway Simulator and had this to say in her conclusion.
Train Life: A Railway Simulator is a welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch library and a great alternative to mainstream railway sims that Switch players cannot access without a PC. This is definitely a fun game for those looking to get into the genre, but it is also good for those with a lot of experience. It’s also kind of addictive to transport mail and passengers to and fro.
Monorail Stories – March 23rd
Good morning and welcome to the Monorail Transit System connecting the Cities of M and L. This spectacular feat of engineering allows thousands to commute between the Cities each day in the timeliest of mannersEvery day a hundred new stories are born in these cars running on the track suspended above the Bay.
Every day extraordinary things happen to ordinary people.
Silvie and Ahmal, from the City of M and the City of L. Two strangers unknowingly affect each other’s lives through the monorail they share each day.
Rakuen – March 23rd
Rakuen is an adventure game about a little Boy who lives in the hospital. One day, the Boy asks his Mom to escort him to the fantasy world from his favourite storybook, so that he can ask the Guardian of the Forest to grant him one wish. In order to receive his wish, the Boy must complete a set of challenges that revolve around helping his neighbours in the hospital by interacting with their alter-egos in the fantasy world.
Serena reviewed Rakuen: Deluxe Edition and said this in her conclusion.
Rakuen is a very sweet, heartwarming game that will transport you to another world where you take control of your destiny. While Mr Saitou has a similar plot, it is a different game altogether, where you go on an adventure to reclaim your life. Both games were a joy to play, and I really enjoyed the story-driven gameplay. I recommend the deluxe edition to anyone who likes a good narrative RPG and solving puzzles. I give the deluxe edition a two thumbs up for the unique storylines and heart-tugging dialogue.
Atelier Ryza 3 Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key – March 24th
Following the events of Atelier Ryza 2, Ryza’s final summer adventure is about to begin. Reunite with characters from previous games and meet new key characters essential to the story. Mix and match from a total of 11 party members on your journey.
While uncovering the mysteries of Kark Isles, Ryza and her friends will explore four regions in a new open field, all explorable with seamless transitions.
I reviewed the game and gave it our highest score:
With the third, and, judging from the title, last Atelier Ryza game, Gust has done it again. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is another gaming experience the fans will absolutely love. And even if you’re not a fan yet, this is an excellent title to jump into; watch the prologue in the game and see that the Atelier games are wonderful adventure RPGs.
Norn9: Var Commons – March 30th
Whether it was a well-beloved game for you when it first came out or whether you are looking for a new Otome game, this is a good one. I think, even though the game is a remake of an older game, it still brings something new to the Otome world.
Papertris – March 30th
Papertris is an interesting and fun arcade puzzle game in which coloured cubes can be combined in all 6 possible directions and you decide where to place them. It offers not only the classic puzzle variant but also different depths.
There are also power dice and numerous possible combinations in a carefully hand-painted classic but modern game of skill.
Paula already reviewed the game on Steam, and wrote this in her conclusion:
Papertris is an enjoyable puzzle game. Suitable for all ages, even younger members of the family would enjoy the game playing together. The developer states on the games Steam page that his two little son’s helped with the artwork for Papertris. I have to say that the boys did an excellent job of the artwork for the game, it is bright and colourful, much like a child’s painting.