So we kick off March with a host of excellent games coming to Game Pass and I for one cannot be more excited. From fan-favorite action thrillers to the latest new additions to long-running sports franchises, we have a ton of awesome games coming.
Xbox has just announced six more entries to the mix and we are going to take a look at each one of them.
Dead Island 2
This one landed over a week ago and it was a huge surprise drop. And since its release a year ago this game has been pretty well-loved by us gamers. The story here is that a deadly virus has taken hold of the city of virtual Los Angeles that has affected everyone and you’re on a mission to find out how it actually started.
But really this franchise isn’t known for its amazing story but more for its brutal and visceral gameplay. And combat is where this game shines the brightest. In case you missed it, Dead Island 2 is already released on Game Pass for Cloud and Console.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – (5 March 2024)
So our first new addition to Game Pass is Warhammer 40k Boltgun, an absolute blast of an FPS game that takes you back to the days of 90s classic action shooters. It has this brutal and fast-paced gunplay of Doom set in a familiar Warhammer 40Ks universe for an exhilarating gameplay experience. You play as a Space Marine, tasked to fight the Chaos Space Marines and their evil allies.
And for that, you have a whole range of lethal weapons at your disposal, from Shotguns to the iconic Boltgun. This game is a must-play for fans who are craving that old-school 90s shooter vibe in a familiar Warhammer setting with level design and mechanics that throw you right back to the golden era classic shooters.
PAW Patrol World – (March 7)
Game Pass continues adding more games that are meant for the whole family and I’m not mad about that. Paw Patrol World is making its debut on Game Pass and if you’re a fan of the hit kid show or your kids are, they can experience a live-action adventurer game where they can play the adorable pups and go on rescue missions and save the town from evil.
But the game isn’t just all business and saving people, there are plenty of mini-games to play as well. The game does have a host of collectibles and things to gather and there is a split-screen multiplayer mode available as well. If you guys are interested in Paw Patrol World, it lands on March 7th.
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated – (March 12)
Now I’m very familiar with this game because when it first dropped “I was like no way a Spongebob game can be any good”. But surprisingly, they pulled it off as Spongebob Squarepants’s battle for Bikini Bottom is quite surprisingly a sleeper of game. Dropped some years ago, you play as Spongebob, Patric, or Sandy and go up against the evil plankton. I mean this is an adventure game through and through, there is quite a bit of platforming.
But where the game really shines are the amazing boss fights this game has to offer. The gameplay is just pure fun, wrapped in a cute and familiar Spongebob package. I played it a little bit but saw my little brother play this from start to finish and he had a blast. It is absolutely fun for anyone as this isn’t just a kid’s game. This one is available on March 12th on the cloud console and PC.
Control Ultimate Edition – (March 13)
Another game I’ve certainly played and have enjoyed a lot is Control! This game has bagged countless awards and I am sure you have all heard of it, if not played it already, for hundreds of hours. It’s a 3rd-person action-adventure game that puts you in the shoes of Jesse, a government agent trying to uncover the truth behind her past and the mysterious forces that rule her former institute.
Now I won’t spoil the story but there is a lot happening here and it really keeps you engaged the whole way through. But the gameplay too is pretty incredible as well. You have these supernatural abilities that let you manipulate the environment and it gets intense and wild. The game is a great blend of storytelling with twists and turns, fun action combat, and some pretty gorgeous visuals, especially on new-gen Xbox. If you’re interested this arrives on March 13th on the cloud, console, and PC.
No More Heroes 3 – (March 14)
Now I’ll admit I’m not as familiar with the No More Heroes games as some of you but I know they have been well-loved over the years for its pretty unique aesthetic and gameplay. You play as a professional assassin named Travis Touchdown (which I have to say is about as cool a name I’ve seen), the game doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously as there is a blend of comedy throughout. And as you play this assassin trying to stop the evil Prince and his nine underlings from taking over Earth, you slash your way through enemies with some pretty fun combat and a big open world.
For me what looks the most fun though and what will have me trying this out is the flashy and over-the-top combat that leads to some pretty big combos. While the game has been loved, I did see it can get repetitive at times but we’ll judge this when it lands on Game Pass on March 14th on cloud, console, and PC.
MLB The Show 24 – (19 March 2024)
So we have MLB The Show 24 coming to game pass and I’m probably going to be the most hype for this because I’ve poured hundreds of hours last year on 23 on my Xbox series X with Road to the Show, and it’s a ton of fun taking a player from minor league to hall of fame worthy and more of that continues with 24.
This year promises 400 new animations, new throws, new pitcher animations, and a host of new gameplay changes. Then add in the modes to follow baseball legends and the game continues to be solid year in and year out. For me as a guy new to baseball games, it’s been perfect and not much to complain about. This lands on March 19th on Cloud and consoles.
Lightyear Frontier (Game Preview) – March 19
Lightyear Frontier is like the ultimate space adventure for all you farming sim lovers out there. It takes the traditional farming simulator to the next level. Here, you step into the shoes of a space explorer, tasked with rebuilding society on a distant alien planet.
You get to do some seriously cool stuff in this game, such as exploring vast and gorgeous biomes, gathering all the different kinds of resources, building your base, growing crops, and even uncovering ancient secrets of this unknown world. And of course, you also get to grow your very own space garden with all kinds of funky alien plants and crops.
Now that sounds like a lot of work, right? Well, you don’t have to do it all alone. Lightyear Frontier also comes packed with a co-op multiplayer mode that lets you team up with 3 other friends. Which I think is super cool. Lightyear Frontier arrives on PCs, and Consoles on March 19.
Diablo IV – (28 March 2024)
Diablo 4 is also making its way to Game Pass on March 28 and I can’t wait to get my hands on this one. Now, you might think you’ve seen it all when it comes to the Diablo series, but trust me, this one’s a game-changer. We all play Diablo games for their intense demon-hunting action without paying much attention to the story. But Diablo 4 changes that with an exceptional storyline that hooks you right from the very beginning all the way to the end.
It’s definitely a bold change for a long-running franchise, but indeed, it’s a step in the right direction. Sure, the gameplay might not be as good as some of the older games in the series, but it’s still fun and challenging. You still get to hunt down demons with your wild magical spells or classic sword-swinging action. Diablo 4 also does a great job of capturing that dark, ominous atmosphere that helped make this franchise a fan favorite in the first place. Diablo 4 is set to come out on 28 March on Game Pass for Console and PC.
Open Roads – (28 March 2024)
Then we have Open Roads, a promising story-driven adventure game that takes you on a heartfelt journey following Tess and her mom, Opal, as they uncover family secrets and rediscover old memories while hitting the road. Unlike many other story-driven adventure games, Open Roads is less about making the right choices and more about experiencing the bond between Tess and her Mom as they explore abandoned family properties, sift through dusty old photos, and dive into the past together.
And thanks to Open Roads’ dialogue system, you also get to learn about your characters’ backstories, develop their personality, and shape their journeys in any way you want. It’s like reading a beautiful hand-drawn storybook where you can actually control the narrative and the direction of your character’s journey. Open Roads is set to drop on Game Pass for PC and Consoles on March 28.
