2017 continues forward at a great pace and now March is here it’s time for us to start looking at the new Xbox titles which will be available for purchase throughout the month. Store shelves will be buckling under the pressure of some massive titles, with AAA games, mid-rangers and budget titles all arriving over the next few weeks. Stick with us as we take a look at the Xbox One games which will be hitting a shop near you soon.
Don’t forget to let us know what you’ll be picking up in the comments below.
Mass Effect Andromeda
[amazon_link asins=’B01N021DDZ’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’536b58cd-fb9d-11e6-b993-fd5eef3435c8′]It has been nearly five years since we were last able to roam the Mass Effect universe, but finally fans of the franchise will have to wait no longer as Mass Effect Andromeda arrives on Xbox One
Set in between the second and third instalments in the series, players will not be playing as seasoned space veteran Commander Shepard, so don’t expect your crazy looking Commander returning for Andromeda. Instead the player will have a choice of playing as Sara or Scott Ryder. With a heavy emphasis on exploration, BioWare have created a world with open world elements for you to wonder around, probably gawking at all the pretty space landscapes while you go about it – just watch out though as each planet you visit will have a boss enemy to dispose of.
Furthermore, Mass Effect Andromeda has left the always tricky decision of picking your class behind, instead preferring you to pick from a range of upgrades for Sara or Scott, so you can blend elements of different classes to create your perfect space soldier.
Why Should You Buy It? MEA is shaping up to be a game that brings a unique twist to the series, while keeping the core mechanics relatively the same, and will for sure allow you to fulfill your space exploration dreams.
Styx: Shards of Darkness
[amazon_link asins=’B06VW6T21C’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’cd097dcb-fb9c-11e6-9763-05bdfe06fcb6′]Taking inspiration from popular stealth-em-ups such as Assassin’s Creed and Shadow of Mordor, Styx: Shards of Darkness is the sequel to the 2014 release Styx: Master of Shadows, with the player controlling the mischievous goblin Styx as he attempts to uncover the reason why the dark elves are teaming up with the Dwarves. He does this by deploying an array of cunning abilities, from temporarily turning invisible to summoning clones in order to confuse the numerous enemies across the levels.
As with many stealth games, taking out these enemies isn’t compulsory, and some gamers might find ease in navigating a route to slip by unnoticed. Shards of Darkness also introduces a cooperative mode where your partner plays as one of Styx’s clones.
Why Should You Buy It? While it hasn’t received as much attention as some of the big boys out there, Styx: Shadows of Darkness shouldn’t go unnoticed by stealth fans.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands
[amazon_link asins=’B00ZGBBW9G’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’aaa1dafe-fb9d-11e6-9c19-2d1a57416937′]Another primarily stealth franchise returning onto Xbox One store shelves this month is Tom Clancy and his Ghosts in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands.
While gamers could be quick to judge Wildlands on the back of Tom Clancy’s The Division hype last year, I am sure that the introduction of a drone to plan out how you will approach your operation, and with a heavy emphasis on the online multiplayer side of things, Wildlands is looking to be more than capable of taking Ubisoft back to its peak.
You and up to three other co-op friends, or AI controlled soldiers if you are unable to convince some friends to join in, will play as a fully customisable member of the notorious Ghosts military unit, tasked with slowly taking apart the Santa Blanca cartel set up in Bolivia. You’ll need to meticulously survey your surroundings, organise transport to the location via stunning open world views and then carry out your (hopefully) carefully crafted plan of action.
Why Should You Buy It? Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands is the ultimate game to test your military skills built up over years of Ghost Recon titles, and with up to three friends coming along for the ride, should be a hell of a laugh as well.
Rogue Stormers
[amazon_link asins=’B06VSK8G4C’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’ca9a84c1-fb9d-11e6-b236-c1ad1001e042′]Set in the steampunk-esque city of Ravendale, Rogue Stormers lays out its challenge from the outset – get through multiple levels of fiendish twin stick shooting and platforming chaos as one of various ‘Stormers’, each of whom with their own unique abilities and perks.
However, the challenge aspect of Rogue Stormers comes head-first at you… death will come quickly enough, and for anyone not prepared for the unrelenting, merciless difficulty that the game throws at you, then you will find that you will be doing levels over and over again. Thankfully, the random level generation does somewhat take the frustration of repetition out of things.
Rogue Stormers has been available digitally for a while already, now though it’s coming to full retail. Whether you should play it or not though is another matter – we advise you to read our full review first.
Why Should You Buy It? Anyone out there looking for a challenge should definitely give Rogue Stormers a chance – just don’t expect it to be easy by any stretch of the imagination.
2Dark
[amazon_link asins=’B06X3WDDLM’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’631da308-fb9e-11e6-8c9c-b7d0b6616b0a’]There are some games that really push your survival skills – Ark: Survival Evolved and Don’t Starve spring to mind. But when another title from the inventive and somewhat twisted mind of Frédérick Raynal arrives on consoles, gamers can’t just ignore it.
Set in the once friendly city of Gloomywood, a mysterious string of child abductions are occurring and you, as the player, will have to have your wits about you, utilising a plethora of resources, abilities and the environment (such as shadows) to save the kids on each level.
2Dark is a game that will have you constantly weighing up the pros and cons of your actions – will you leave the kids for just a few seconds and take the chance of them attracting the enemies? Will you take a more direct route and risk failing? It all boils down to what is best and 2Dark will push even the best survivalists to conserve resources and bring out their skills.
Why Should You Buy It? Already proven with Alone in the Dark, Frédérick Raynal can bring out the very best survival gameplay, perfect for any budding survival veterans to really test their skills.
This is the Police
[amazon_link asins=’B01ND12Q6R’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’fe7d07b1-fb9e-11e6-b29e-53c46971ae03′]Authority can mean everything, especially in a city spiralling down into crime and corruption. Playing as Jack Boyd, Police Chief of Freeburg PD, this authority can earn you a whole heap of money.
This is the Police is a game that bases itself heavily on morality and decision making, as you will have to manage your duties, such as comprising police teams to sort out emergencies and arrest the bad guys, at which point you can then work your police powers and decide the fate of the criminals you have in custody.
However, the morality comes in the form of choices you can make, choosing to secretly side with the criminal networks set up in the city, coming into a bit of extra money by selling drugs and the like – however Jack needs to tread carefully or he could face some intense interrogations and even find himself on the wrong side of a cell door.
Why Should You Buy It? Challenged with earning 500,000 dollars in 180 days before retiring, you will have to balance your decisions not to raise suspicion amongst your own police force.
Troll and I
[amazon_link asins=’B01MZWS888′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’1b49ec7c-fb9f-11e6-b870-416d66cacb6c’]Immersive local cooperative adventures are few and far between on Xbox One, but very soon the Nordic wilderness will be ours in Troll and I.
Telling the story of Otto, fleeing his forest home due to hunters invading, looking for a hulking mythical beast known as a troll. Little does he know however, Otto finds the troll himself, suitably named Troll, and quickly builds up a bond with him. One player will control Otto, with the other as Troll, fighting off the unknown enemies in the forest, using teamwork to make it back home.
Expect to find Otto riding Troll and the two supporting each other to reach new areas to solve puzzles and progress on their journey.
Why Should You Buy It? Troll and I is one of those rare titles that actually encourages cooperation and teamwork between sofa buddies, so for anyone wanting to test their teamwork skills, solve puzzles and work together to get rid of enemies should give Troll and I a go.
Dreamfall Chapters
[amazon_link asins=’B01N6N5ZP2′ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’5b55cbe1-fb9f-11e6-b29e-cba3bf57cb40′]Dreamfall Chapters sees us following the journey of three characters in alternate dimensions – one being a horrific cyberpunk vision of our future and the other being a magical fantasy realm – with these heroes having to attempt to save the very fabric of the universe from being ripped to shreds.
To go about this you must use all the logic and lateral thinking your brain has to offer to solve particularly challenging puzzles and riddles posed to you. You can be sure that the game will play with your feelings at every moment, with some heart-wrenching emotional scenes throughout, really allowing you to empathise with the characters you control as you make some story-changing decisions.
Why Should You Buy It? Dreamfall Chapters seems to be a very interesting concept with some 50 stunning areas to explore and gaze at, with powerful storytelling sprinkled with some puzzles to have you racking your brain for days on end.
Vikings – Wolves of Midgard
[amazon_link asins=’B01M1KNXTZ’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’74d72ffe-fb9f-11e6-8d21-8ffb581b04e2′]We’ve all heard of Thor and Loki – probably thanks to The Avengers – so why wouldn’t we like to harness their ultimate powers. Vikings – Wolves of Midgard lets you do that.
Travelling the vastly different worlds of Midgard, Niflheim and Balheim, you will have to try your hand at various weapons including bows and swords, and then deploy the powers of various Nordic gods by using amulets, completely decimating any opponent.
It’ll then be left to you to take the blood of your fallen enemies, receiving gifts from the Gods as a sacrifice – before taking your newly developed skills to the online scene with a coop friend, taking on the Trials of the Gods to earn even more rewards for your game.
Why Should You Buy It? Fantasy RPG meets Vikings and Norse gods – what could be better when you just want to sit back and destroy any opponents to your godly powers?
Atari Flashback Classics Collection Vol.1 & Atari Flashback Classic Collection Vol.2
[amazon_link asins=’B01N3B2ZMD’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’the03da-21′ marketplace=’UK’ link_id=’8d2df5a6-fb9f-11e6-8cea-39d79dffa27b’]Technically two separate games with separate boxes, however both these throwback titles do exactly what they say on the tin, making various Atari classics playable on your Xbox One.
The nostalgia is brimming at the edges with this one and anyone looking for some retro gaming should definitely pick it up – only if it is just to sit back and let the nostalgia hit you straight in the face!
Why Should You Buy It? These collections are perfect for anyone who is wanting to step away from the full HD, Triple-A, multi-million pound productions and just wants to appreciate one of the consoles that defined gaming – while playing some of the most famous and popular retro titles in the industry.
Wow that’s a big selection of some very good looking games… going to be difficult just choosing 1 or 2 when in reality I’d like to get most of them.
I was also around for the 2600 game launches and am tempted by the collections, but £25 a pop seems awfully expensive for something that you could run on a PC emulator for free… £9.99 would have been more like it. Guess I will wait for them to go on sale.
Love games from all eras… it’s the fun factor, not just graphics that makes a game worth playing. Plenty of new gorgeous-looking games that i won’t even touch, as they just do not look fun to play.
Was there when those Atari 2600 games were originally released.