A Guide to 10 Noteworthy Games Released in March 2016

March 2016 delivered a diverse lineup of games for North American players on all major platforms of the time. The month’s schedule was packed with remastered classics, localized Japanese titles, and entirely new intellectual properties, offering something for nearly every type of gamer on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, and portable systems.

Senran Kagura: Estival Versus

Released on March 15 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, Senran Kagura: Estival Versus continued the series’ tradition of fast-paced action. This installment was notable for its expanded scope, featuring the largest character roster in the franchise up to that point, with over 24 playable fighters. The game also included enhanced production values compared to its predecessors. Its multiplayer modes supported different player counts depending on the platform, allowing for online battles with up to 10 players on the PS4 and up to four players on the Vita.

TrackMania Turbo

The arcade racing genre on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One received a significant entry with TrackMania Turbo, which launched on March 22 for those consoles and PC. The game addressed a relative lack of high-speed, over-the-top racers on the platforms at the time. It provided a substantial amount of content out of the box, with 200 pre-made tracks designed for fantastical, high-velocity racing. A key feature was its powerful track editor, which gave players the tools to create their own courses and share them with the community online.

Hyrule Warriors: Legends

The hack-and-slash action of Hyrule Warriors became a portable experience with the release of Hyrule Warriors: Legends for the Nintendo 3DS on March 25. This version was more than a simple port of the Wii U original. It expanded the roster with several new playable characters drawn from The Legend of Zelda universe, including Skull Kid, Tetra, and Toon Link. The game also added new story content in the form of an epilogue that featured additional areas to explore and new bosses to fight, making it a compelling option for Zelda fans who may have missed the console version.

Nights of Azure

Gust, the development studio known for the Atelier and Ar Tonelico series, introduced a new intellectual property with Nights of Azure. Released exclusively for the PlayStation 4 on March 29, this action RPG centered on its protagonist, Arnice. Her combat style was versatile, granting her a range of abilities. Players could summon demons to fight alongside them, use various weapons manifested from her own blood, and transform into different powerful entities to overcome challenges. The title arrived during a strong year for Japanese RPGs.

MLB: The Show 16

The long-running baseball simulation series returned with MLB: The Show 16, which launched on March 29 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. A major focus for this installment was the “Road to the Show” career mode. The developers implemented significant improvements, including a streamlined player training system that made progression more intuitive. A new gameplay mechanic called “Show Time” was also introduced, giving players more direct control during critical, game-defining moments in their careers, such as making a diving catch or hitting a walk-off home run.

EA Sports UFC 2

Following the 2014 installment, EA Sports returned to mixed martial arts with EA Sports UFC 2. Released on March 15 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the sequel aimed to deliver a more authentic MMA experience. It featured an extensive roster of over 250 fighters, with contemporary stars Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor serving as the cover athletes. The gameplay mechanics were revamped from the first game. These changes included a new physics system for more realistic knockouts and a dynamic grappling system designed to make fights on the ground more fluid and strategic.

Hitman

The Hitman series saw a major reboot in 2016, returning to the open-ended sandbox design that made Hitman: Blood Money a fan favorite. This new entry, simply titled Hitman, emphasized player freedom, allowing for countless creative and stealthy methods to carry out assassinations in large, complex levels. The game’s release strategy was unconventional for the time; it was launched episodically. The first installment, an intro pack, was released on March 11 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. This meant players received the initial missions first, with the full experience unfolding through additional episodes released later in the year.

Pokken Tournament

The Pokémon franchise ventured into the fighting game genre with Pokken Tournament, a spin-off that let players directly control Pokémon in one-on-one battles. Released for the Wii U on March 18, the game featured a roster of popular pocket monsters like Charizard, Mewtwo, and Pikachu. It was developed to run at a smooth 60 frames per second for intense and flashy fights. The game’s camera perspective was unique, shifting between 2D and 3D fields. To ensure each player had an optimal view, the game supported both online multiplayer and a LAN mode where two Wii U consoles could be connected.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

One of the most acclaimed titles from the GameCube and Wii era, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, was remastered for a new generation of hardware with The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD. Launching for the Wii U on March 4, this version offered more than just a graphical upgrade to high-definition. It incorporated modern Nintendo features like Amiibo and Miiverse support. The developers also took the opportunity to streamline some of the more tedious elements from the original releases, aiming to create the definitive version of the adventure. The physical release was bundled with a new Wolf Link and Midna Amiibo figure.

Tom Clancy’s The Division

After a lengthy development and high anticipation following its initial reveal, Tom Clancy’s The Division was finally released on March 8. The game, an online-focused multiplayer third-person shooter, launched for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Set in a meticulously detailed and desolated New York City after a pandemic, it allowed players to team up to explore the world and complete missions cooperatively. A standout feature was the Dark Zone, a unique area that blended PvP and PvE elements. In the Dark Zone, players encountered powerful enemies but also other human players, creating a tense atmosphere where strangers could be either allies or dangerous foes.

Other Notable March 2016 Releases

Beyond the top titles, March 2016 saw a number of other software releases across various platforms. These included:

• Aegis of Earth: Protonovus Assault
• Heavy Rain (PS4 port)
• Lichdom: Battlemage
• Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
• Mortal Kombat XL
• Republique
• Return to PopoloCrois: A Story of Seasons Fairytale
• Sebastien Loeb Rally Evo
• Stranger of Sword City
• The Witch and the Hundred Knight: Revival Edition
• Tropico 5