Your Guide to March’s Family Friendly Video Games
The wait for Switch 2 continues, alongside more games aimed at older kids.
We exist in a nebulous world between Switches. There are a number of games coming out in March that I expect will soon announce they’re coming to Switch 2 later this year. Until then, they’re more likely to remain Mario Kart machines—or, in the case of my children at the moment, Minecraft machines—rather than powering new games.
What are you looking forward to playing this month?
If you represent these games and have a potentially interesting story to share about how these games consider kids as part of their audience, do get in touch with me!
Two Point Museum (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - March 4
Description: As aspiring curators, you dive into the world of museum management, designing and refining to build the ultimate guest experience.
Rating: E
Price: $29.99
These games aren’t my bag, but they strike me as the kinds of games that would be best suited for playing with a kid, where they can sit on your lap, or in the seat next to you, and help guide decisions, while you deal with all the fussy management systems. In playing an early version, PC Gamer said it was breezy fun, and “loved being able to let my inner interior designer loose and create some really cool-looking venues.”
Carmen Sandiego (Switch, PS5, PC, Xbox) - March 4
Description: The scarlet super thief Carmen Sandiego is back! Adorn Carmen’s signature red hat and play as the vigilante herself to navigate a world of espionage, utilizing high-tech gadgets, and ultimately capturing VILE. Rookie gumshoes and seasoned detectives are invited to put their sleuthing skills to the test whether it’s in the narrative driven main campaign or the classic mode ‘The Acme Files’.
Rating: E
Price: $29.99
This looks…pretty decent? It’s also going to be available via the Netflix app, which means if you pay for a Netflix subscription, this comes “free.” Worth checking into.
Split Fiction (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - March 6
Description: From the inventive minds behind the award-winning It Takes Two comes an original and completely unpredictable new co-op action adventure. In Split Fiction, you and your co-op partner will become Mio and Zoe, two writers trapped in a simulation of their own imaginations after a high-tech attempt to steal their creative ideas goes badly wrong.
Rating: T
Price: $49.99
I’m still mad I haven’t been able to get my oldest to play It Takes Two with me. I might have to give up and just stream Split Fiction with my colleagues over at Remap. I love co-op games, but I have no one to play them with! Please, save me from this loneliness! Either way, the game sounds very good; TheGamer said “Split Fiction takes all of the variety, innovation, and charm of It Takes Two and cranks it up to 11.”
Piano Tiles 2+ (Apple Arcade) — March 6
Description: The original and all time classic piano game just got fine-tuned for Apple Arcade! Play the popular, top piano game Piano Tiles 2 on Apple Arcade and tap to play your favorite tunes, together with over 1 billion players around the world!
Rating: 4+
Price: $6.99/month
I confused this for another piano music when Apple announced this for Apple Arcade, a game called Magic Tiles. The difference between the two, I think, is the reliance on classical music for Piano Tiles and pop music for Magic Tiles. My oldest has, in fits and starts, gotten obsessed with Magic Tiles and hated all of the ads.
Crazy Eights: Card Games+ (Apple Arcade) — March 6
Description: Take a step back in time to those crazy good ol' days of tabletop card games with classic Crazy Eights! Now with unique new rules, an exciting competitive leaderboard, various modes of play, and a groovy new theme. Whether you're a beginner in need of helpful hints, or a veteran looking for a challenge, Crazy Eights is the perfect escape! Capture that familiar excitement while experiencing a whole new level of fast-paced strategy.
Rating: 4+
Price: $6.99/month
Wait. [rubs eyes] Is this just Uno? Or, as it turns out, Uno is…this? I had no idea Uno was based on a public domain game. You learn something new every day, my friends.
Sugardew Island (PS5, Switch, PC) - March 7
Description: Take care of your animals and your farm, sell your goods to the cute Forest Folk, upgrade your farm, and fulfill small orders from the Harmony Tree to fill the tiny island with life again. If you wish, you can go on dates with friendly locals, each with their own unique personality and backstory!
Rating: E
Price: $16.99
This feels like it’s riffing quite a bit on Stardew Valley, a game that I tried to get into, before realizing that cozy/management games just do not tickle my brain whatsoever. You can try a demo of Sugardew Island this week via the Steam Next Fest event, too.
Wanderstop (PS5, PC) - March 11
Description: Wanderstop is a narrative-centric cozy game about change and tea. Playing as a fallen fighter named Alta, you’ll manage a tea shop within a magical forest and tend to the customers who pass through. But Alta does not want to be here. And if she gets her way, the tea shop will be nothing but a brief and painful memory.
Rating: T
Price: TBA
The T rating gives me pause, as does the designer of this game, Davey Wreden, having a long history of subversive and surprising game design. I suspect there’s something more going on in Wanderstop, which is why it’s published by a boutique publisher like Annapurna Interactive. It’s also about, I think, depression? Perhaps too adult for most, and the early previews suggest it’s unconventional, with Game Rant saying “Wanderstop stresses the importance of being unproductive. You could serve the new customer who just wandered into the shop, but are you feeling up to it right now?”
Dungeons of Hinterberg (PS4/5) - March 13
Description: Dungeons of Hinterberg is an action-adventure RPG that includes monster fighting, puzzle solving, magic wielding, and relationship building, all set around the cozy Alpine village of Hinterberg! You play as Luisa, a burnt-out law trainee taking a break from her fast-paced corporate life to conquer the Dungeons of Hinterberg.
Rating: E10+
Price: $29.99
This game seemed cute on Xbox, though I didn’t get around to it. Add it to the list of “I’m sure I would’ve loved it games.” Critics were high on it,, with Rock Paper Shotgun saying “There are so many games that romanticize leaving your busy life and escaping to the wilderness, but here the topic is explored in an authentic and genuine way.”
WWE 2K25 (PC, PS4/5, Xbox X/S/One) - March 14
Description: For the first time in WWE 2K franchise history, step outside the ropes and onto The Island. In this immersive WWE-themed world, complete quests, take on challenges, compete in live events, and upgrade and customize your MySUPERSTAR through multiple storyline chapters.
Rating: T
Price: $69.99
Having daughters means my life has probably avoided ever watching WWE again, unless it’s of my own volition. Logan Paul is in this one, and thankfully, my children to not know who he is. This series is hardly revelatory year-over-year, with IGN’s preview of 2K5 suggesting it’s status quo: “WWE 2K25 continues the recent tradition of the series, layering new features on top of existing and robust fundamentals.”
MySims: Cozy Bundle (PC) - March 18
Description: Make adorable friends and discover creative adventures across retro re-releases of 2 lovable games! Use your imagination to rebuild a town in MySims, and help a cute magical land become an even better place in MySims Kingdom.
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
I’ve gotten the sense that MySims, which was EA’s bringing The Sims to the Wii and DS, was a lot of people’s first exposure to the series. It’s funny, then, to read reviews of it, like over at Gaming Trend: “I played MySims as a kid, being one of the first games I ever pre-ordered, so I thought revisiting the game through the Cozy Bundle would be a fun, nostalgic experience. As I started playing, however, I started to remember finding the game pretty boring and tedious over the 13 or so hours it takes to finish.”
MLB The Show 25 (Switch, PS5, Xbox X/S) - March 18
Description: Ignite your passion and build your path to greatness, from high school right to the Hall of Fame. Take on returning fan-favorite modes, updated with new ways to play, and connect with iconic baseball stars. Built by baseball fans, for baseball fans, MLB The Show 25 features an extensive suite of gameplay improvements and quality of life enhancements that make it the most comprehensive Major League Baseball title to date.
Rating: E
Price: $69.99
We’ve yet to take our kids to a Cubs game. This was supposed to happen last fall, but my youngest started showing uh oh signs and I picked her up from daycare early. A friend was going to watch her while we went to the game, only for my youngest to begin projectile vomiting everywhere as they walked over. But she saved us from further suffering, because not only did the Cubs lose the game we were supposed to attend, but it was a night game that got rain delayed and didn’t start until after 9 p.m.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S) - March 20
Description: Build the park of a lifetime and rediscover the critically acclaimed rollercoaster simulation bestseller. Feel the thrill of a genre-defining classic, complete with two huge expansion packs.
Rating: E
Price: $19.99
These games—and ports—are well regarded. It’s just expanding to other platforms. On a more personal note, I need my children to get into rollercoasters; I am a big rollercoaster person and it’s more fun to scream on the way down with someone.
Bundle of Joy (PC) - March 25
Description: Bundle of Joy is a lighthearted, story-rich, minigame romp about becoming a parent during the pandemic. Complete all your child-rearing tasks, manage your stress, find time to rest, survive the day, wake up, and do it all over again. It won't be perfect, but that's ok. You're doing your best.
Rating: N/A
Price: TBA
This looks very neat! I’ve already been chatting with the developer, so you can look forward to some coverage of Bundle of Joy a little bit closer to release. Being a parent is ripe territory for video games to explore, and hopefully we’ll start getting more of it.
Care Bears: Unlock the Magic (Switch, PS4/5) - March 27
Description: "Dive into a world of fun and adventure with the Care Bears in Care Bears: Unlock the Magic. Play as Cheer Bear as and his friends in a variety of arcade games!”
Rating: E
Price: $29.99
You know, you could do worse than slapping the Care Bears into Breakout clones.
Travel On, Pigeon! (PC) — March ??
Description: This is a puzzle-rhythm game about a tourist pigeon having a good time, with engaging challenges you can take at your own pace. Stroll through cute and nostalgic places and get with the flow in this chill and charming experience.
Rating: N/A
Price: TBA
This game has strong “I will be delayed out of an undetermined release date in August” energy, but that’s fine. It looks neat. I’ll keep track of it and see what happens.
“I love co-op games, but I have no one to play them with!”
Ah, adulthood.
Dungeons of Hinterberg was one of the highlights of last year for me. The puzzles scratched the same itch as the shrines in Breath of the Wild did, and the combat was fun enough to make me not wish I could skip it. It was a lot of fun. Might have to dip back in for a new game + run once I'm done with Avowed.