Game Release Dates Of March 2020: PS4, Switch, Xbox One, And PC

While the first two months of 2020 have seen a few big-name games hit the market, this year has gotten off to a fairly quiet start, largely due to the spate of delays that were recently announced. That's all about to change in March, however. This month features a variety of highly anticipated releases for every platform, from the arrival of Animal Crossing: New Horizons to the long-awaited return of the Half-Life series.

Those aren't the only major titles coming out this month. Nioh 2, the sequel to Team Ninja's popular Dark Souls-inspired samurai game, will launch on March 13, while Ninja Theory's PvP brawler, Bleeding Edge, lands on March 24. Capping off the month is Persona 5 Royal, an expanded version of one of 2017's best games.

That's only a small taste of this month's releases. To give you a look at what lays ahead for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch, we've rounded up all the biggest games of March 2020 below. For a wider look at the titles still to come this year, be sure to check out our list of game release dates in 2020.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch) -- March 20

Nintendo's beloved life sim series is making its long-awaited Switch debut on March 20 with the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This time around, rather than settling down in a pre-existing village, you'll be moving to a deserted island, where you'll be able to build your town from the ground up. That's not all that's new in New Horizons; the game features a swathe of quality-of-life improvements, including the ability to terraform your island. It also makes clever use of the Nintendo Switch Online mobile app with a companion service called NookLink, which allows you to scan pattern designs and text chat with other players.

Further reading:

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons Hands-On -- From Nervous To Excited
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Doom Eternal Get Release-Day Discounts
• New Animal Crossing: New Horizons Characters Revealed, Plus Old Favorites Confirmed

Doom Eternal (PS4, Xbox One, PC) -- March 20

Ironically arriving alongside Animal Crossing: New Horizons on March 20 is Doom Eternal, the anticipated sequel to 2016's critically acclaimed Doom reboot. Like its predecessor, Eternal is an unrelentingly violent shooter that pits you against the forces of Hell, which this time have overtaken the Earth. While the core gameplay remains the same, Doom Eternal introduces a slew of new weapons into the mix, as well as some new traversal options. Rounding out the package is an asymmetrical multiplayer mode called Battlemode, which has one Doom Slayer facing off against two player-controlled demons. Doom Eternal is also coming to Nintendo Switch later this year.

Further reading:

• Doom Eternal And Animal Crossing Fans Have Become Supportive Friends
• Why Doom Eternal Incorporates Puzzle Platforming
• Doom Eternal Won't Have Any Microtransactions

Half-Life: Alyx (PC) -- March 23

After more than a decade of dormancy, Valve's beloved shooter series is finally making a comeback this month with the release of Half-Life: Alyx. Set between the events of the original Half-Life and its sequel, the game follows the eponymous Alyx Vance and her father, Eli, as they're relocated to City 17 following the Seven-Hour War. Half-Life: Alyx can only be played in VR, but Valve assures it's a full-fledged Half-Life game, with a campaign approximately as long as Half-Life 2. The game is compatible with a range of VR headsets, including Valve's Index; if you picked one of those up by the end of last year, you could get Half-Life: Alyx for free.

Further reading:

• Half-Life: Alyx Pre-Order Guide - Release Date, Compatible VR Headsets, And More
• Half-Life: Alyx Release Date Confirmed
• Half-Life: Alyx Off-Screen Gameplay Footage Shows How VR Gunfights Work

Full March 2020 Release Schedule

*Doom 64 is only available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC as a Doom Eternal pre-order bonus.