3 Up, 3 Down – March 2026
Spring 2026 has been a bit slower than the quality onslaught of February. But there were still lots of great video games. Most of the big releases scored in the 75-85 range, so the top scoring games were all deeper cuts. When reviewing March 2026, I found that COGconnected reviewed more 75ish scoring games than maybe ever before. So check out our reviews, because there are lots of really good games in every genre. Without further ado, here are The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games March 2026:
The Good
Dead in Antares
***click here for our review***
The Dead in games are a mashup of CRPG, survival game, and management sim. Dead in Antares takes the series off Earth and sets it on an alien planet. Our reviewer felt this entry was less replayable than past series entries, but had a much more compelling story. They noted “the mechanics are a little bit more refined, and I generally found survival easier than the previous two games”. Dead in Antares scored 87/100, which probably wouldn’t make it in The Good section of articles like The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games March 2026 in other months, but it squeaked by lots of other competition sitting around 85.
Esoteric Ebb
***click here for our review***
Esoteric Ebb is a CRPG with an emphasis on freedom of choice. Players control a cleric whose every action pushes time forwards. Our reviewer wrote “The game may not be for everyone. But for its intended audience, the game should be a highly enjoyable experience, to say the least. With its self-identified inspiration of Disco Elysium, fans of that experience should find commonalities here”. Fans of indie CRPGs are being treated well in The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games March 2026.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf
***click here for our review***
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf is the sequel to Planet of Lana, an emotional puzzle platformer that harkens back to the indie hits of seventh generation consoles. Our reviewer concluded “similar to its predecessor, it tells an emotive, personal story that instantly immerses you… Gameplay improvements elevate the adventure, introducing greater puzzle variety and tense cinematic sequences that complement one another perfectly”. A game that emotionally connects with reviewers this strongly should always be included in articles like The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games March 2026.
The Bad
City Hunter
***click here for our review***
I hate to include City Hunter in The Bad section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games March 2026. It’s a port of a Japanese PC Engine game that wasn’t released in North America, even though the anime it was based-on, was. It’s a visually gorgeous game, but the gameplay is just sucky. Our reviewer concluded “while its gorgeous opening presentation immediately grabs attention and builds excitement, the gameplay quickly becomes a series of bland, maze-like 2D shooting levels”. Even though City Hunter is a bit of a lemon, we hope it inspires a deluge of more PC Engine remasters.
Collector’s Cove
***click here for our review***
Collector’s Cove is a cozy life sim game in the same vein as Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley. Unfortunately, it has some technical problems, and lacks gameplay depth. Our reviewer concluded “It is missing that indefinable “key ingredient”—the soul and density—that makes its predecessors so enduring. While it may provide a pleasant weekend of distraction for genre enthusiasts, it currently lacks the longevity and polish to swim alongside the big fish of the cozy gaming world”. Collector’s Cove was an easy inclusion in The Bad section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games March 2026.
1348 Ex Voto
***click here for our review***
1348 Ex Voto is a short third person action game. It has a medieval setting, and is about a young would-be knight. The combat mechanics are unpolished, and the RPG mechanics are light. Our reviewer lamented “if the world weren’t quite so barren and the combat were less frustrating, 1348 Ex Voto’s attractive environments could be the foundation for a special little game’. As it stands, 1348 Ex Voto is a rough playthrough, and obvious inclusion in The Bad section of The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games March 2026.
Do you agree with our The Three Best (and Worst) Video Games from March 2026? What were your favorite games that didn’t make our top 3? Let us know in the comments.
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