After a few slower months, March really heats things up with a slew of game releases you’re going to want to get your mitts on.

First up on Wednesday March 1 is Horizon Zero Dawn – an incredibly pretty adventure that begs the question, what if mankind were no longer the dominant species and instead ruled by robotic dinosaurs? It’s out exclusively for PS4.

Skip ahead to Friday March 3, however, and you’ll land on one of the biggest days of the year when the Nintendo Switch lands on store shelves. Along with it will be a slew of launch titles including 1-2-Switch, Super Bomberman R, Just Dance 2017, Skylanders Imaginators and of course the long-awaited The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild.

Then on Tuesday March 7 it’s time to visit Bolivia with Ghost Recon Wildlands (PS4, XBO, PC). It’s the latest Ubisoft franchise to feature an open world and should definitely be played with friends.

Most of you, however, will be patiently waiting until Thursday March 23, for that is the day you’ll be able to boot up Mass Effect Andromeda on PS4, XBO and PC. Breaking away from the new trilogy, expect to fight new enemies, make new friends and explore past the Milky Way.

Wrapping things up on Friday March 31 is Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Remix. For those still managing to keep track, that means this is a collection of the two previously released collections based within the classic Disney universe – now for PS4 gamers.

Review: Hitman: The Complete First Season (PS4, XBO, PC)

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To say that the release method of the latest iteration of Hitman was controversial would be an understatement. Doled out in an episodic format over the course of nearly a year, the drip-fed approach to content was lamented by many fans. The good news, though, is that with all episodes now available we have Hitman: The Complete First Season to combine them into one killer package.

Though the game is only comprised of eight missions, they act more like miniature sandboxes that have been well developed and designed for replayability. They’re also wonderfully varied, taking you anywhere from a Parisian mansion to a high-tech spa – all of which make the most of a plethora of paths and a robust control scheme.

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Difficulty can vary quite wildly depending on the mission, but if you’re really struggling there’s always the Track Opportunity function that helps you through each assassination. That said, doing so can take away from the unexpected yet enjoyable thrills the series is known for, but either way, there’s no doubt that Agent 47 is back in fine form. Here’s to a second season.

★★★★

Review: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (PS4, XBO, PC)

In hindsight, Resident Evil 6 was not a great game. With an abundance of playable characters and a story that zig-zagged about, it was a clear sign that the Resident Evil series had lost its way. Perhaps Capcom agreed, because Resident Evil 7: Biohazard shakes things up considerably. In many ways, this reboot of sorts takes more than a few creative cues from recent competitors like Alien: Isolation and P.T., but is still able to blend them into the inherent Resident Evil formula to create an experience that feels genuinely fresh.

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Events centre around newcomer Ethan Winters, an everyman who receives a cryptic video from his missing wife that sends him to an incredibly rundown manor in Louisiana. Naturally creepy things that go bump in the night ensue, but it’s to the game’s credit that they’re all incredibly effective, even for horror fans. The visual refresh works wonders for the game’s design and although scares might not be constant, gameplay remains thrilling throughout as you attempt to uncover mysteries and escape your dangerous kidnappers.

In many ways, Biohazard draws elements from the first Resident Evil, but that’s just fine, because in doing so Capcom has managed to reinvigorate the series and craft one incredibly effective survival horror title.

★★★★

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