March is turning into a staggeringly good month for smaller indie video game releases. In fact it was particularly challenging to whittle this one down to just 10 releases. Sure we have some bigger or more widely known games coming out this month, including Monster Hunter Rise, Balan Wonderworld, It Takes Two, Evil Genius 2: World Domination and more. Although sometimes it’s nice to focus on those lesser-known and equally deserving releases. So that’s exactly what we’ve done!
Check out the 10 most exciting indie video games of March 2021.
Maquette
Developer: Graceful Decay
Release Date (Aus): 2 March, 2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5
Genre: Puzzle
“Maquette is a first-person recursive puzzle game that takes you into a world where every building, plant, and object are simultaneously tiny and staggeringly huge.”
Oh I do love me a mind-bending puzzle game, and Maquette looks right up my alley. Annapurna are quickly becoming the go-to indie games publisher for unique and beautiful games. And with its first-person exploration and puzzle-solving coupled with its perspective-shifting visual landscape, Maquette is looking to be an absolute hit. You just can’t watch a trailer for this game and not be instantly intrigued. We can’t wait to see more of this release.
Sir Lovelot
Developer: pixel.lu
Release Date (Aus): 4 March, 2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Genre: Platformer
“Sir Lovelot is on a quest to find the love of his life. Join him in this wacky tight platformer, where impressing cheeky damsels is harder than a heart of stone!”
The hopeless romantic, Sir lovelot, is on a valiant quest to find the damsel of his dreams! This cheeky game plays deliberately into the trope of rescuing the princess, and it does so with an adorable pixel style! Oh valiant knight, we hope you one day find love! Sir Lovelot is reminiscent of the precision platformers or “splatformers” made popular with releases such as Super Meat Boy. If it handles as well as it looks, this game could become an instant classic!
Everhood
Developer: Chris Nordgren, Jordi Roca
Release Date (Aus): 4 March, 2021
Platforms: PC, Switch
Genre: Adventure RPG
“An UNCONVENTIONAL ADVENTURE RPG that takes place in an inexpressible world filled with amusing musical battles and strange delightful encounters. To put it simply: You are in for a ride.”
Surely I’m not the only one getting some serious Undertale vibes from this game? Everhood looks as charming as it is unique. This adventure RPG throws players into a surreal and at times self-aware world that is just screaming to become the next indie cult classic. Add in some rhythm-based combat encounters are you’re all set for a winning formula. I’ll be shocked if this game doesn’t generate a lot of love upon release.
Loop Hero
Developer: Four Quarters
Release Date (Aus): 5 March, 2021
Platforms: PC
Genre: Strategy
“The Lich has thrown the world into a timeless loop and plunged its inhabitants into never ending chaos. Wield an expanding deck of mystical cards to place enemies, buildings, and terrain along each unique expedition loop for the brave hero.”
Sometimes a game releases and it’s so elegantly simple and clever it makes you think to yourself, “how the hell has this never been done before?” Loop Hero is a game that gives me those vibes. Combining RPG, Roguelike, deck-building and even some auto-battler vibes, this amalgamation of a strategy game just seems so ingenious. Also who doesn’t love a good time loop? I can for sure see myself spending hours and hours of glee trying to perfect my little loop.
Minute of Islands
Developer: Studio Fizbin
Release Date (Aus): 19 March, 2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Genre: Adventure
“Explore strange and wonderful islands and dark labyrinths below in this narrative puzzle platformer. Guide young mechanic Mo on her quest to repair a world on the brink of collapse. The powerful Omni Switch at your disposal may not be enough to fix the damage that hides beneath the surface…”
Sometimes you can take one glance at a game and know that it’ll be something special. Minute of Islands is one of those games. If the gorgeous art style isn’t enough to hook you, the absurdist and intriguing puzzling adventure no doubt will. The game looks like a Pendleton Ward animation. It has such life and personality that’s just begging to be explored. Bubbling under the surface is a mysterious narrative too that involves ancient secrets and otherworldly machines. Sign me up!
Sizeable
Developer: Sander Ambroos
Release Date (Aus): 20 March, 2021
Platforms: PC
Genre: Puzzle
“Sizeable is a puzzle/exploration game about shrinking and growing the environment in order to find all the hidden objects that every little diorama hides!”
A cosy and relaxing game that takes a small section of landscape and turns it into an adorable puzzle. Sizeable is an aptly named release that understands bigger isn’t always better. It’s the kind of game you can unwind to and fiddle with, watching as the miniature world reacts to your input. It’s a game about puzzle-solving but also exploration. It also has some really satisfying animations and visuals. Super impressive for a one-man team.
Dandy Ace
Developer: Mad Mimic
Release Date (Aus): 25 March, 2021
Platforms: PC
Genre: Roguelike
“Dandy Ace is an over the top action game that follows this fabulous magician seeking to combine and use his magical cards, fighting and looting his way to defeat the Green-Eyed Illusionist and free himself from a cursed mirror.”
A unique style and so much exuberance, Dandy Ace is bringing a certain flamboyance to the March release list. This Roguelike action game will have you dashing around your foes and leaving them for dead in a trail of your magic. It’s giving me some serious Hades vibes, and not just because of the style of game, but because there’s also an attention to narrative and character that isn’t often seen in this genre. I for one am eager to see if this release is as magical as it seems.
Kaze and the Wild Masks
Developer: PixelHive
Release Date (Aus): 26 March, 2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Genre: Platformer
“Go on a journey as Kaze in this 90’s classics inspired platformer. When the Crystal Islands get cursed, Kaze needs to save her friend Hogo while facing enraged living vegetables. Find the Wild Masks to unleash the powers of the legendary guardians and master land, sky and sea.”
Sometimes you just want a game with a furry mascot doing some sick platforming whilst collecting gems. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Thankfully Kaze and the Wild Masks has us covered this month! The game looks really polished with a sweet pixel style, great animation quality and a world full of personality. The game is embracing its 90’s platformer influences and I am absolutely here for it. The video game world needs more furry mascots.
Narita Boy
Developer: Studio Koba
Release Date (Aus): 31 March, 2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Genre: Action/Adventure
“Become symphonic in Narita Boy! A radical action-adventure as a legendary pixel hero trapped as a mere echo within the Digital Kingdom. Discover the mysteries behind the Techno-sword, lock swords with the corrupt and tainted Stallions. Save the world!”
Looking for a totally radical adventure through an 80’s inspired cyberspace? Well look no further! Narita Boy is packed with synthwave and retro-futiristic coolness that just makes you want to sink into its pixel world and jam out to its funky beats. This Kickstarter success story has been popping up here and there for a few years now and it always intrigued me! It’ll be fun to wield the game’s mythical “Techno-Sword” and see exactly what this world has to offer.
Tunche
Developer: LEAP Game Studios
Release Date (Aus): March, 2021
Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
Genre: Roguelike
“Tunche, a being of great power, has gone mad and now evil creatures are taking over the jungle. Help Rumi and her friends uncover the truth behind Tunche’s actions and restore peace in the Amazon in this charming roguelike action game!”
A roguelike beat ’em up action game set in the Amazonian jungle! This game looks absolutely jam-packed with style and fun, it even has Hat Kid from A Hat in Time (for some reason). The music and character designs and the combat all look and sound incredible. It’s the only game on this list without a solid release day, although we’re still seeing the game listed as releasing in March in a few different places so we hope this one doesn’t slip back later into the year!
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So there you have it, another phenomenal month of indie video game releases. What are you most excited to play? Was there a game not listed you think deserves to be on this list? Let us know. You can also check out last month’s list to see what awesome games may have slipped you by in February.
About the Author
Elliot Attard
He/Him
Beer aficionado, PC gamer, TV show binge-watcher, music lover, and elite member of high society - Elliot possesses all of the qualities needed to project his word thoughts straight into your eye holes.
