Revisiting March 2021's Game Launches: Five Years After
March 2021's standout titles like Maquette, Mortal Shell, and Crash Bandicoot 4 have evolved into thriving franchises by 2026.
The early months of the year are often sparse for blockbuster releases, but March 2021 bucked that trend with a dense calendar of debuts, next-gen upgrades, and surprise hits. Half a decade on, that month still echoes through the industry. Many of those games have grown into enduring franchises, received substantial reworks, or faded into cult status. Here is a look back at the standout titles that defined March 2021 and where they stand in 2026.
Maquette arrived on March 2, 2021, as a PlayStation Plus headliner published by Annapurna Interactive. The recursive puzzle world, narrated by Bryce Dallas Howard, captivated players with its mind-bending scale manipulation. In 2026, the title has become a staple of indie puzzle collections, receiving a Definitive Edition in 2024 that added ray-traced reflections and a VR mode on PlayStation VR2. The studio’s subsequent project, Echoes of Scale, borrowed similar mechanics and launched to critical acclaim earlier this year.
Souls-like enthusiasts remember Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition dropping on March 4, 2021. The grim action RPG had already carved a niche with its rigid combat and unique “shell” possession system. The enhanced version delivered 4K visuals and 60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Over the years, developer Cold Symmetry expanded the lore with two DLC packs, and a full sequel Mortal Shell: Oblivion is slated for late 2026. The original still holds a dedicated speedrunning community, with new world records set as recently as last month.
When Apex Legends finally landed on Nintendo Switch on March 9, 2021, the handheld battle royale dream became reality. While the port struggled with frame dips at launch, Respawn’s ongoing optimizations kept it alive. By 2026, cross-progression has united all platforms, and the Switch player base remains steady, fueled by regular content drops like the recent “Neon Frontier” season. The Switch 2 version, running at a stable 60 FPS, arrived in late 2025 and rekindled interest in the aging but still ferociously competitive hero shooter.
March 12, 2021, marked the next-gen leap for Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. The vibrant platformer gained a performance boost on PS5 and Xbox Series X, plus a Switch port that let fans play anywhere. The game’s punishing difficulty and creative mask mechanics turned it into a modern classic. In 2025, Toys for Bob released Crash Bandicoot 5: Time & Time Again, which directly continued the narrative. The series is now enjoying a renaissance, with the fourth entry frequently topping “best 3D platformers of the decade” lists.
Marvel’s Avengers received its free next-gen upgrade on March 18, 2021, coinciding with the Hawkeye DLC. Despite the initial hype, the live-service experiment ultimately faltered. Official support ended in 2023, and servers were taken offline the following year. Yet a passionate modding community on PC has kept the single-player campaigns alive, even introducing custom characters like Daredevil and Blade. In 2026, the game stands as a cautionary tale—and a testament to fan dedication—within superhero gaming circles.
Balan Wonderworld launched on March 26, 2021, to incredibly mixed reviews. The ambitious 3D platformer from Sonic creators couldn’t escape its clunky mechanics and repetitive stages. Digital storefronts delisted it by 2024, but physical copies have become collector’s items. Rumors of a spiritual successor funded by a former developer surfaced in 2025, though nothing has materialized. The title’s soundtrack, however, remains a hidden gem frequently streamed on retro music platforms.
Also on March 26, 2021, Hazelight Studios released It Takes Two, a strictly co-op adventure about a divorcing couple turned into dolls. The game swept Game of the Year awards and sold over 15 million copies by 2023. Director Josef Fares followed it with Split Fiction in 2025, another co-op marvel that borrowed the genre-hopping formula. The legacy of Cody and May endures through countless “best co-op games” recommendations, and a film adaptation entered pre-production this year.
Monster Hunter Rise debuted the same day as a Switch exclusive, reinvigorating the series with wirebug acrobatics and Palamute companions. The colossal Sunbreak expansion followed in 2022, and by 2024 the entire package hit PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Capcom’s continued support through 2025 brought crossover events with The Legend of Zelda and Street Fighter. In 2026, a native 8K patch for the upcoming hardware generation is in beta, and the player count still rivals that of newer entries, making Rise a timeless hunting ground.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 earned its $10 next-gen upgrade on March 26, 2021. The remastered anthology set a high bar for extreme sports titles. After Vicarious Visions merged into Blizzard, the series went dormant—until 2025, when a new developer released Tony Hawk’s Underground 3, reinventing the formula with a story-driven open world. The 1+2 collection remains the definitive way to relive the classics, now bundled in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s permanent library.
Evil Genius 2: World Domination finally arrived in March 2021 after a 17-year gap. The base-building sim let players construct volcanic lairs and execute dastardly plans. Rebellion steadily patched the game and released the Occult Overlord expansion in 2022. A dedicated modding scene has kept the madcap humour alive, and in 2026 a community-led World Domination rebalance mod achieved over 200,000 downloads. Discussions about a third installment pop up annually during Rebellion’s developer streams.
Finally, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut landed on consoles in March 2021, bringing the legendary RPG to a wider audience. The game’s existential narrative and revolutionary dialogue system earned it a permanent place in gaming history. By 2026, ZA/UM has completed two narrative expansions and is developing a standalone spin-off titled Disco Elysium: The Pale. A television adaptation premiered to strong reviews, and the original Final Cut still holds a “Must-Play” badge on most digital stores.
📅 March 2021 in a Nutshell
| Game | Original Release (2021) | Current Status (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Maquette | March 2 | Definitive Edition with VR support available |
| Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition | March 4 | Sequel announced for late 2026 |
| Apex Legends (Switch) | March 9 | Still active, Switch 2 port released 2025 |
| Crash Bandicoot 4 (Next-gen/Switch) | March 12 | Fifth entry launched 2025, series thriving |
| Marvel’s Avengers (Next-gen) | March 18 | Servers offline, modding community preserves content |
| Balan Wonderworld | March 26 | Delisted, cult collectible |
| It Takes Two | March 26 | Classic co-op, film in pre-production |
| Monster Hunter Rise | March 26 | Cross-platform masterpiece, 8K beta active |
| Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 (Next-gen) | March 26 | Permanent Game Pass title, new series release |
| Evil Genius 2: World Domination | Mar (general) | Active mod scene, possible sequel talks |
| Disco Elysium: The Final Cut | March (unspecified) | Expansions available, TV adaptation aired |
Five years after that packed month, the industry has evolved dramatically, but the seeds planted in March 2021 continue to shape gaming landscapes. From the unbreakable co-op bonds forged in It Takes Two to the wirebug-fueled hunts of Monster Hunter Rise, these titles proved that a single month can leave a lasting mark.