Best of March 2023 –

We’re already a quarter of the way through 2023, and now that March is over and April is in full swing, it’s time to look back at what the past month brought to the table and blew us away. March featured some corkscrews of video games, movies, TV series and new hardware, and we begin with the peculiar spin-off of a beloved Nintendo franchise.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the lost demon

Many would probably not recognize this as a Bayonetta title at first glance, because Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is not just another spin-off, it is an artful, storybook adventure that tells the story of how Nintendo’s most famous witch became the woman we all recognize. Although this title has traded the iconic action elements for more colorful puzzling, this adventure game rubbed off on us in the long run and ended up being one of the best Switch titles of March.

The Mandalorian

Star Wars has been a real mishmash lately. We’ve had brilliant shows like Andor, and also forgettable shows like The Book of Boba Fett. Fortunately, we all know that a new season of The Mandalorian will not let us down, and although this season has had its ups and downs, the return of Pedro Pascal’s Din Djarin and the adorable Grogu has indeed been a welcome one.

ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WIFI

We get our mitts on quite a few different computer components, and in March the one that really caught our eye was without a doubt ASUS’ TUF Gaming B650-Plus WIFI motherboard, because this gadget had the ideal combination of being reasonably priced while still being incredibly powerful. Some would say it’s the ultimate package.

Resident Evil 4

For a long time there has been a debate among the Resident Evil fanbase as to whether Resident Evil 2 or Resident Evil 4 is the better game. Now that Capcom has remade the latter, that discussion is becoming more common, as the survival horror title has proven that the Japanese games company has really hit the nail on the head when it comes to bringing its beloved games back to life.

Creed III

While not quite up to the same standards as the Rocky films, the Creed series has been an excellent follow-up and a worthy successor to fill the modern blockbuster boxing vacuum. The latest installment, Creed III, sees Michael B. Jordan both directing and starring as lead actor Adonis, and thanks to some great performances from the terrific cast, this film ended up being another winner.

Xiaomi 13

The smartphone space has become increasingly stale over the years, as technology companies struggle to find truly innovative ways to build on their already excellent formulas. That said, the latest handsets are generally very good devices, as is the case with Xiaomi’s current flagship model, the 13. With a camera suite co-designed by Leica, we were impressed with the phone after our time with it.

Dredging

Fishing in a Lovecraftian-inspired world. Need we say more. Dredge crept onto the scene at the end of the month and really impressed us with its fun and intuitive gameplay and exciting world to explore. It can be unsettling at times, but it is also exactly what you would hope for from a Lovecraftian game, and for that reason we quickly fell in love with Black Salt’s -game.

Alienware x14

Gaming laptops have always had a bit of a problem with their size, as they have to cram a lot of powerful hardware into their chassis to stand a chance of playing the latest games. Alienware has had enough of this problem and in turn created the Alienware x14, the thinnest laptop on the market. While not the perfect device, it impressed us a lot with its combination of a smaller size and plenty of power.

WWE 2K23

To think that just a few years ago 2K’s WWE series was at an all-time low, it’s very impressive that we’ve had a few back-to-back bangers. But thanks to WWE 2K23, that’s exactly what we received, as this fighting game simply built on the great formula of WWE 2K22 and then updated the areas that received the most criticism. John Cena’s Mattel action figure model may give us nightmares, but the game is pretty much a WWE fan’s dream.

Philips Hue Go table lamp

Smart home appliances are something we’re increasingly emphasizing here at Gamereactor, but it’s the Philips Hue Go Table Lamp that proves exactly why we do so, as this niche but handy gadget is ideal for adding a little ambiance to any situation, whether in the garden, on a terrace or in the comfort of your home.

John Wick: Chapter 4

March had some absolutely great films, but box office figures and critical and fan success seem to show that John Wick: Chapter 4 was the cream of the crop this month. Keanu Reeves’ fourth outing as the Baba Yaga was an exceptional one, filled with all the types of creative and chaotic action we as consumers love and flock to this franchise for. Although Wick’s future is uncertain, if this was his last outing, we’re damn impressed with it.

Dungeons &Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Six months ago, it was probably a fairly reasonable thought to assume that this movie would flop, since very few adaptations of video games or board games end up finding real mainstream success. But Dungeons &Dragons: Honor Among Thieves surprised us by being a very thoughtful, funny and enjoyable fantasy romp, one that shows that D &D has more than enough potential to be a behemoth on the big screen.