Next Week on Xbox: Marathon, Planet of Lana II, and 30+ more new thrilling Xbox games land on Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass

Xbox players are getting one of the most varied “Next Week on Xbox” drops in recent memory, with everything from a major sci‑fi PvPvE revival to cozy puzzlers and experimental indies landing between March 2 and March 6. Headlining the slate is Bungie’s Marathon, backed up by Planet of Lana II on Game Pass, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, Scott Pilgrim EX, Vampire Therapist, and more than 30 smaller titles that cover just about every genre on the platform.

Xbox players have a stacked slate of indies, remasters, and one huge sci‑fi PvPvE launch to look forward to between March 2 and March 6, with Bungie’s Marathon headlining a diverse “Next Week on Xbox” lineup that hits Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Game Pass.

Marathon leads the next week on Xbox with a bold PvPvE comeback

The biggest name on the list is easily Marathon, Bungie’s dark sci‑fi extraction shooter set on the derelict colony world of Tau Ceti IV. Players drop into hostile zones alone or with a crew, scavenging for valuable loot while dodging rival Runners, unforgiving UESC security forces, and environmental hazards. Every run is a high‑stakes risk–reward loop: you infiltrate, gather gear, then race to exfil, with your success boosting seasonal power, unlocking cosmetics, and opening up stronger builds for the next drop.

Xbox players can choose between the Marathon Standard Edition and the Marathon Deluxe Edition, both up for pre‑order on the Microsoft Store ahead of the March 5 launch.

• Marathon Standard Edition (Xbox Store)
  

• Marathon Deluxe Edition (Xbox Store)
  

With responsive gunplay, a low time‑to‑kill, and an emphasis on preparation and buildcraft, Marathon is clearly pitched at players who liked the tension of extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov but want Bungie’s polished combat and live‑service structure wrapped around it.

Planet of Lana II brings a hand‑painted Game Pass adventure

On the quieter but no less ambitious side, Planet of Lana II arrives March 5, and it’s launching directly into Xbox Game Pass. The sequel continues Lana and her companion Mui’s story on their home planet, where new technology has brought progress but also greed, tribal tension, and environmental imbalance. As different groups adopt the tech in their own ways, conflict escalates and Lana is drawn into a journey that uncovers long‑buried truths about her world and herself.

The game leans hard into its signature hand‑painted art style and wordless storytelling, using an alien language, atmospheric music, and player choice in puzzles and traversal to carry the narrative. Expect to move from frozen peaks and deep oceans to forgotten ruins and lush forests as nature and technology collide. Xbox players can grab it here:

• Planet of Lana II
  

With Game Pass, Planet of Lana II is a low‑friction pick for fans of cinematic puzzle adventures who want something meditative and visually striking to balance out heavier action titles. Play the Planet of Lana II Demo.

Legacy of Kain returns in Defiance Remastered

Crystal Dynamics is bringing a classic dark fantasy back with Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, launching March 3 in both a Standard and Deluxe Edition. You step back into the doomed realm of Nosgoth, controlling both the vampire anti‑hero Kain and his betrayed lieutenant Raziel as their intertwined fates play out across gothic cathedrals, crypts, and cursed strongholds.

The remaster promises updated visuals and quality‑of‑life tweaks while preserving the series’ core: shifting between spectral and material realms, solving environmental puzzles, and carving through enemies with iconic blades and supernatural abilities.

• Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered
  

• Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered – Deluxe Edition
  

For long‑time fans, this is a chance to revisit a cult classic; for newer players, it’s an accessible way to see why Legacy of Kain is still so fondly remembered.

Scott Pilgrim EX ramps up the brawling

Arriving March 3, Scott Pilgrim EX takes the off‑beat comic universe and builds it into a chaotic, combo‑driven action‑adventure. You can fight as Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, and other familiar faces as you punch your way through a fractured Toronto, with combat that rewards improvisation, timing, and a bit of stylish showboating.

Players can:

• String together flashy combo chains and unleash over‑the‑top special attacks.

• Use wacky weapons scattered across the city.

• Equip badges that upgrade stats and unlock special bonuses.

The city itself is built as a network of interconnected levels full of NPCs, quests, and secrets, and you can tackle it solo or with up to three friends in local or online co‑op.

• Scott Pilgrim EX
  

For anyone who misses classic beat ’em ups but wants something more modern and narrative‑driven, this is likely to be an easy recommendation.

Vampire Therapist and a wave of 30 inventive indies

One of the most delightfully weird games in the lineup is Vampire Therapist, launching March 5. Instead of slaying vampires, you’re helping them work through centuries of emotional baggage using real cognitive behavioral therapy concepts, tackling self‑loathing, delusions, and immortal relationship drama.

• Vampire Therapist
  

Rounding out the week are a bunch of lower‑priced or niche titles that collectively cover platforming, puzzles, strategy, and chill city‑building:

1. Alex the Rabbit – March 2
   
   Classic 2D platformer where you guide Alex through 20 levels, collecting carrots, beating enemies, and hunting the Golden Carrot at each level’s end, capped with four boss fights.
2. Cryptical Path – March 3
   
   An action‑packed roguelite where you play as the Architect, literally building and reshaping the dungeon as you fight vengeful souls inside your own creation.
3. Meowgic Mix – March 3
   
   A pixel‑art puzzle game about a floating cat on a living book, mixing potions and delivering them to the right cauldrons across 30 strategy‑heavy stages.
4. Teeny Tiny Town – March 3
   
   A cozy, pressure‑free city‑building puzzler where you grow a town by merging tiles three‑at‑a‑time, gradually expanding from a tiny settlement into a full metropolis.
5. Ultimate General: Civil War – March 3
   
   Deep strategy set during the American Civil War (1861–1865), featuring multi‑day battles, persistent units that rank up over time, and a wide variety of historically inspired weaponry.
6. Avenue Escape – March 4
   
   Traffic‑jam puzzle game where you choreograph cars, pedestrians, and signals across 50 busy urban levels to clear every vehicle safely.
7. Cubic Figures – March 4
   
   Minimalist block‑fitting puzzler about rotating and dropping shapes into a silhouette, with no timers so you can take each solution at your own pace.
8. Discolored 2 – March 4
   
   First‑person puzzle horror where color itself is power, and you’re hunted by a group trying to erase it from the world while a mysterious woman in red may hold the key to saving it.
9. King Slime in Cashtle – March 4
   
   Precision 2D platformer about a slime king reclaiming tax coins in a trap‑filled castle, emphasizing tight movement and repeated, tricky platforming setups.
10. Lantern Push – March 4
    
    Puzzle game starring a red panda shoving paper lanterns onto magical seals, lighting them up and sending them floating once you line everything up correctly.
11. Messy Up – March 4
    
    Party‑friendly chaos where you play as pets wrecking a house (or the owner trying to stop them), with up to three players teaming up to dismantle or defend the furniture.
12. Pixel Into the Galaxy – March 4
    
    Simple, retro‑inspired platforming adventure about guiding an explorer through hazards to eventually reach Earth.
13. Aery – The King’s Messenger – March 5
    
    Serene flying game where you’re a small bird collecting memory shards across colorful fantasy environments to advance the story and save a king’s kingdom.
14. Beyond Words – March 5
    
    Roguelike strategy plus word‑crafting from creators behind GoldenEye and TimeSplitters, built around forming powerful word combos and upgrades where every letter placement matters.
15. Docked – March 5
    
    Realistic port‑management sim where you operate heavy machinery and rebuild port infrastructure, with a pre‑order bonus Premium Reach Stacker vehicle.
16. Extra Coin – March 5
    
    Narrative‑driven adventure set in “The Arcade,” a virtual world replacing a collapsing real one, as protagonist Mika dives in to learn why her parents vanished into it.
17. Shrink Rooms – March 5
    
    Box‑pushing puzzle escape game where rooms literally collapse inward as you race to solve switch‑and‑crate puzzles before the walls crush you.
18. Slide Viking: Treasure’s Path – March 5
    
    Tile‑based puzzle game about sliding a Viking around compact boards to push axes onto treasure chests across 30 increasingly complex levels.
19. Veggie Warfare – Feast of Fury – March 5
    
    Fast‑paced roguelike FPS where you fend off waves of murderous vegetables, stacking upgrades and arenas as you try to survive wave after wave.
20. A Winding Path – March 6
    
    Hand‑drawn adventure about wandering a whimsical world, helping characters, and searching for the rain that can restore balance after the world has gone dry.
21. Fortuna Magus – March 6
    
    Classic‑style JRPG where three siblings search for their missing father, featuring turn‑based combat built around Technical Points, tandem attacks, and deep spell customization.
22. Jurassic Differences – March 6
    
    Dinosaur‑themed “spot the difference” puzzler with both timed and relaxed modes across colorful prehistoric scenes.
23. Mirage 7 – March 6
    
    Dark fairytale third‑person adventure blending fantasy and sci‑fi, following Nadira and her pet lizard Jiji on a desert journey to find a mythical oasis and the Lost Princess.
24. Monster Ramp Racing – March 6
    
    Monster‑truck racing focused on huge ramps, vertical climbing roads, and stunt‑heavy tracks that push driving skills to the edge.
25. Nekomimi Days ~365 Days with You~ – March 6
    
    Heartwarming visual novel about a freelance illustrator and a mysterious cat‑eared girl named Milk, focusing on found family and gentle, slice‑of‑life romantic storytelling.
26. Order 13 – March 6
    
    Atmospheric narrative game set in a remote fulfillment center, where you process orders, explore deeper warehouse levels, and uncover unsettling secrets alongside your cat.
27. Risky Roads – March 6
    
    Simple but tricky arcade game about helping a chicken and its friends dash across traffic‑heavy roads full of fast cars and obstacles.
28. Sumerian Six – March 6
    
    Real‑time tactical stealth game where a squad of commando scientists fights Nazi occult projects tied to a mystical substance called Geiststoff.
29. Trigger Path – March 6
    
    Sokoban‑style puzzle game about dragging bouncy enemies onto trap tiles with a little knight, focusing on clean, undo‑friendly puzzle design.
30. Word Quest Pirates – March 6
    
    Word‑search‑driven puzzle game where you chart pirate voyages, unlock treasure chests, and outsmart rival crews by finding hidden words across nautical maps.