Sony on Monday released its regular look back at the most downloaded video games on PlayStation in March, and it's a nice snapshot of what shaped not only the console's users, but the video game conversation as a whole over the past month. As always, there are breakout hits, with a long tail of mainstream players lurking around the edges with sports titles.
Whether you were a pioneer of one of these new releases or are currently hooked on something else, here are the top seven games downloaded by over 100 million users on the PlayStation Network. The full list, sorted by platform and region, is here.
Helldiver 2
Helldivers 2 is the first hit of 2024, launching on PlayStation and PC in early February, with a total of hundreds of thousands of players immediately loading up on servers in the first two weeks of release.
Helldivers 2 is a cooperative multiplayer-only game, a significant departure from its predecessor, which was a top-down shooter that still garnered a lot of attention when it launched in 2015. We've adapted the first game into a more engaging and immersive third-person perspective. Not only is the game the most downloaded PlayStation Network game, it's also the biggest Steam launch ever for a title from Sony.
MLB The Show 24
SIE San Diego Studio's MLB The Show 24 is a full-service baseball simulation that has been a winner among sports fans every year since its launch 15 years ago. That doesn't mean manufacturers can rest on their laurels.
This year, MLB The Show 24 made a big play by introducing women as playable stars in all modes, expanding its audience to fans who dreamed of becoming a big leaguer even though they knew they never got the chance. Women feature prominently in the storyline mode introduced in 2023. This mode is a series of interactive vignettes that tell the little-known stories of professional players during baseball's segregation era. They also attended the Road to the Show, a true gem of the game. This is a rich, vicarious single-player fantasy where users create superstars and take them all the way to the major leagues.
Dragon's Dogma 2
Dragon's Dogma 2, as the title suggests, is a sequel that was published 12 years ago but has never been forgotten by cult readers. This open world fantasy adventure isn't exactly Soulslike. Still, it's no surprise that the fandom that has gathered for the subgenre over the past decade, especially for games like 2022's Elden Ring, will have a natural and passionate interest in this open-world epic.
WWE 2K24
WWE 2K24 presents challenges every year. Basically, “How do you simulate something that’s fake?” After all, 2K Sports went back three years and presented professional wrestling and all its behind-the-scenes details as moveable pieces on a chessboard of delightful mayhem, as if it were a “real” sport.
The biggest exhibit of the year includes a 40-year retrospective on Wrestlemania. MyRise, the created player career mode, once again features two unique storylines depending on whether players play as a female or male superstar. And those who enjoy the meta of pro wrestling (the angles, matching, etc. that make it a sports soap opera) will find a lot to love in the polished MyGM mode, which doesn't change much but knows how to dust off things. We built on the success of the last two games without overturning a single teacup.
Madden NFL 24
Madden NFL 24 didn't say goodbye when the final confetti fell on the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII in early February. Thanks to the live offering of Ultimate Team mode, Madden has surpassed its basketball peers in the first month of the sport's offseason, at least on PlayStation. Football is a year-round sport, like it or not, and video games always have something to offer, which is what the Madden Ultimate Team suite of live services offers.
Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection
Few early console series are as beloved as Battlefront, and when you add in the natural charm of Star Wars, it's easy to see why this two-game bundle (consisting of 2004's Battlefront and 2005's Battlefront II) has been so popular among nostalgic fans. It's understandable. . Both games were released on newer hardware in 2019 and 2020. But while this collection isn't really a remake or a remaster, it's still more than just a port, and promises the multiplayer action that made the first two games such long-running hits on PlayStation. 2.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
Here's a surprise. Rainbow Six Siege didn't make the top 20 on this list last month, but it appears here ahead of EA Sports FC 24, NBA 2K24, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. This is partly due to the March release of Operation Deadly Omen, the first season of this live service game's ninth year. And no, Rainbow Six Siege yet This is not a free-to-play game. Whether Fortnite is debuting its latest celebrity crossover or Destiny 2 is waiting for its next big expansion, Siege always has six things covered.
Featured Image: Helldivers 2 on Steam