The best remasters and remakes of classic video games
Video games, unlike movies or literature, are uniquely vulnerable to the passage of time. Technology is developing so rapidly that masterpieces of the past become inaccessible to a new audience in just a few years due to outdated graphics, archaic controls, and incompatibility with modern gaming systems. That is why remakes and remasters can be considered not only a way to earn extra money on the nostalgia of older generations of gamers, but also an important cultural mission to preserve gaming heritage. It is a delicate art of balancing the line between respect for the original and the necessary modernization, a kind of bridge between generations of players.
In this selection, we've collected examples of how developers have managed to take this path with honor and give classic video games a second, no less vivid life. You'll find here both remakes, that is, updates "from scratch", and remasters, which are based on ready-made video game files, but significantly improve their overall quality.
Black Mesa
Platforms: Windows
Type: remake
Genre: first-person shooter
Year: 2020
The story of Black Mesa is a separate legend, worthy of a film adaptation. What began as an ambitious fan project to recreate the iconic Half-Life on a new engine turned into a 15-year development marathon. Many no longer believed that the game would ever be released, but enthusiasts from Crowbar Collective saw it through to the end and even received official approval from Valve.
Black Mesa is a model of incredible love and respect for the original source. The game carefully recreates all the levels and events of the original, but does so using modern graphics and physics. However, the main achievement of the developers was a complete reworking of the final chapters in the world of Zen, which in the original were a short and somewhat disappointing part. In the remake, Zen has turned into a large-scale, visually stunning and exciting adventure that surpasses the original in everything.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2
Type: remake
Genre: JRPG
Year: 2020
Adapting Dante's Divine Comedy into a film seems like a simpler task than remaking Final Fantasy VII, the game that defined a generation and forever changed the JRPG genre. Square Enix approached this monumental task as a complete overhaul and reimagining. The decision was controversial, but the result was surprisingly bold and ambitious.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is not just a classic JRPG with modern graphics. The developers have completely changed the combat system, turning turn-based battles into dynamic real-time action with tactical elements. The story of only the beginning of the first disc of the original has been expanded to a full 40-hour game, which has allowed us to significantly deepen the characters and the world of Midgar. This is only the first part of the new trilogy, and the script innovations may not appeal to everyone, but it cannot be denied that this is an incredibly beautiful, exciting and emotional work that sets a new standard for remakes. However, we will be able to draw final conclusions about the modern reinterpretation of Final Fantasy VII only after the release of the final part, which is at least a few years away.
In the meantime, you can check out our review of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second installment in the Final Fantasy VII remakes.
Shadow of the Colossus
Platforms: PlayStation 4
Type: remake
Genre: action/adventure
Year: 2018
The original Shadow of the Colossus for PlayStation 2 is a unique work of art – a meditative, melancholic and emotionally draining game about fighting giants in a devastated world. Its minimalist design and gameplay, conceived by game director Fumito Ueda, were so perfect that any changes could only harm. The restoration masters at Bluepoint Games understood this perfectly.
Their remake for PlayStation 4 is an example of surgically precise and respectful work. The gameplay, world structure and story remained completely unchanged. Instead, the developers completely redrawn Shadow of the Colossus from scratch, creating one of the most beautiful games of its generation. Every landscape, every colossus, every speck of dust – everything looks incredible, enhancing the sense of scale and loneliness. The remake was released on PlayStation 4, but the game still looks worthy today. This is not a reinterpretation, but a perfect restoration of a masterpiece, allowing you to enjoy it in all its grandeur.
Demon's Souls
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Type: remake
Genre: action/RPG
Year: 2020
Another masterpiece from Bluepoint Games. FromSoftware's original Demon's Souls is the game that started the "soulslike" phenomenon, but it remained in the shadow of its famous descendants. For the launch of the PlayStation 5, Sony commissioned developers from Bluepoint Games to revive this iconic project, and the result exceeded all expectations, becoming one of the main exclusives of the PlayStation 5 (of which, let's be honest, there are few) and a demonstration of the power of the new generation of consoles.
The Demon's Souls remake is a technical marvel. Graphics, lighting, animations, sound – everything is done at the highest level, which takes your breath away. The gloomy world of Boletaria has never been so detailed and atmospheric. At the same time, the developers treated the gameplay core of the original with great respect. They did not change the location of enemies or bosses, preserving the same complex but honest gameplay. This is an example of how you can radically update the wrapper without affecting the soul of the game. However, Bluepoint Games still added a new interesting secret with the search for the armor of one of the bosses - and did it in the best traditions in the good sense of the incomprehensible game design of "soulslikes".
Metroid Prime Remastered
Platforms: Nintendo Switch
Type: remaster
Genre: action/adventure
Year: 2023
Released with almost no announcement, Metroid Prime Remastered was a real gift for Nintendo Switch owners. The original 2002 game for GameCube was revolutionary. It masterfully transferred the classic 2D Metroid formula into a 3D first-person space – and still remained primarily about exploring the world, not about accurate shooting. However, its single-stick controls have proven to be a major barrier for modern players.
This remaster addresses the main problem with the original. In addition to vastly improved graphics that look great on the Switch screen, the game has been given a modern dual-stick control scheme that makes it much more comfortable and dynamic. It's an exemplary remaster that significantly tightens up the visuals and does everything to make the brilliant game design of the classic feel modern and relevant.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Type: remake
Genre: Platformer
Year: 2018
The Spyro the Dragon trilogy is one of the warmest childhood memories for many owners of the first PlayStation. These bright and kind 3D platformers captivated with their magical world and simple but addictive gameplay. Toys for Bob studio took on the extremely responsible task of recreating this magic for a modern audience.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy is an example of incredible attention to detail. The developers have breathed new life into the characters and levels. The worlds have become much more detailed and vibrant. It is both a flawless technical remake and a true ideological restoration, made with love and a deep understanding of what players once adored the original for.
Resident Evil 2
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
Type: remake
Genre: survival horror
Year: 2019
The original Resident Evil 2 was a masterpiece, but its fixed camera and "tank" controls look hopelessly outdated today. Capcom understood that a simple remaster would not do, and took a radical step – a complete reboot. The Resident Evil 2 remake is a benchmark for how to modernize a classic. Instead of the old camera, there is a third-person view, which completely changes the dynamics. An updated plot, which has become more adequate and thoughtful. The overall high quality of execution, which makes the Resident Evil 2 remake banally interesting to play even for people far from horror. And it was this game and its warm reception from the players that became the impetus for a large wave of remakes for all tastes.
The main thing that Capcom managed to do is to preserve and increase the atmosphere of horror. The Raccoon City police station has never been so creepy, and the zombies have never been so dangerous. Every shot, every step, every encounter with the relentless Mr. X keeps you in incredible tension. The developers have largely rethought the old game, adding new elements and deepening the story, but preserving all the key moments for which fans loved the original. So now we have one of the best survival horror games in history.
Persona 3 Reload
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2
Type: remake
Genre: JRPG
Year: 2024
Persona 3 is the game that defined the modern look of the famous Persona series and its eventual dominance over the main Shin Megami Tensei franchise, combining turn-based dungeon crawling with a Japanese high school life simulation. However, the game has existed in several versions, none of which were perfect, and its gameplay has become outdated over time. Persona 3 Reload is a long-awaited attempt to create the ultimate version of this dark and stylish JRPG.
The remake raises the visual style and quality of life to the standards set by the phenomenally successful Persona 5. The interface, character models, music – everything has been redone from scratch, while preserving the unique atmosphere of the original. The combat system has been modernized, making it more dynamic and convenient. The only drawback is the absence of some content from previous versions (in particular, the epilogue from Persona 3 FES, which will have to be purchased separately, and the female version of the protagonist from Persona 3 Portable, which the developers at P-Studio do not plan to return to at all), but even despite all this, Reload is the best way to get acquainted with one of the most important stories in the JRPG genre.
Mafia: Definitive Edition
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Type: remake
Genre: action/adventure
Year: 2020
The first Mafia is a cult classic, remembered for its incredible cinematic story and realistic atmosphere of 1930s America. Comparisons with Grand Theft Auto are completely inappropriate, because the big city in Mafia is just a beautiful setting for a crime drama that you will never forget. However, its gameplay and graphics have become very outdated over time. Hangar 13, the studio responsible for the not very successful Mafia III, got a chance to rehabilitate itself by completely remaking the first part.
And the developers succeeded. Mafia: Definitive Edition is an exemplary remake, the main goal of which was to preserve and emphasize the strong story of the original. The city of Lost Haven has been recreated from scratch and looks incredible. The script has been expanded, and the characters have received new, deeper dialogues and excellent voice acting. The gameplay has also been modernized, although it is still not worth returning to this game for the sake of shooting. But this is not so important, because Mafia is primarily a story, and this remake allows it to shine with new strength.
Dead Space
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Type: remake
Genre: survival horror
Year: 2023
The original Dead Space remains one of the best sci-fi horror games to this day. It came out during a crisis in the genre and demonstrated that high-quality survival horror can exist beyond time and win hearts. Therefore, the news of a full remake caused some skepticism: is it possible to make something that was already almost perfect better? Moreover, knowing how condescending EA treats the Dead Space series. Motive Studio has proven that it can. Its remake is a deep and thoughtful expansion of the original.
The biggest innovation is the completely seamless ship "Ishimura" – now all its compartments are interconnected, it can be explored without loading screens, which greatly enhances the feeling of immersion. The main character Isaac Clarke received a voice, which gave him character. The developers have also added new side quests that reveal the secrets of the ship. This is an example of how the remake honors the classics and complements them, making them even better.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Type: remaster
Genre: action/RPG
Year: 2018
Dark Souls is a game-phenomenon that changed the industry and gave birth to an entire genre. Its ingenious level design, complex combat system and gloomy atmosphere won over millions of players. However, the technical state, especially on PC, left much to be desired. Dark Souls: Remastered does not try to change almost anything in particular in the game itself, the main goal of the remaster is purely technical.
And it does the job. The main advantage of the remaster is a stable 60 frames per second, which makes battles much smoother and more enjoyable. The resolution has been increased, and some inconveniences in multiplayer have been fixed. This is not a visually impressive remaster, but it gives you the opportunity to play one of the most important games in history in the form in which it was intended from the very beginning - without technical compromises. The remaster has especially made life easier for players on PC, because the Prepare to Die Edition version on this platform had to be fixed with fan patches for years so that it would at least somehow work adequately.
Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Type: remaster
Genre: role-playing game
Year: 2021
The Mass Effect trilogy is one of the greatest sci-fi sagas in video game history. However, returning to it, especially the first part in 2007, was difficult due to outdated graphics and clunky gameplay. The Legendary Edition is a beautiful remaster that tightens up the visuals of the games and does a great job of fixing the mistakes, especially in the first game.
BioWare completely overhauled the combat system and Mako vehicle controls in the first Mass Effect, making it much more enjoyable. The second and third installments received mostly visual improvements and all the additional content released, making this collection the most complete and convenient way to get acquainted with Captain Shepard's story. It turned out a real gift for fans and an ideal entry point for newcomers.
Saints Row: The Third Remastered
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S
Type: remaster
Genre: action/adventure
Year: 2020
Saints Row: The Third is the pinnacle of madness and absurdity in a series that began as a lackluster GTA clone. The game has abandoned any attempt at seriousness and morphed into pure, concentrated chaos with purple dildos as weapons. The remaster doesn't try to change anything about its perfectly tuned gameplay.
Instead, the developers focused on the visuals, and the result is impressive. It's not just a resolution increase. The lighting, character models, weapons, and vehicles have been completely redesigned. The city of Steelport looks much more vibrant and detailed. This is an example of how a purely technical remaster can significantly refresh the experience of a game while preserving its original charm.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Platforms: Windows, Xbox One / Series X|S
Type: remaster
Genre: first-person shooter
Year: 2014
The story of this collection is a true drama of fall and rebirth. At the time of its release in 2014, The Master Chief Collection was a technical disaster. The multiplayer did not work, the game was full of bugs, and this was a huge disappointment for fans. However, the 343 Industries studio did not abandon the project, and additionally enlisted the support of several other studios such as Splash Damage and Certain Affinity.
Over the years, they’ve released updates, bug fixes, and new content, including porting all of the games in the collection to PC. Today, The Master Chief Collection is a monumental archive of one of the most important franchises in history. It includes six games, with fully remastered Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary and Halo 2: Anniversary, where you can switch between the old and new graphics on the fly. It’s an example of how the dedication of the developers and the community can turn a failure into an undeniable success.
Silent Hill 2
Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5
Type: remake
Genre: survival horror
Year: 2024
Silent Hill 2 is a deep psychological drama about guilt, grief and punishment. Its dense atmosphere, symbolism and complex story have made it a cult classic. Treat even one detail with disdain and the entire almost mystical effect of the story can disappear. That is why Silent Hill 2 has long been said to not need a remake. I admit, I was one of those people. However, what Bloober Team has done has convinced the skeptics.
The remake brings the classic story to the modern Unreal Engine 5, completely updating the graphics and visual style. The developers managed to preserve the unique psychological atmosphere and eerie symbolism that made the original a masterpiece, while modernizing the gameplay for a new audience. Almost every segment has been expanded, but the new elements do not feel artificial and take their place in the overall canvas. Thus, we have a game that should not be missed by any fan of good stories and horror.
You can read more about the Silent Hill 2 remake from Bloober Team in our review.
— —————————————
What remakes and remasters do you like? Do you think any of the games are on this list for no reason? Share your thoughts in the comments!