The 20 BEST Video Game Remakes

20 Best Video Game Remakes

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking over the games of yesteryear that were given a second chance, a fresh coat of paint and came back swinging!

“System Shock” (2023)

While many rightfully celebrate the sequel for its villain and atmosphere, the original System Shock was an innovator back in its day, a cyberpunk sim that nailed the tension and thrills. That being said, for all the good it did, playing it today makes for quite a laborious time. Thankfully, Nightdive Studios finally succeeded with their passion project of a faithful remake, not only creating one hell of a nostalgia bomb for 90s kids, but the most approachable way for newcomers to play one of the granddaddies of the genre.

“Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes” (2004)

Solid Snake’s original outing on the PlayStation is still lauded as one of the greatest of all time. As a stealth game, as a piece of cinematic media, as an example of how video games can raise the bar, it still hits all those marks years later. However, for those of you that swear by the GameCube, the Twin Snakes is a perfectly viable way to experience the first game. Essentially taking the upgraded visuals and mechanics found in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and bringing them over to Shadow Moses. There’s just something special about being able to launch rockets at Metal Gear Rex in first person! Credit to David Hayter for getting all the actors to re-record all their lines to make this version the best that it could be!

“Spyro Reignited Trilogy” (2018)

Hot off the heels of a certain orange marsupial’s return to glory, along came everyone’s favorite purple dragon with an equally impressive remake of his first three outings. While the framework remains very much the same, these remasters are brimming with personality. It also goes out of its way to cater to those that still prefer their Spyro old school; presenting the option for players to revert to the original soundtrack and control scheme at their leisure. That being said, the updates to the camera, movement and overall layout makes the whole thing feel buttery smooth, and the perfect jumping off point for those unfamiliar with Spyro’s glory days as platform icon.

“Resident Evil 4” (2023)

The remake of the first Resident Evil game was a solid effort to adapt one of the true game-changers for the current times. Resident Evil 2 was an unexpected juggernaut that ironically brought the franchise back from the dead. We didn’t think it could get any better, nor did it have a hope in hell of bettering the original Resident Evil 4 given its place in the gaming pantheon. We were wrong on both accounts. The RE4 Remake is astounding on every level. The quality of life changes, introduction of a parry mechanic, Leon’s god tier hair, all of it melded together so seamlessly that it now stands as the greatest game to bear the Resident Evil name.

“Dead Space” (2023)

The perfect blend of sci-fi and survival horror, Dead Space brought us the quintessential nightmare scenario – what happens when you’re trapped on a derelict spaceship filled with undead monsters? The answer – blast your way through with whatever you can get your hands on. The remake doubled down on this by making sure the gameplay was just as sublime as the fear factor, especially when it came to its haunting audio design and unsettling visuals. Pair that with Isaac actually being given a voice, side missions that added more weight to the story, and an alternate ending for those willing to brave New Game plus, and you’ve got a terrifying spectacle of a game.

“Persona 3 Reload” (2024)

Often touted as the darkest entry of this beloved RPG series, Persona 3 already had a huge following, though newcomers didn’t exactly have the easiest time jumping in given the splendor of Persona 5 and all its touch ups. And then along came Reload, which has since blown many a fan out of the water. Everything a Persona fan can love is right here – a killer cast of companions you will come to adore, addictive social sim elements, a seemingly never-ending barrage of Persona’s to unlock and command, and a storyline unafraid of tackling some brutal questions on the nature of death. Plus, they removed the fatigue factor, hallelujah! It’s hard to say if Reload knocks Royal off its perch, but it’s damn close!

“The Last of Us Part I” (2022)

Did this need to exist? Especially when there’s a perfectly viable PS4 port that did most of the heavy lifting? Probably not, but for what it’s worth, for the iota of people left who have yet to experience the cultural phenomenon that is this game, this is truly the best way to undertake Joel and Ellie’s journey through the crumbling remains of humanity’s aftermath. Visually speaking, it’s one of the most breathtaking games to be released in the last few years, given its uncanny level of detail. There’s the euphony of extra features regarding accessibility, even a game mode tailored for speed runners. It may not be enough to bait back older fans, but there’s no denying Part 1 is fit to bursting with content.

“The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening” (2019)

While Breath of the Wild helped place Link back on top, we can’t forget that in the shadow of its masterful open world adventure, there was this delightful little outing. The leap between Game Boy and the Switch is obviously night and day, with a bright color palette and some much needed tweaks to the layout of its dungeons, weapons, progression and mini-game mechanics. It’s like Nintendo injected the essence of Wind Waker directly into the original’s veins, color scheme included. The result was a short yet sweet adventure that deserves to stand alongside Zelda’s greatest hits.

“Yakuza Kiwami” (2016)

After the thunderous success of Yakuza 0, It was only a matter of time before the original entries were spruced up a bit, and let’s be honest, they really needed it, especially in regards to the first game. The first Kiwami did exactly what it needed to do in retelling Kiryu’s story, whilst improving the combat tremendously, alongside shipping over many of the features that made Zero such a hit – especially when it came to the substories. Like any good Yakuza game, it knows when to bring the drama, and when to beat us over the head with its comic absurdity. And yes, we are talking about Majima.

“Ratchet & Clank” (2016)

In many cases, this wasn’t just a simple remake – it was a whole reimagining that would go on to lay the groundwork for the beloved duo’s second renaissance. While a few locations were cut out and Ratchet was much less of a hard case, the feel of the game was silken, especially when it came to the traversal and unleashing hell with the Lombax’s myriad of guns. While this would be perfected in Rift Apart, there’s so much fun to be had seeing Ratchet take on earlier iterations of Dr Nefarious, Drek and Captain Qwark.

“Super Mario RPG” (2023)

Nintendo’s iconic plumber seems to be on a bit of a winning streak as of late. Between its billion-dollar earning film and the success of Super Mario Bros Wonder, he also had one of his earliest titles get a much-needed makeover. Along with the obvious improvements on the graphical front, you’ve got key alterations to the gameplay in terms of additional attacks, storage space for items, autosaves and even fast travel. You can even go back to find treasures you missed without fear of them being lost forever. If you’re the slightest bit curious about how Mario handles himself in a turn based adventure, and can’t bear the wait for the Thousand Year Door remake, this is the one for you!

“Metroid: Samus Returns” (2017)

Remakes and remasters have always been very kind to Samus! And while the glow up that Metroid Prime received was fantastic in every regard, Samus Returns gave new life to one of its most archaic entries – nailing it to such an extent that it would pave the way for other epic 2.5 side scrollers such as Metroid Dread. The ability to blast away foes from any angle, the addition of fast travel as well as being able to counter with melee attacks became the new norm, and Samus has been all the better for it ever since!

“Halo: The Master Chief Collection” (2014)

While many may lament the current state of Halo, back in its glory days, it was truly at the pinnacle of both casual and hardcore gaming culture, with the Master Chief Collection being a reflection of its greatness. Containing the anniversary edition of Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2, Halo ODST, Halo 3, Halo Reach and Halo 4, you’d think that would be it. But the real treasure, aside from having all multiplayer maps and gameplay modes available, was how it offered a completely updated redesign of Halo 2, giving it the Anniversary treatment. The collection certainly had its ups and downs, but if you wanted the best the franchise had in one place – this was it!

“Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy” (2017)

After lumbering in mediocrity and failure for so long, this remake single handedly put Crash back on the map for all the right reasons. The first three Crash games are seminal when it comes to their level design and platforming, and the N. Sane remake perfectly captures their classic feel. Aside from looking better than ever, the trilogy also offers a heaping helping for long term fans – such as access to the infamous lost level famed for its difficulty, a brand new stage tailor made for the remake, the ability to switch between Crash and Coco for each level, as well as newly implemented time trials for those who are all about that completionist life!

“Shadow of the Colossus” (2018)

While it’s gone through its own set of remasters over the years, what Bluepoint Games did for this exquisite game was downright magical. The reworked controls certainly helped, but what this remake excelled in was capturing the sense of scale and tone that made Shadow of the Colossus such a landmark to begin with. The designs of the Colossi, detail of the environment, the impact of their movements, it’s so well handled that it’s no wonder Bluepoint went on to make a name for themselves by making remakes that bordered on the transcendental!

“Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2” (2020)

If there was something that Tony Hawk needed in order to reclaim some manner of credibility following a slew of bad installments, it was to go back to what made the franchise a household name. And Skater 1 + 2 did just that. Not only did it control like a dream, but brought in all the tricks and maneuvers that were introduced in later games too. Throw in Create a Skater and Create a Park features, online play, as well as a cameo by Jack Black – we mean, Officer Dick – this remake somehow managed to wall ride its way back to relevancy!

“Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver” (2009)

While every fan’s preference is different, most are in agreement that the second generation Pokémon games were some of the greatest in terms of…just about everything! It was the franchise running on all cylinders, save for the dwindling power of the Game Boy Color. Which is where these remakes came in. Not only did it look great, but the addition of wireless online trading and battling, new minigames and the fact your chosen Pokemon can follow you outside their Pokeball made the whole thing a delight. Even when weighed against more recent entries, these remakes can still hold their own with just how well they capture the spirit of the franchise at its apex.

“Demon's Souls” (2020)

Bluepoint Games strikes again, this time with the title that kicked off FromSoftware’s Soulsverse, taking it out of the fog and right onto current hardware. It’s a match made in gaming heaven. While it's still constrained by the structure of the original, and as such can’t reach the heights of later entries, Bluepoint’s meticulous reconstruction and technical facelift turned it into a shining example of a Souls game that any fan can indulge in. Honestly, there are few Souls games that look this grandiose, and thanks to a few key alterations to balance out the world and gameplay, the only thing you’ll be fighting against are the bosses as opposed to glitches!

“Black Mesa” (2020)

Half-Life, and all things Gordon Freeman by extension, has easily cemented itself as one of the most acclaimed and beloved titles within the medium. Though for as much reverence as they rightly receive, it can be hard for newcomers to slip into the first entry due to its age. Which is where Black Mesa comes in – starting off as nothing more than a mod that was eventually given the thumbs up by Valve to become an official remake, and what a remake it is! Not only was the gunplay slicker, but the level design was also given a wider berth to allow for more dynamic combat encounters. The cherry on top? They fixed Xen!

“Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth” (2020; 2024)

Rebooting a Final Fantasy game is one thing. But to recreate one of its most seminal titles, still beloved to this day, and to knock it out of the park? It’s no wonder so many now adore this latest iteration of Cloud and company’s struggles against all things Shinra and Sephiroth. The hybrid combat system allowed for a perfectly middle ground for those who enjoy turn-based battles and those who want to get up close and personal with the Buster Sword. The visuals are beyond gorgeous, the sheer amount of side content is baffling, it even managed to reignite the war over who truly is best girl between Aeirth and Tifa! At the rate they’re going, there’s every chance the Remake trilogy could go on to become some of the most acclaimed games of the modern era.

Which remake do you consider to be superior to the original? Let us know in the comments!