Top 20 Video Game Remakes

Some games return years later with a new coat of paint and a smarter design that fits modern hardware. The best remakes rebuild core systems, art, and audio while preserving the parts people still want to play, like level layout, encounters, or a distinctive tone. The result is the same game you remember that now runs smoothly on today’s platforms and speaks the language of current design.

This list looks at full remakes that rework technology and content rather than simple resolution boosts. Each entry notes what changed under the hood, what was added or reimagined, and how the new release compares to the original structure, so you can see at a glance what you get when you dive back in.

Resident Evil 2

Released in 2019, this version uses Capcom’s RE Engine and shifts the camera to an over the shoulder view with redesigned aiming and movement. It rebuilds the Raccoon City Police Department and surrounding areas with new room layouts, a revised puzzle flow, and expanded sequences such as the playable orphanage segment.

Content includes separate Leon and Claire scenarios with updated B routes, the 4th Survivor mode, and post launch extras that introduced side challenges. The Tyrant pursues the player with improved pathing, audio cues, and room logic that differ from the 1998 rules while item management, boarding windows, and knife durability introduce new tactical choices.

Resident Evil 4

The 2023 remake modernizes controls and gunplay and adds a parry system tied to a knife with durability. Quick time events from the original are removed or reworked and stealth and crafting expand options for handling village, castle, and island encounters.

Story beats are adjusted with added character interactions and a more connected progression through regions. Side requests from the Merchant add optional objectives, the shooting gallery returns with new rewards, and the remake runs on the RE Engine with updated lighting, materials, and audio.

Final Fantasy VII Remake

Part one arrived in 2020 and retells the Midgar section as a full length action RPG. Combat blends real time attacks with an ATB system that governs abilities and spells, and enemies can be pressured and staggered to open windows for heavy damage.

Weapons gain upgrade trees and Materia management remains central with new linked effects and loadout freedom. The release expands locations with new quests and characters, adds the Coliseum and extra boss encounters, and includes an Intermission episode on later platforms that features Yuffie with unique mechanics.

Demon’s Souls

Built for PlayStation 5 in 2020 by Bluepoint Games, this remake keeps the original logic and level design while fully replacing assets, animation, and effects. Performance and cinematic modes let players choose frame rate or resolution, and loading into regions is nearly instant.

Quality of life updates include a reorganized inventory interface, a simple toggle for world tendency indicators, and a photo mode that can be used to adjust filters. Multiplayer uses modern server infrastructure, and small adjustments to item placements and sound help with readability in dark spaces.

Shadow of the Colossus

The 2018 remake rebuilds every asset while preserving the sixteen colossi, arena shapes, and traversal routes. Players can select a modern control layout that maps movement and grip to familiar inputs and a classic style that mirrors the 2005 scheme.

It adds a robust photo mode and optional performance targets on supported hardware. Subtle climb physics improvements and camera tuning make grabs and jumps more predictable while the time attack rewards and coin collectibles provide extra equipment and secrets for repeat runs.

Dead Space

Motive’s 2023 remake keeps the Ishimura layout but connects the ship with a seamless structure that removes loading between decks. Zero gravity uses full six axis flight, and an intensity director varies sounds, lights, and enemy spawns to create different routes and ambush patterns.

Isaac now speaks in story scenes and side quests track crew fates through new logs and locations. A peeling system shows progressive damage on Necromorphs to communicate limb targeting, security clearance gates pace backtracking, and weapons and suits gain expanded upgrade paths.

System Shock

Nightdive’s 2023 release reconstructs Citadel Station with new geometry and updated enemy behavior while retaining the original story and mission flow. The user interface, inventory, and cyberspace sequences are rebuilt for modern controls and visual clarity.

Audio logs are rerecorded and placed to guide navigation and puzzle logic is adjusted for consistency. Difficulty sliders let players tune combat, hacking, and mission objectives independently, and a detailed map with waypoints helps with the multi floor layout.

Mafia Definitive Edition

Hangar 13 rebuilt the 2002 game in 2020 with a new script pass, fresh cutscenes, and expanded character moments. Lost Heaven’s districts are retextured and reshaped with more alleys and landmarks that fit the time period, and the driving model offers simulation and relaxed options.

Free Ride lets players explore the city without mission pressure and discover car collections, outfits, and hidden postcards. Gunplay uses modern aiming and cover behavior and mission checkpoints are more frequent while classic tasks like the race and the farm job follow updated pacing.

Black Mesa

This commercial remake of the 1998 shooter reached version 1.0 in 2020. It runs on Source with overhauled visuals, improved AI pathing, and updated weapon feel, and it keeps the chapter structure while smoothing difficulty spikes across set pieces.

The Xen chapters are extensively expanded with new arenas, traversal routes, and encounter scripting that increase puzzle variety and flight segments. Checkpointing is modernized, surface tension and on a rail flow better with clearer goals, and community support adds workshop maps and quality tweaks.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

Vicarious Visions rebuilt the first three Crash games in 2017 with a single engine and unified physics and collision rules. Save and checkpoint systems work consistently across all three titles and analog support and stick sensitivity are tuned for precise platforming.

Time trials are added to the first two games to match the third and leaderboards record ghost data for repeat runs. Visuals, music, and cutscenes are recreated and optional motion blur and camera settings are included for comfort while secret levels and colored gem routes remain intact.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Toys for Bob delivered remakes of the first three Spyro games in 2018 with updated character models, lighting, and effects. The collection uses modern camera controls and smooth turning and preserves the hub and level counts of the originals.

Music offers a dynamic option that blends new recordings with adaptive transitions and a classic option for fans of the old tracks. Accessibility settings include larger subtitles and color toggles, and collectibles and skill points are tracked in an in game menu for clear progress.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2

The 2020 package rebuilds every park from the first two entries and updates skaters while adding a few new faces. Tricks from later series entries such as reverts and spine transfers are included which allows longer lines on the same park layouts.

Create a Park returns with a flexible editor and sharing features and Create a Skater includes expanded gear and stats. Online multiplayer supports free skate and competitive modes and the soundtrack blends returning songs with new tracks while respecting the original vibe.

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver

These Nintendo DS remakes arrived in 2010 and expand the Johto adventure with a following partner feature that displays your lead Pokémon on the field. Touch screen menus streamline battle commands and item sorting and the map spans Johto and Kanto after the League.

The release shipped with the Pokéwalker accessory that uses step counts to find items and Pokémon and then transfers them to the game. The Battle Frontier from the previous generation appears with facilities that test specific rulesets and the remakes integrate newer moves, abilities, and breeding rules.

Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen

Game Boy Advance remakes of the original adventure launched in 2004 with modern mechanics from that era, including abilities and natures. A context help system explains type matchups, status effects, and field moves, which helps new players learn the rules as they go.

The Sevii Islands offer a large postgame region with new quests and trainers and enable trading with other Gen III titles after key milestones. A bundled wireless adapter enables local battles and trades without a link cable and the regional Pokédex is expanded after the main story.

The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening

Grezzo’s 2019 remake for Nintendo Switch recreates Koholint Island with a toy like diorama presentation while keeping the map layout and dungeon order. Movement uses a consistent button set for items and shields and the game supports a modern autosave in addition to manual saves.

A chamber dungeon builder allows custom arrangements using rooms unlocked from completed dungeons. Fast travel points reduce backtracking and optional collectibles and seashell rewards are tracked in a dedicated log to make completion clearer.

Yakuza Kiwami

This 2016 remake updates the 2005 original with the engine and combat styles seen in the prequel set in the same world. Content includes rerecorded voice work, new cutscenes that clarify plot threads, and additional side stories spread through Kamurocho.

The Majima Everywhere system introduces surprise encounters that teach mechanics and unlock skills. Mini games such as card battle and batting cages are expanded and the city map gains new interiors and activities while heat actions are revised for modern inputs.

Trials of Mana

Square Enix rebuilt the 1995 action RPG in 2020 as a fully 3D adventure with real time combat. Characters retain distinct class paths and a new third tier appears in a postgame segment, and the remake adds voice acting and a rearranged soundtrack with a classic option.

Zones are larger with more vertical movement and shortcuts and towns include clearer quest markers. Boss patterns and elemental weaknesses are updated for modern balance and a New Game Plus option lets players carry over progress to alternate party routes.

Resident Evil

Often called the REmake, this 2002 GameCube release rebuilds the Spencer Mansion with new rooms, puzzles, and enemy types. Fixed camera angles stay in place and backgrounds are prerendered with dynamic effects while character models and animation are fully new.

Crimson Heads introduce a burn or headshot decision for zombies and defense items give last chance escapes from grabs. An expanded story thread around Lisa Trevor adds lore and new keys and lock logic alter routing through the mansion and guardhouse.

Resident Evil 3

The 2020 remake reworks movement and aiming and tunes inventory with a quick dodge that rewards precise timing. The campaign follows the original sequence with condensed sections and a revised flow through downtown, the hospital, and the labs.

Nemesis uses new triggers and behaviors that change pursuit routes and boss phases. Collectibles, safe codes, and weapon upgrades are placed for clearer pacing and the package originally launched with a multiplayer mode that presents asymmetrical rounds set in series locations.

Advance Wars 1 plus 2 Re Boot Camp

WayForward’s 2023 remakes present both Game Boy Advance campaigns with a new art style and full voice support for commanding officers. Tutorials and difficulty options help new players learn movement and capture rules and a turn rewind assists with testing tactics.

Online versus play includes friend and casual match options and a map editor allows custom battlefields with sharing features. Quality of life improvements include faster combat animations, clearer unit information panels, and convenient end of turn summaries.

Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled

This 2019 remake rebuilds the original tracks and karts and includes content from the later sequel to create a large roster and course list. Handling and drift boost timing are tuned for modern controllers and a full adventure mode with character cutscenes returns.

Online multiplayer supports ranked and casual races and a time trial mode includes developer ghost challenges. Seasonal events at launch added extra cosmetics and kart parts and the pit stop store and challenges provide steady unlocks for long term play.

Share your picks for the remakes that impressed you most and tell us which classic you want rebuilt next in the comments.