Video game remakes continue to be popular with gamers, as they hit that sweet spot for nostalgia with veteran players, and the word-of-mouth associated with them can draw in a new audience. Now is a great time to look at the games that have set the gold standard for what a revisit to a beloved property should offer, as recently, there have been some terrific examples released on PC and console.
While a remaster takes an existing game and spruces it up with crisper visuals, sound design–and if you’re lucky–all of the premium DLC that accompanied the original release, a remake has a much bigger job to do. It has to recreate the appeal of the original game, modernize it, and still find a way to draw in a whole new generation of potential fans with its mix of classic and modern sensibilities.
The video game industry has a great track record when it comes to remakes, with the last decade alone being responsible for numerous fresh takes on fan-favorite properties. We’ve seen Square Enix chart a brave new direction for Final Fantasy VII with 2020’s retina-searing Remake chapter and go back to the PSP past with a new take on Crisis Core; Capcom has raised the bar for remakes with its multiple returns to Raccoon City; and Nintendo is no stranger to compelling you to pay twice for the same game.
We’ve gathered up 30 of the best video game remakes below. Each one is a unique showcase of nostalgia, successfully reborn for a new age.
Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection
They don’t make Command & Conquer games like they used to–or at all–these days, but Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection is a shining example of just how influential the real-time strategy series is. A massive remaster of the first two games in the series, Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert, the collection is classic strategy with a 21st-century makeover. Some of the gameplay might feel a tad dated by today’s standards, but there’s no mistaking the nostalgic magic that makes this the definitive version of a classic strategy game series.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion
The return of Crisis Core in 2022 might have billed itself as a comprehensive remaster, but this excellent prequel to Final Fantasy VII leans much closer toward remake territory. Still retaining its PSP DNA, Crisis Core’s Reunion build is visually on par with last-gen games and rebuilds its combat system to be more in line with the current Final Fantasy VII remake project. It’s still the same game from 2007 that drained your PSP battery with its cleverly digestible design, but better than ever in a newer and shinier package that puts the spotlight back on Final Fantasy VII’s underrated hero Zack Fair.
Read our Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion review.
Dead Space Remake
Was a remake of Dead Space necessary in 2023? That’s up for debate, but after arriving in grand and gory style, EA Motive’s return to the blood-soaked corridors of the USG Ishimura is essential gaming. Still able to jolt you awake with brilliant scare tactics and incredibly lavish set design, Dead Space Remake is a new gold standard for what a trip back in time should be. Thoughtful tweaks, welcome quality-of-life changes, and subtle twists make this reimagined classic more frightening than ever before and a strong contender for game of the year.
Read our Dead Space Remake review.
Demon’s Souls
A remake of one of From Software’s most beloved games–and the blueprint for the studio’s distinctive style–by another studio might sound like heresy, but developer Bluepoint delivered a faithful and technically impressive return to Boletaria. Not just a showcase for the impressive technology of the PS5, Bluepoint’s stab at Demon’s Souls is both respectful to the source material and full of moments where the studio finds its own voice. It looks like a million bucks, has consistently smooth performance, and it’s a time capsule for Souls games that can easily hold its own against From Software’s later entries.
Read our Demon’s Souls PS5 review.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
It was a wild time to be a gamer in 1997, as that formative year in the industry saw many a classic game released. Final Fantasy Tactics was one such example, but it was also sadly overshadowed by the scene-stealing debut of several other games that year. Fast-forward a few decades, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a grand return to a fantasy kingdom full of swords, sorcery, and a battle for the throne. One of the defining games of the tactical-RPG genre, this new version remains faithful to the source material, adds welcome quality-of-life changes, and it feels as rewarding and flexible to play now as it did almost three decades ago.
Read our Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles review.
Destroy All Humans!
One of the more memorable games of the PS2 era, this delightfully cheesy slice of alien invasion paranoia is still a blast to play. An interactive B-grade movie given an impressive makeover, Destroy All Humans is essentially a collection of small sandboxes in which you can cause havoc, while the more modern shooting mechanics and movement are a welcome upgrade. Even with some dodgy audio work–dulling a tremendous performance from Richard Horvitz, in which he essentially reprises his Invader Zim role–and some questionable stealth, Destroy All Humans is a cult-classic that’s worth revisiting.
Read our Destroy All Humans review.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Many years in the making, Square Enix’s return to Midgar is more than just a mere remake. With fan expectation at an all-time high, Final Fantasy VII Remake cleverly ducks the impossible comparisons to the original game and instead works to forge its own path forward, an ambitious new direction that will unfold across two more games. While plenty of familiar plot beats remain intact, the gorgeous presentation, gameplay that straddles the line between modern and classic RPG action, and wild swerves in the third act serve to make the return of Cloud Strife and the Avalanche group an exciting journey into mystery.
Read our Final Fantasy VII Remake review.
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
Ever since the release of Fire Emblem Awakening on the Nintendo 3DS, Fire Emblem fans have been feasting on the reborn franchise. With a storied history and a bunch of games to its name, the decision to remake one of the earliest games in the Fire Emblem series might have been an odd one, but it’s a move that resulted in the excellent Shadows of Valentia hitting the scene. A combination of challenging tactical gameplay, user-controlled relationships, and a much more focused narrative, this chapter in the Fire Emblem Echoes series is a satisfyingly lengthy dive back into the past.
Read our Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia review.
Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection
The original Ghosts ‘n Goblins is an exercise in patience, as that arcade and home console classic is infamous for its high level of difficulty and unrelenting challenge. Fast-forward a few decades, and Capcom decided to bring back the brave knight Arthur for a revitalized run against titanic creatures that go bump in the night. While the difficulty and action was kept intact, Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection uses the RE Engine to create a gorgeous new take on familiar landscape, letting the art design run rampant to create some of the most distinctive levels around. You’ll want to appreciate the beauty of these stages, but with a merciless mob of monsters hunting you down constantly, you won’t get that chance unless you flex some medieval might.
Read our Ghost’s ‘n Goblins Resurrection review.
Black Mesa
Black Mesa is a Half-Life remake born from a unique situation, one that may not ever be replicated in the gaming industry. A labor of love from Half-Life fans, Black Mesa didn’t only get a nod of approval from Valve, it got permission from the digital distribution to be sold on its Steam platform as well. It’s not hard to see why Valve was ready to give this fan project its blessing, as the project lovingly recreates Gordon Freeman’s day from hell with improved visuals, welcome tweaks to the campaign, and a caring eye for small details.
