Movies and TV shows get remade all the time, but there’s something extra special about a video game remake. Being able to revisit a beloved video game of yesteryear with modern revamped graphics and mechanics is always exciting, especially because it often introduces classic series to brand new audiences.
To that end, here are our picks for the top 10 remakes of all time.
10. Shadow of the Colossus
Shadow of the Colossus was a landmark achievement when it hit the PS2 in 2005. Team ICO built a lonely, desolate, deeply affecting world on some incredibly limited hardware, and while the core game stands the test of time, its technical performance and visual clarity were clearly held back.
Fast-forward 13 years and Bluepoint Games, which previously remastered both ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, got its hands on the remake and completely modernized it. With a much steadier framerate, gorgeous graphics, and a commitment to keeping the soul of the original intact, Bluepoint hit it out of the park enough to get the chance to remake Demon’s Souls, and eventually be acquired by PlayStation.
Read our review of Shadow of the Colossus.
9. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2
If you’re nostalgic for the original releases from over 20 years ago or just looking for an action sports game that's as fun as it's engaging, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is a recreation of the original skateboarding title that not only stays true to the originals but also adds in just enough new content to make the game feel fresh and new. The updated visuals bring the larger-than-life skateparks, pro skaters, and their gravity-defying tricks a level of visual fidelity and detail that makes every two-minute run more engaging than the last.
The skating still feels as good as it did back on the PS1 and the game's now legendary soundtrack is back in all its glory. Whether you’re looking to recapture the glory days of searching for those hidden 411VM tapes or grinding across school lunch tables as Officer Dick, you're bound to find something you'll love in this remake – and will be singing the chorus to Superman in no time.
Read our review of Tony Haw's Pro Skater 1 + 2.
8. Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver
Pokemon Gold and Silver, though only the second in the long-running Pokemon RPG series, are the only entries that allowed players to travel across two different regions and collect 16 badges instead of the standard eight. That meant two "end-game" challenges to conquer, two sets of Legendary Pokemon to collect, 16 different gym leaders to defeat, and more. The enhanced Nintendo DS remakes bring the sprawling journey into full color and utilizes the superior hardware to seamlessly bring improved music, better UI, and WiFi capabilities. With the addition of new content like the National Dex, increasing the total Pokemon from 251 to 493, the grueling battle frontier, and everyone’s favorite, the Pokeathlon mini-games, there is so much more to explore.
More importantly, we are introduced to the Pokewalker, the original Pokemon Go, allowing us to take our favorite Pokemon outdoors and gain levels by walking around… or cheat by shaking the Pokewalker. Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver adds new life to the classic adventure, reimagining the original experience with fun and challenging additions to appeal to both new and returning fans.
Read our review of Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver.
7. Live A Live
Plenty of wonderful games are deserving of remakes, but none perhaps needed one as much as Live A Live, the 1994 Square Enix RPG that preceded Chrono Trigger and laid the groundwork for not only that title, but numerous beloved classics that followed. Live A Live’s unique structure, following seven characters from different eras through distinct vignettes, was groundbreaking both back in the day and once again in the 2022 remake, to say nothing of the ways in which it ultimately threads its themes and overarching narrative through its separate parts.
The 2022 remake gave Live A Live a desperately-needed makeover in gorgeous HD2D and reorchestrated its fantastic soundtrack, all while keeping its wonderful story intact in its first-ever localization outside of Japan. In a final flourish, Live A Live’s remake adds a small but massively impactful piece of new content in its final hours that throws its ending into a hopeful new light, and makes its emotional conclusion all the more powerful.
Read our review of Live a Live.
6. Half-Life Black Mesa
Half-Life Black Mesa is an interesting remake in that it's the rare example of a fan remake that was officially supported by the original developers. And it’s an exceedingly great thing that Valve never shut this one down, because Half-Life Black Mesa is hands-down the best way to experience one of the most important and landmark first-person-shooters in all of video games.
The only downside is that it spent so long in development that by the time it was officially released its updated looks were already dated, but as IGN’s Dan Stapleton says, “it still makes great use of the distinctively creepy atmosphere and excellent combat that left such a mark on this genre.”
Read our review of Half-LIfe Black Mesa.
5. Metroid: Zero Mission
The original Metroid for the NES was a groundbreaking game for the time, but when looked at through a modern lens, it’s hard to argue that it holds up. Fortunately, Metroid: Zero Mission exists. Rather than opting for a 100% faithful remake with a couple of modernization tweaks, Metroid: Zero Mission is instead a game rebuilt from the ground up that uses the original Metroid as more of a blueprint for its story and level design, while drawing and instead draws its gameplay inspirations from the more modern 2D Metroids, like Super Metroid and Metroid Fusion.
It’s an expertly crafted modernization of one of Nintendo’s best mascot series that still holds up to this day as not only one of the best Metroid games, but also one of the best remakes as well.
Read our review of Metroid: Zero Mission.
4. Resident Evil Remake
When it comes to faithful remakes that largely stick to the core gameplay and design established in the original and focus instead on bringing everything else up to modern standards, there aren’t many games that are better than the original Resident Evil Remake. The REmake adheres to everything that was intrinsic to the original game, from the pre-rendered backgrounds, to the tank controls, to the limited inventory that forces you to make tough decisions on what to keep and what to toss. But then it also adds several entirely new features that change up the experience and give it its own identity.
Whether it's the terrifying addition of Crimson Heads that force you to rethink whether it’s worth killing a zombie if you don’t have a way to set it on fire, or the brand-new plot thread involving Lisa Trevor, Resident Evil’s remake shines because not only was it a faithful remake that brought a PSOne classic into a modern light, but also because of the ways that it separated itself from that classic to become something even better.
Read our review of Resident Evil Remake.