The closing release of the Silent Hill 2 remake is a good chance to talk about great new versions of classic titles. Here is our list of video game remakes you absolutely should play.
System Shock
- Original game’s release year: 1994
- Remake’s release date: May 30, 2023 – PC; May 21, 2024 – PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X
System Shock is a groundbreaking first-person action-adventure game originally released in 1994. Set aboard the Citadel Station, players take on the role of a young, nameless hacker who must thwart the plans of SHODAN, a malevolent artificial intelligence. Praised for its deep, immersive storyline and intricate level design, System Shock integrates hacking mechanics, exploration, and combat in a cyberpunk setting. The innovative interface and sophisticated AI opponents set new standards for interactive storytelling, earning it widespread critical acclaim and a cult following.
The long-awaited System Shock remake was developed by Nightdive Studios. It revitalizes the original experience with modern enhancements while preserving the core elements that made the game a classic. Some may imply that dated mechanics are still present in the game. However, it allowed for faithfully recreating the original’s gripping narrative and gameplay, thus making the remake the ultimate way to play System Shock today. Moreover, we’re probably at the top of AI popularity, which makes fighting SHODAN even more intriguing.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director’s Cut
- Original game’s release year: 1996
- Remake’s release date: March 2009 – Wii, Nintendo DS; January 2010 – iOS; September 2010 – PC; June 2012 – Andoird; June 2013 – Linux.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars is an iconic point-and-click adventure game created by Charles Cecil and his colleagues at Revolution Software. The game follows George Stobbart, an American tourist in Paris, who becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving the Knights Templar. The game offers a compelling story, memorable characters, and intricate puzzles. The distinctive hand-drawn art style and atmospheric soundtrack also played their part in Broken Sword’s success.
Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – The Director’s Cut fully utilized the capabilities of mobile devices and touchscreens, which revived the point-and-click genre. Playing it on PC is a great experience, too, as it not only recreates everything players loved about the original but also adds tons of new content. Fans enjoyed an extended storyline, including new puzzles and a second playable character, Nico Collard, George’s investigative companion. Enhanced graphics make the game more accessible to contemporary audiences. Moreover, the inclusion of a hint system helps players navigate challenging puzzles without detracting from the overall experience. The remake also fixed the infamous goat puzzle, on which legions of players stacked for hours.
Tomb Raider: Anniversary
- Original game’s release year: 1996
- Remake’s release date: June 1, 2007
Tomb Raider, first released in 1996, introduced players to the adventurous world of Lara Croft, an intrepid archaeologist navigating ancient tombs and uncovering lost artifacts. The game quickly became a landmark title due to its innovative blend of action, exploration, and puzzle-solving within 3D environments. Players were captivated by its intricate level design, challenging acrobatics, and combat mechanics, which combined to create a deeply immersive experience. Critical acclaim followed, praising the game’s pioneering use of 3D graphics and its strong, memorable protagonist, establishing Tomb Raider as a defining moment in gaming history.
Tomb Raider: Anniversary Edition reimagines the original with the gameplay changed to fit newer standards. Enhanced gameplay mechanics, including refined controls and updated combat systems, ensure a smoother and more intuitive experience. Additionally, the Anniversary Edition includes expanded levels and redesigned puzzles. It also changed the outdated tank control. Like in the original, Lara is solving the mystery behind the Scion of Atlantis, but the story was slightly modified to fit the storyline started by Tomb Raider Legend and later concluded in Tomb Raider Underworld.
Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty!
- Original games’ release years: 1997
- Remake’s release date: July 22, 2014 – PS4; February 25, 2015 – Linux, Windows, OSX; March 27, 2015 – Xbox One; April 21, 2015 – PS3; January 19, 2016 – PS Vita; February 11, 2016 – Wii U; December 14, 2017 – Android, iOS; October 27, 2020 – Nintendo Switch
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee is a unique platformer that captivates players with its imaginative world and compelling narrative. The game follows the story of Abe, a Mudokon slave working at RuptureFarms, who discovers a horrifying plan to turn his kind into meat products. Determined to save his fellow Mudokons, Abe embarks on a perilous journey filled with challenging puzzles, stealth-based gameplay, and intricate platforming. The game was lauded for its dark yet humorous storyline, innovative gameplay mechanics, and distinctive visual style, earning high praise and a dedicated fan following.
The remake, Oddworld: New ‘n’ Tasty!, revitalizes the original with a comprehensive overhaul, delivering a visually stunning and more polished experience. The environments are rendered in beautiful detail, breathing new life into the darkly whimsical world of Oddworld. Enhanced controls and smoother animations make the gameplay more fluid and accessible, while the addition of dynamic lighting and improved sound design further immerse players in Abe’s adventure.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
- Original games’ release years: 1997
- Remake’s release date: April 10, 2020 – PS4; June 10, 2021 – PS5; December 16, 2021 – PC
Final Fantasy VII, first released for the PlayStation, is a landmark title in the RPG genre that captivated players with its epic story, engaging characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics. The game follows Cloud Strife, a former soldier turned mercenary, as he joins the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE in their fight against the corrupt megacorporation Shinra and the enigmatic antagonist Sephiroth. With its rich narrative, memorable characters, and a mix of real-time and turn-based combat, Final Fantasy VII set standards for storytelling and gameplay in RPGs. Its stunning pre-rendered backgrounds and full-motion video sequences were groundbreaking.
Final Fantasy VII Remake reimagines the original. It boasts breathtakingly realistic graphics, detailed character models, and expansive, fully explorable environments that breathe new life into the world of Midgar. The combat system has been overhauled to blend real-time action with strategic command-based elements, allowing players to switch between characters and execute a variety of attacks, spells, and abilities dynamically. Enhanced character development and expanded storylines provide deeper insights into the game’s beloved characters and lore, while the inclusion of voice acting adds an emotional depth to the narrative. The changes and addition of new content led to dividing the story into three games: Final Fantasy VII Remake, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, released in 2024, and the upcoming third installment.
Resident Evil 2
- Original game’s release year: 1998
- Remake’s release date: January 25, 2019 – PS4, PC, Xbox One; June 13, 2022 – PS5, Xbox Series X|S; November 11, 2022 – Nintendo Switch.
Capcom really understands how to revive its classic titles, so all Resident Evil remakes are exceptional and can be on this list. To avoid spamming the ranking with zombies, I chose Resident Evil 2 as a representative of the series. It originally came out in 1998. The game is set shortly after the events covered by the first Resident Evil. Players travel to the zombie-infested Raccoon City to follow rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield as they struggle to survive the outbreak caused by the Umbrella Corporation. The game’s dual-character storyline, which allowed players to experience intertwining narratives from different perspectives, alongside its cinematic cutscenes and tension-filled gameplay, earned it critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. However, some elements, such as the tank controls, are hardly bearable for today’s gamers.
Therefore, it was one of the elements changed in the remake that premiered in 2019. The shift to an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective enhances immersion, while updated controls and mechanics make combat and exploration more player-friendly. The remake also introduces expanded environments and reimagined puzzles. Enhanced audio design heightens the fear factor, enveloping players in a richly atmospheric soundscape. These updates ensure that Resident Evil 2 not only honors the legacy of the original but elevates it to new heights.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
- Original games’ release years: 1999 (THPS) and 2000 (THPS2)
- Remake’s release date: September 4, 2020
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2, originally released in 1999 and 2000, respectively, revolutionized the sports gaming genre with their exhilarating gameplay and representation of skateboarding culture. The games allowed players to perform gravity-defying tricks and combos in a variety of intricately designed skateparks, all set to a high-energy soundtrack that became iconic in its own right. These titles were praised for their tight controls, fluid animation, and the sheer joy of chaining together massive trick sequences.
The first attempt to give the games a new life, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD, wasn’t particularly successful. Fortunately, the full remake, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, revitalizes these legendary games properly. It uses most content from the originals but uses stunningly updated graphics, bringing the classic skateboarding experience to life for a new generation. Players can enjoy the same beloved levels and skaters with enhanced visuals, including detailed textures and lifelike animations. Additionally, the game introduces online multiplayer modes and a robust create-a-park feature, allowing for endless customization and community engagement. The roster was enhanced with some younger pro skaters. Unfortunately, Spider-Man, who was a guest character in THPS2, couldn’t appear in the remake due to license issues.
Mafia: Definitive Edition
- Original game’s release year: 2002
- Remake’s release date: September 20, 2020
Mafia is a classic action-adventure game first released in 2002, drawing players into the gritty underworld of organized crime in the 1930s. The game follows the journey of Tommy Angelo, a taxi driver who gets entangled with the Salieri crime family, navigating a world of betrayal, violence, and loyalty. Mafia is celebrated for its compelling narrative, authentic period atmosphere, and realistic gameplay mechanics that blend driving, shooting, and exploration. The game’s meticulous attention to detail in its depiction of a sprawling city, along with its evocative soundtrack and strong voice acting, garnered widespread acclaim and a dedicated fanbase.
The remake, Mafia: Definitive Edition, revitalizes the original with a complete overhaul, bringing the story and characters to life with great graphics and modern technology. The game features meticulously recreated environments, enhanced character models, and improved lighting effects that elevate the visual experience. Updated gameplay mechanics, including more refined controls and smoother combat sequences, make the game more accessible and engaging for contemporary players. The driving mechanics is also improved in the Definitive Edition. As a result, the race sequence is far easier to complete. In addition, the remake introduces expanded dialogues and cutscenes, enriching the narrative depth and emotional impact of Tommy’s story. If you like Martin Scorsese’s movies, Mafia: Definitive Edition is a must-play for you!
Demon’s Souls
- Original games’ release years: 2009
- Remake’s release date: November 12, 2020
Demon’s Souls, originally released in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, became a landmark title in the action RPG genre with its challenging gameplay and atmospheric storytelling. Set in the dark and foreboding kingdom of Boletaria, players take on the role of a lone hero tasked with defeating powerful demons and restoring order to the land. The game was renowned for its punishing difficulty, intricate level design, and deep combat mechanics, which demanded precision and strategy from players. It introduced an innovative online multiplayer system where players could leave messages, assist, or hinder each other, adding a unique dimension to the gameplay. Demon’s Souls’ success led to the development of Dark Souls and was an essential step for the Soulslike genre.
The remake, released for the PlayStation 5, elevates the original experience with a complete graphical overhaul and modern enhancements. The remake features stunningly detailed environments, creating an even more immersive and visually striking experience. The gameplay remains faithful to the original but with refined controls, smoother performance, and numerous minor yet welcome changes. Additionally, the remake includes enhancements such as 3D audio, which adds depth to the atmospheric soundscape, and the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback, enhancing the tactile sensations of the game.
Subnautica 2: Everything you should know about the game
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