Summary

  • Remakes in the video game industry offer updated visuals & mechanics without losing the essence of the originals.
  • Titles like Dead Space, X-COM: Enemy Unknown, & Demon's Souls see significant improvements in quality and gameplay.
  • Developers skillfully enhance visuals, smooth out gameplay, & maintain core experiences in remakes like Resident Evil 2.

Remakes have become commonplace in the video game industry, and several are released every year. And unlike movies, that isn't such a bad thing because some of the remakes are actually really good.

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More importantly, they're sometimes needed, as plenty of older games are hard to play if you've become used to modern titles. Plus, some can be tricky to get ahold of, as can the systems you play them on. A good remake updates the visuals and mechanics of the original game without taking away the things that made it great. The following PlayStation titles certainly fit that description.

The remakes in this list have been selected because of their overall quality and how much they improve on the originals they're based on.

8 Dead Space

Dead Space (2023)

Survival Horror 10.0/10 Released January 27, 2023 ESRB Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence. Developer(s) EA Motive Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Engine Frostbite Platform(s) Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, PlayStation 5 Powered by Expand Collapse

Dead Space is one of those games that didn't seem to need a remake. The original game was released in 2008 and doesn't really feel dated. As such, when the 2023 version was coming out, you could've been forgiven for not expecting much. However, the developers did make a bunch of changes and improvements.

Naturally, the visuals are better, but it doesn't just make it nicer to look at. The improved lighting and more detailed monsters arguably make the game scarier, which is exactly what you want from a horror title. Also, the protagonist, Issac Clarke, actually speaks now, which gives him more personality and helps with the title's storytelling. There have also been various quality-of-life improvements that make the game more enjoyable to play.

7 X-COM: Enemy Unknown

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Turn-Based Strategy Action Tactical Strategy Released October 9, 2012 ESRB e Developer(s) Firaxis Games, 2K Games, Feral Interactive Publisher(s) Firaxis Games Engine unity Platform(s) Android, Linux, iOS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PS Vita Powered by Expand Collapse

It's easy to forget that the turn-based tactics title XCOM: Enemy Within is a remake. This is because the original game, X-COM: UFO Defense, came out way back in 1994. As they were released 18 years apart, there is quite a difference between the two games.

Of course, the visuals are significantly improved. While you wouldn't say that The Enemy Within has the most realistic graphics ever, it still looks far more real than the 1994 title. Plus, the turn-based combat is much smoother and feels better to play. Yet, a lot of the game's best ideas come from that original title, so it isn't a complete departure.

6 Demon’s Souls

Demon's Souls

RPG Released November 12, 2020 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence Developer(s) Bluepoint Games Publisher(s) Sony Engine Proprietary Engine Platform(s) PlayStation 5 Powered by Expand Collapse

The original Demon's Souls turned out to be a very important game as it helped create the Souls-like genre. Yet, once the genre reached its peak, Demon's Souls started to feel a little outdated compared to more contemporary Souls-like titles.

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Thankfully, 2020 saw the release of the Demon's Souls remake, which includes a slew of quality-of-life changes, making it much more enjoyable to play while still maintaining the extremely hard difficulty the game is known for. The visuals have also been updated, resulting in some stunning environments and character models. It's truly the best version of the game.

5 Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yakuza Kiwami 2

Action Adventure Beat 'Em Up Released August 28, 2018 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol Developer(s) Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Publisher(s) Sega Engine Dragon Engine Platform(s) PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

Most of the Yakuza games are exceptional, but it's fair to say that the first few are a bit rough around the edges. So, it's nice that the world has been treated to some remakes, including Kiwami 2, which is a remake of the second game in the series.

It's better than the original Yakuza 2 in pretty much every way. This is because most of the changes are technical upgrades. It's far smoother to play, and the visuals are much more impressive. The developers didn't fiddle with the story too much, though, which is a good thing, as the narrative was already stellar. Overall, it's an excellent action-adventure brawler.

4 Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Platformer Released November 13, 2018 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief Developer(s) Toys for Bob Publisher(s) Activision Engine Unreal Engine 4 Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC Powered by Expand Collapse

Sometimes, a remake doesn't have to change a lot to be considered great. This is the case with the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, as it doesn't change too much about the gameplay of the original three games. You are still flying around as a little purple dragon, collecting things.

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However, both the dragon and the area he's roaming around look significantly better. Not only are the colors brighter and the edges smoother, but there is a lot more detail, too. For example, grass isn't just a flat surface anymore; some bits of grass stick up, and there are more flowers around. Another positive of the remake is that it contains three games in one, making it good value for money.

3 Shadow Of The Colossus

2005's Shadow of the Colossus is one of PlayStation's most incredible exclusives. The same could be said for the 2018 remake of the game. It rides the line between remake and remaster, as it doesn't change a huge amount about the original title. That said, it does make some important alterations.

One of the best parts of the original game is riding through the title's vast open areas. This is even more enjoyable in the 2018 version due to the improved visuals that make each area look far more stunning. The same can be said about all the beasts you slay during the adventure. They looked decent in the original, but they're far more beautiful and detailed in the remake. On top of improved visuals, climbing up the magnificent beast feels much better due to the improved performance and controls.

2 Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Fighting Action Adventure Released April 10, 2020 ESRB t Developer(s) Square Enix Publisher(s) Square Enix Engine Unreal Engine 4 Platform(s) PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 Powered by Expand Collapse

Technically, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake is only a remake of part of the original Final Fantasy 7, as it has been split into multiple games. Yet, the developers skillfully managed to make it feel like a full adventure instead of just a 'part one.' They managed this by mixing up the narrative a bit and adding extra scenes.

While the original title already had a good story, the remake is more cinematic due to the inclusion of longer cutscenes and voice acting. The heavily improved visuals help with this, too. The combat has also been overhauled, moving from a turn-based system to a real-time action one. All of this results in a game that doesn't feel dated at all and is one of the best RPGs in recent memory.

1 Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 2

Horror Released January 25, 2019 ESRB M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Intense Violence Developer(s) Capcom Publisher(s) Capcom Engine RE Engine Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand Collapse

The Resident Evil series is becoming known for delivering excellent video game remakes. The best of them, though, is Resident Evil 2. The original title came out way back in 1998, while the remake was released in 2019. Therefore, Capcom had to update the game significantly, both visually and mechanically.

The developers managed to do so without ruining the core experience. In fact, the result is one of the best RE games in recent history, as it manages to juggle horror and action better than most of the recent entries in the series. Plus, the inclusion of the towering Mr. X in all playthroughs - something that didn't happen in the original - was a stroke of genius, as it added more tension and horror to the experience.

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