Best Video Game Remakes and Remasters on PC and Consoles (Resident Evil 4, Dead Space, FF7 and More)

This console generation is often referred to as the generation of remakes — that's how frequently updated versions of classic games are being released. Sometimes, it even feels like they’re coming out more often than brand-new titles. As of today, there are well over a hundred remakes and remasters. But which ones truly stand out and are worth a gamer's attention? We've listed the best and most successful reimaginings of gaming classics in this article.

This section features projects that go beyond visual touch-ups and minor cosmetic improvements. Full-fledged remakes typically rebuild the original game from the ground up on modern technology, update controls, rework presentation, and sometimes expand familiar content with new scenes. If you want to experience classic games in their most up-to-date form, these reimaginings are the best place to start.

The original Resident Evil 4 is widely regarded as one of the most influential action-adventure games of all time, having popularized the over-the-shoulder camera view. The 2023 remake Resident Evil 4 doesn’t revolutionize the formula, but it enhances every aspect so thoroughly that it’s hard to go back to the original afterward. The tone is more serious, the combat deeper with parry mechanics, and the game’s length has increased thanks to new scenes and areas.

Bluepoint Games has rightfully earned the title of "remaster masters." The Demon's Souls remake is their most stunning achievement. They took FromSoftware’s first soulslike game and transformed it into a breathtaking PS5 showcase. Even five years after release, it still looks better than 90% of Sony’s current-gen titles.

A unique project that began as a fan mod and was later officially endorsed by Valve. Black Mesa is a remake of the original Half-Life and the best way to experience the iconic shooter today. It boasts improved visuals, more dynamic gunfights, and an energetic electronic soundtrack worthy of nightclub rotation.

One of the most successful and influential remakes of modern times. With the release of the Resident Evil 2 remake in 2019, Capcom opened Pandora’s box, inspiring other studios to follow suit. Its success lies in top-notch quality: the game delivers a moody atmosphere, perfectly balancing modern design with classic Resident Evil elements.

The Dead Space remake was influenced by RE2, but EA Motive took a different approach. While RE2 makes major gameplay changes, Dead Space stays faithful to the original. New content supplements rather than replaces what came before — like additional rooms on the USG Ishimura and seamless transitions between areas without loading screens.

Another project that wouldn’t exist without RE2’s success. The Silent Hill 2 remake features RE-style gameplay but emphasizes puzzles and melee combat. Most importantly, it faithfully captures the atmosphere of the classic and retells its masterpiece narrative for a modern audience.

Some gamers believe remakes should stick closely to the original. Others prefer surprises. If you're in the latter camp, Final Fantasy 7 Remake will impress. It boldly reimagines the '90s JRPG classic as both a remake and a direct sequel. Fans didn’t see it coming — but embraced the twist.

Like the Demon's Souls remake, Shadow of the Colossus (2018) blurs the line between remake and remaster. Built on an entirely new engine, its gameplay is mostly unchanged. But that’s beside the point — the important thing is that this beloved classic is now fully playable on modern PlayStation systems.

This is a case where the original was too dated for a mere "cosmetic update." Thankfully, the System Shock remake delivers. Combat is now modern, the interface and inventory are user-friendly, and the game retains its signature hardcore difficulty.

Critics and fans agree that the Ratchet & Clank (2016) remake is far superior to the animated film released the same year. The story is told better, characters are more developed, and — perhaps most surprisingly — many believe the game’s visuals outshine the movie’s CGI. That’s high praise for the dev team.

Sony often gets teased for rushing to re-release fairly recent games. But when it comes to the remake of The Last of Us Part 1, the move feels justified. Not only does the new version look significantly better, it also allows PC players to finally experience the title.

Among fans, the original Mafia is often considered the best in the series. Mafia: Definitive Edition is a faithful remake built from the ground up in the Mafia 3 engine. It brings improved graphics and revamped shooting, driving, and stealth mechanics.

Remasters usually take a more careful approach than remakes: they improve resolution, textures, lighting, UI, and performance without altering the core structure of the game. This makes them the best option for those who want “that classic experience,” but without outdated technical limitations. This section features re-releases that are especially well-suited for revisiting favorite games or experiencing them for the first time.

A remaster of the original Resident Evil remake. Despite its fixed-camera angles — considered outdated by some — Resident Evil HD Remaster is genuinely scary. In fact, the fixed angles may enhance the fear factor, preventing players from seeing what lurks around the corner.

Under the hood, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered still runs on the classic Gamebryo engine, but Unreal Engine 5 handles the visuals. The result? A remaster that feels like the same beloved Oblivion — only now it looks like a modern AAA blockbuster.

Another careful remaster, Metroid Prime Remastered was rebuilt in a new engine but kept gameplay changes minimal. Aside from updated controls, nearly everything is intact. And that’s a good thing — Metroid Prime was ahead of its time and didn’t need drastic overhauls.

If a remaster makes you think "this looks exactly like I remember it," the devs have nailed the essence of the original. Diablo 2: Resurrected gives that exact feeling, even though its visuals are far superior to the classic version.

Another RTS classic, faithfully remastered. StarCraft: Remastered preserves the art style while enhancing detail and adding support for modern resolutions and widescreen displays. Players can switch between the old and new graphics on the fly.

The most successful re-release of Dead Rising to date. The game was rebuilt in RE Engine with upgraded textures, models, and lighting. Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster also features gameplay improvements such as moving while shooting, better AI companions, and a revamped interface.

A fan-favorite historical RTS, now enhanced with 4K visuals, redrawn units and buildings, and a slew of quality-of-life features. Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition includes all original campaigns and expansions, plus new scenarios and civilizations.

Alan Wake Remastered offers visual upgrades that, while expected, are still satisfying. It's also the first time PlayStation and Nintendo players can experience the chilling tale of a writer trapped in a nightmare inspired by his own works.

One of the most ported games ever, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Special Edition stands out as the best version. It includes all expansions, runs smoothly on 64-bit systems with DirectX 11, and looks noticeably better than the original — even if it can’t quite match the new Oblivion remaster.

Despite being over two decades old, the original Rome: Total War remains one of the best entries in the franchise. Rome Remastered modernizes the classic with updated graphics, a new interface with helpful tips, and refined battle controls.

A separate category consists of collections that let you play through several key entries in a series within a single release. These are often the most convenient option for newcomers and a great way to return to a favorite franchise without hunting for old discs, versions, or patches. Such collections are especially valuable when developers don’t just bundle the original games together, but properly adapt them for modern platforms.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition brings the acclaimed trilogy to modern systems. Of the three, the first game needed the most work, and BioWare upgraded it significantly to bring its gameplay closer to the sequels' standard.

A long-awaited revival of the original Command & Conquer (1995) and Red Alert. Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection retains the charm of the originals while adding 4K support, reworked music and videos, and new features like a Skirmish mode.

The Master Chief Collection includes the stellar Halo 2: Anniversary remaster, which offers fully overhauled graphics with instant switching to the original visuals, cinematic cutscenes from Blur Studio, a re-recorded soundtrack, and extra content.

A remake collection of the first three Crash Bandicoot games. Initially exclusive to PS4, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is now available on all major platforms. Levels remain unchanged, but visuals, music, and animations were fully overhauled. The developer Vicarious Visions later became Blizzard Albany and developed Diablo 2: Resurrected.

Before becoming Blizzard Albany, Vicarious Visions developed the remake of the first two Tony Hawk's Pro Skater titles. Using Unreal Engine 4, they made the games more accessible for newcomers with features like manual and autosave.

Another remake collection — this time of the beloved Spyro platformer trilogy. Spyro Reignited Trilogy was rebuilt using Unreal Engine 4 and modernized with features like full right-stick camera control for a much smoother gameplay experience.

Crysis Remastered Trilogy brings one of the most graphically advanced franchises to modern platforms with improved textures, lighting, and ray tracing effects. The original Crysis benefits the most from the overhaul.

The Nathan Drake Collection includes enhanced versions of the first three Uncharted games, running at 1080p and 60 FPS on PS4. Improved textures and character models modernize the visuals, and reworked mechanics make the oldest entry feel far more responsive — though sadly, the collection remains a PlayStation exclusive.

In simple terms, a remake is a full reimagining of an older game, often rebuilt almost from scratch on a modern technical foundation. A remaster, on the other hand, usually preserves the original structure but improves visuals, UI, performance, and compatibility with modern platforms — including current PCs and consoles.

If you’re looking for the most modern experience, it’s best to start with Resident Evil 2, Dead Space, Resident Evil 4, or Mafia: Definitive Edition — all of which perform отлично on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series. These games show how classic titles can be updated to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers.

It depends on the specific game. In some cases, a remake almost completely replaces the original in terms of convenience and improvements (for example, the remakes of Resident Evil and Dead Space). In others, the original still holds value due to its atmosphere, pacing, or unique design (Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4). The best re-releases don’t replace the classics, but offer an alternative way to experience them on modern systems.

For first-time players, collections and updated versions of classic hits work especially well: Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, and Spyro Reignited Trilogy. These allow you to experience important games from previous generations on modern PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch without unnecessary friction.

If you’re specifically looking for horror remakes, start with Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 4, Dead Space, Silent Hill 2, and The Last of Us Part 1. These titles significantly improve visuals and controls while preserving the tense atmosphere of the originals.

Yes, quite a few. On modest hardware, it’s easier to run Resident Evil HD Remaster, StarCraft: Remastered, Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection, Diablo 2: Resurrected, and many classic collections. More demanding titles like Silent Hill 2, Dead Space, or Oblivion Remastered will require a stronger system. If you’re looking for more games for budget hardware, check out our best games for low-end PCs and laptops.

Not necessarily. Many remasters and remakes go on sale fairly quickly, and some eventually appear in subscription services on PC and consoles. However, if it’s a long-awaited return of a favorite game, buying it at launch is entirely understandable.

Tell us in the comments which classic games you’d most like to see reimagined.

Remakes and remasters have long outgrown being just a way to cash in on nostalgia. At their best, they preserve important games for a new audience, adapt classics for modern platforms, and bring them the attention they deserve. That’s why re-releases now play such a prominent role in the industry — sometimes they don’t just refresh a familiar hit, but effectively give it a second life.

New remasters and remakes are announced almost every week, so this is a topic worth revisiting in the future. If you’re interested not only in updated classics but also in major modern releases with great graphics, check out our lists of the most beautiful ray tracing games and the top 10 best-looking games of 2025.