Some video game remakes preserve a classic almost beat for beat; others change how it plays, add substantial new material, or rebuild it from the ground up. These ten examples show why “remake” has no single industry-wide definition—and why the most useful question is what a new version changes and what it keeps.
What makes a remake different from a remaster?
The labels overlap. A remaster generally suggests an enhanced presentation of an existing game, while a remake may rebuild assets or revise gameplay and structure. But publishers and players do not apply the terms consistently, and some projects sit between them. The ten games below are an editorial selection, not a ranking or an exhaustive list.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE | $31.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Gothic 1 Remake - PlayStation 5 | $42.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Final Fantasy VII Remake: Material Ultimania | $20.26 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE - Nintendo Switch 2 (Standard Edition) | $24.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Resident Evil 4 - PS4 | $19.93 | Buy on Amazon |
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A practical way to compare them is to look at four things: how much of the original structure remains, whether the mechanics change, how much new material is added, and how extensively the presentation is rebuilt.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesTen games that reinvented classics
1. Super Mario All-Stars (1993): familiar games with a new look
This SNES collection redraws Super Mario Bros., The Lost Levels, Super Mario Bros. 2, and Super Mario Bros. 3 with updated sprite art and sound. The underlying games remain recognizable, though movement and momentum feel subtly different. Since it remakes several games in one collection rather than one individual title, it is a slight exception to the list’s framing.
#1 Best Overall
- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: "Graphics Mode" prioritizes 4K high-resolution graphics; "Performance Mode" prioritizes smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customizable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
- Play the brand-new episode featuring Yuffie and experience new combat and gameplay additions
2. Metroid: Zero Mission (2004): a new final act for a classic
Metroid: Zero Mission remakes the 1986 NES original for Game Boy Advance, revisiting its map design, pacing, controls, and atmosphere. It also extends the adventure with a final act involving a Space Pirate mothership, making this more than a presentation update.
3. Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! (2018): a different catching loop
These games rework the classic Pokémon journey with a catching system that draws on Pokémon GO. Pokémon appear in the overworld, and capture can use motion controls. That shift in the central activity makes the games feel more like reimaginings than straightforward remakes.
Rank #2
- Return to The Colony, in a full blown remake of the popular and revolutionary game Gothic from 2001. Rediscover the world of the mining colony, its secrets and challenges
- Play as the Nameless Hero – Manage the fate of a lifetime convicted prisoner who must survive in a world of wild animals, creatures and convicts of dangerous reputation
- Faithful full remake of the original Gothic 1
- Modernized combat system that takes the basic premises of the original combat system to the modern age
4. Shadow of the Colossus (2018): a rebuilt world
The PlayStation 4 version rebuilds every asset, giving the sixteen colossi greater visual detail. That fuller presentation has also prompted discussion about whether the new version preserves the original’s atmosphere. It illustrates how a technical rebuild can change the feel of a game even when its core adventure remains the point.
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5. Resident Evil 2 (2019): a new camera, a different kind of tension
The original’s fixed camera angles give way to an over-the-shoulder view, changing how players navigate and respond to danger. Mr. X’s pursuit is a standout source of pressure. The camera shift is a major mechanical and experiential change, not simply a visual refresh.
Rank #3
6. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (2019): the same adventure in a new presentation
This remake keeps the original’s dungeons, puzzles, and overworld while substantially changing its visual and audio presentation. Its diorama-like look gives the familiar adventure a distinct new appearance without restructuring its core journey.
7. Demon’s Souls (2020): rebuilt environments, familiar severity
The PlayStation 5 remake rebuilds the environments while retaining the original’s World Tendency system and punishing encounters. It demonstrates that a remake can make substantial presentation changes yet preserve defining systems and difficulty.
Rank #4
- The award-winning FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE* retells the original story up to the escape from Midgar, with breathtaking visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and additional story elements. This RPG delivers unforgettable characters, a powerful narrative, and a hybrid battle system that blends real-time action with strategic, command-based combat. It also includes FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, a side story starring Yuffie Kisaragi that offers a fresh perspective running in parallel to Cloud’s journey.
- STUNNING VISUALS - Explore Midgar like never before with stunning visuals and richly detailed environments that bring the city’s layered, industrial districts to life, all while staying true to the spirit of the original game.
- DYNAMIC COMBAT WITH STRATEGIC DEPTH -The innovative battle system combines strategic command-based gameplay with fast-paced action. Seamlessly switch between characters, harness the power of materia, summon iconic creatures, and unleash devastating limit breaks.
- ICONIC CHARACTERS, UNFORGETTABLE STORY - Follow Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary, as he joins Avalanche to take on the Shinra Electric Power Company. Cloud and his allies Barret, Tifa, and Aerith are pulled into a battle that will decide the fate of the planet.
- EXPANDED CONTENT - FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE offers quests, mini-games, and missions set in expanded areas of Midgar. Encounter new characters and experience exciting content that adds even more depth to the story.
8. Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020–2027): one classic expanded into a multi-part project
The remake project expands the scope of a single original game across multiple parts. Its combat combines real-time action with strategy associated with the original’s ATB system. That combination changes how battles unfold while keeping a link to the older game’s tactical identity.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →9. Mafia: Definitive Edition (2020): a broad reconstruction
Mafia: Definitive Edition rebuilds Lost Heaven and brings a new script, voice cast, and engine to the story. It also reworks the mission structure, making this a wider reconstruction than a simple visual upgrade.
Best Value
- Reawaken a Classic – Resident Evil 4 preserves the essence of the original game, now reconstructed using Capcom’s proprietary RE Engine to deliver realistic visuals and additional narrative depth to the iconic story that was not possible at the time of the original release.
- Modernized Gameplay – The team from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 returns to build upon the series’ modern approach to survival horror. Engage in frenzied combat with the Ganados villagers, explore a European village gripped by madness, and solve puzzles to access new areas and collect useful items for Leon and Ashley’s constant struggle to survive.
- Overwhelming Hordes – Face hordes of rabid enemies that threaten to overwhelm Leon with even more diverse methods of attack than in the original release.
- Survive on a Knife’s Edge – Years of intense training have taught Leon new ways to use his knife, helping to even the odds against the unrelenting onslaught of enemies. By parrying enemy attacks, you can avoid debilitating damage and evade lunging enemies seeking to grab Leon and hold him in place. Make smart use of scavenged knives to deliver precise finishing moves on vulnerable enemies, and even use the element of surprise to quietly dispatch unsuspecting foes before they break.
- Reimagined Story – Resident Evil 4 dials up the original release’s key feelings of loneliness and the fear of enemies blinded by zealotry, while providing more nuanced depictions of the character motivations and relationships that defined the 2005 survival horror icon.
10. Dead Space (2023): horror shaped by pacing and sound
The remake emphasizes pacing and sound, and it lets players explore continuously without camera cuts or loading screens. It also adds a limb-dismemberment mechanic called “Peeling.” These changes affect both the atmosphere and the moment-to-moment combat.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the examples differ
| Game | What it mainly preserves | What it changes or adds |
|---|---|---|
| Super Mario All-Stars | The four games’ recognizable core | Sprite art, sound, and subtle movement and momentum differences |
| Metroid: Zero Mission | The original adventure as its foundation | Map, pacing, controls, atmosphere, and a new final act |
| Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! | The classic Pokémon journey | A Pokémon GO-influenced catching loop, visible overworld Pokémon, and motion-controlled capture |
| Shadow of the Colossus | The adventure centered on sixteen colossi | Every asset rebuilt for the PlayStation 4 version |
| Resident Evil 2 | The horror adventure and its threat | Fixed cameras replaced by an over-the-shoulder view; Mr. X’s pursuit stands out |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Dungeons, puzzles, and overworld | Visual and audio presentation |
| Demon’s Souls | World Tendency and punishing encounters | Rebuilt environments |
| Final Fantasy VII Remake | A connection to the original’s ATB strategy | A multi-part expansion and hybrid action-strategy combat |
| Mafia: Definitive Edition | The story set in Lost Heaven | New script, voice cast, engine, city version, and mission structure |
| Dead Space | The survival-horror foundation | Pacing, sound, continuous exploration, and Peeling |
Other notable remake and revival projects
Other examples worth exploring include Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, Gears of War: Reloaded, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, Star Fox, and Yakuza Kiwami. They broaden the range of ways older games can return, from visual refreshes to more extensive reworks.
Sources and scope
This selection follows Daniel New’s feature for Thumbsticks, published 10 September 2026: “Remake/Remodel: 10 video games that reinvented the classics”. The feature is qualitative and does not establish a definitive ranking or a universal definition of remake. Release and platform details that can change over time should be checked against current official listings.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
