The 7 Best Video Game Remakes and Remasters of 2024

There’s a reason why so many of us get the same thing every time we go to a restaurant or watch a movie we could watch dozens of times.

Sometimes the comfort of a known quantity increases the pleasure of it. Sometimes we did that too too many remakes and remasters, but that just means there’s comfort food for everyone. Right?

This year’s release calendar was no different, with a stack of remakes and remasters available, ranging from a simple textural overhaul to a complete, thorough philosophical rethinking of the original. These are our favorites from 2024.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PlayStation 5, coming to PC)

Of everything on this list, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the deepest.

This game is a remake in the true sense of the word. The team at Square Enix has greatly expanded the story, ideas and visuals, rather than just giving us the same game with updated graphics.

You’ll want to start with Final Fantasy VII Remake, which was released in 2020, but whether you’re an old-school fan or new to Japanese RPGs, this is one of the biggest and flashiest out there.

Riven (macOS, Meta Quest, PC)

There’s nothing like the Myst series.

These games helped popularize the CD-ROM in the 1990s, and they still contain some of the most complex, mind-boggling puzzles around.

This remake modernizes the graphics and changes up the puzzles so it feels as stunning and fresh as ever. The game also has a detailed notebook feature that allows you to keep track of what you know in the game, so you don’t have to keep a notepad and pen next to your computer.

Dead Rising: Deluxe Remaster (PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)

Dead Rising can be stressful; you have three in-game days to accomplish everything you can and finish the story, and there’s no way to do everything in that time unless you’re a full-time speedrunner.

This remake takes the legendary zombie game and upgrades it in almost every way possible. The visuals are a huge step forward.

You can move and aim at the same time. Survivors are smarter. The game is automatically saved at important moments. Your hands are not needed for telephone conversations. In other words, this remaster preserves the essence of Dead Rising while making it less stressful and more accessible.

Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake (Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)

The name is so crazy that it’s hard to take the game seriously, but it does mean something. This game uses Square-Enix’s ‘HD-2D’ art style, which combines classic pixel art with modern visual effects to create a new look. It’s the first game in the Dragon Quest timeline, so you don’t need to know anything.

When the game was released in Japan in 1988, it was so popular that it caused a number of truancy cases in Japanese schools, and the publisher began releasing the game on weekends to avoid another public fiasco.

At the time, the game felt ahead of its time, and even now it still feels modern thanks to its unique class system. It’s a classic Japanese RPG, but with a stunning new coat of paint and great localization.

Silent Hill 2 (PC, PlayStation 5)

Silent Hill 2 was a milestone for horror games and a statement for the PlayStation 2. It was not a simple shooter, but rather a terrifying psychological horror story that dealt with all kinds of personal traumas.

23 years later, James Sunderland searches for his wife Mary in Silent Hill. This remake gives us best-in-class graphics, stunning sound design, and plenty of jump scares while updating the environments and combat to create a more modern-feeling but still authentic game.

Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered (Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

Soul Reaver may only be for the old nerds in the room.

It is a spin-off of the Legacy of Kain series of PlayStation games set in the world of Nosgoth. Raziel is one of Cain’s generals. After showing off his newly grown wings, Kain breaks them and throws him into a bottomless pit as punishment for showing them.

A Lovecraftian Elder God picks up Raziel and brings him back to life so he can collect souls for him – and get revenge.

The series has been dead for almost 25 years – which hurts to admit – but stands out as one of the most atmospheric platforms of that time, with a fun story and murderer vocal performance from the entire cast.

This remake brings Soul Reaver back to life as the Elder God did with Raziel. It’s not a remake, but it gives the game a fresh coat of paint and makes it playable on modern systems and at a fair price.

Paper Mario and the Millennial Door (Nintendo Switch)

The Switch feels old-fashioned next to modern hardware, and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door comes from a completely different era.

But none of these facts matter, because this remake feels as fresh as ever.

Some parts are showing their age here and there, but the game is still visually stunning, with endlessly replayable turn-based battles.

Some of the text hasn’t aged well, but much of it has aged quite well, and this remake is a great example of why Thousand Year Door is considered one of the best Nintendo RPGs ever.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair