Top 20 Best Remasters That We’ve Been Graced With So Far
Dishonored was a great game when it came out four years ago, and it’s even better on the PS4 and Xbox One. Revamped visuals aside, bundling The Knife of Dunwall and Brigmore Witches DLC with the main adventure makes it well worth buying. If you’re interested in Dishonored 2, definitely play this first, if you haven’t.
Capcom re-released the first three games for the Xbox 360 and PS3, giving us the chance to gain achievements and trophies while we do our deadly demon slaying. Getting to play as Dante’s brother Vergil in the third game certainly doesn’t hurt either. He may take his time to get used to, but once you do, he’s worth the price of buying the remaster alone.
Sleeping Dogs hit that right kind of itch when it came out as an open world crime game where you could kick the crap out of everyone you met with your bare fists and feet. With all 24 (yes, you read that right) pieces of DLC and quality changes the community asked for, Wei’s remastered adventure is worth all the bloodshed.
Journey. Flower. Flow. With just three games under their belt, the folks at ThatGameCompany have won over gamers by giving them small scale adventures that are emotionally captivating. The remasters for each of these games never lose their charm, whether that’s on the PS3, PS4, or the Vita.
Yes, the multiplayer came with a lot of problems. But they’ve all been patched now, and those aside, MCC is still one of the best remasters out there. It makes switching between the four main games simple, and being able to switch between the classic and modern version of Halo 2 is well appreciated.
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Dishonored: Definitive Edition
Dishonored was a great game when it came out four years ago, and it's even better on the PS4 and Xbox One. Revamped visuals aside, bundling The Knife of Dunwall and Brigmore Witches DLC with the main adventure makes it well worth buying. If you're interested in Dishonored 2, definitely play this first, if you haven't.
Devil May Cry Collection
Capcom re-released the first three games for the Xbox 360 and PS3, giving us the chance to gain achievements and trophies while we do our deadly demon slaying. Getting to play as Dante's brother Vergil in the third game certainly doesn't hurt either. He may take his time to get used to, but once you do, he's worth the price of buying the remaster alone.
Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
Lara Croft's reboot was one of the best games of 2013, but there's no denying that it perhaps could've been better served as a launch title for the Xbox One and PS4. Thankfully, the Definitive Edition brings her to the current consoles, with better graphics and all the DLC that came with it.
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
If you wanted to play the original Borderlands on your Xbox One or PS4, you're sadly out of luck with this remaster, as it only covers the second game and the Pre-Sequel. On the positive side, it comes with all skins, weapons, and DLC packs (even the bite-sized ones). Considering said DLC includes such gems as the badass Mechromancer and Tiny Tina's D&D style bonus campaign, it's hard to turn that down.
DmC: Definitive Edition
Divisive as the reboot of Capcom's stylish action series was, there's still a fun time to be had here. The Definitive Edition adds the Vergil's Downfall DLC, along with a turbo mode to make the game faster, Bloody Palace for Dante's brother, and new modes that make the game harder or placed an emphasis on Style.
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
Gears of War is one of the definitive franchises of the Xbox brand, so it only makes sense to bring it to the new Xbox hotness. Not only is it packed with the now shut down beta for Gears 4 (that was pretty rad), but everything in the game has been given a visual overhaul, and it still feels like classic Gears.
Metal Gear Solid: The Legacy Collection
Hideo Kojima's stealth action series has been on pretty much every system and then some, but you can't really play them all on one console. Thankfully, there's the Legacy Collection, which has Metal Gear Solid 1-4, Peace Walker, and the first two Metal Gear games. There's also some motion comics, in case you wanted to read the first two MGS games.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
The PS2 marked some of the best years for Final Fantasy, and nowhere is that more apparent than with Final Fantasy X and X-2. Bundled together for the PS4, the remaster adds content from the International versions of the games, a new audio drama (yes, really), and rearranged music. Finally, you can hear Tidus' dorky laugh on your PS4!
Kingdom Hearts Remasters
Weird naming conventions aside, the pair of Kingdom Hearts remasters for the PS3 are perfect. Remixed audio, new voice acting, and the return of the Mirage Arena grace Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix, while the 1.5 remix added Reaction Commands and gameplay adjustments to make it play more like Kingdom Hearts II.
The Jak Collection
It's been a long time since a good Jak and Daxter game (and a game from this series in general), so it's best to just enjoy this series on your PS3. There's nothing much offered besides improved visuals, but they're still awesome, so it's fine.
ThatGameCompany Collection
Journey. Flower. Flow. With just three games under their belt, the folks at ThatGameCompany have won over gamers by giving them small scale adventures that are emotionally captivating. The remasters for each of these games never lose their charm, whether that's on the PS3, PS4, or the Vita.
The Sly Collection
Sucker Punch's Sly trilogy was a hard worker in the PS2 era, and now you can get the entire series on the PS3. The trilogy brings with it the first three games, along with a group of multiplayer minigames. Those don't really matter, but it's still a good deal.
The Ratchet & Clank Collection
Insomniac was one of the titans of the PlayStation 2 in its heyday with the Ratchet and Clank franchise. The Ratchet Collection comes with the original three games (you can buy Deadlocked separately on the PSN store) and with the Future series of games, you've got an entire saga all on one system. Not too shabby.
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
Nathan Drake's saga is one of the best adventures on the PS3, so of course the story campaigns must be brought over to the PS4. What they lack in multiplayer, they make up for with separate photo modes and improved visuals.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
Yes, the multiplayer came with a lot of problems. But they've all been patched now, and those aside, MCC is still one of the best remasters out there. It makes switching between the four main games simple, and being able to switch between the classic and modern version of Halo 2 is well appreciated.
Ratchet & Clank (2016)
Half remake, half remaster, but still one awesome ride. Blending the story of the original Ratchet and Clank with the gameplay mechanics and graphics of its sequels proved to be a smart move, and the new title is all the better for it. If you love the series or have never given it a shot, it's well worth checking out.
The Bioshock Collection
Irrational Games' action-RPG franchise came to the current consoles earlier this week after practically everyone demanded it. Improved visuals aside, there's also behind the scenes videos that delve into the history of making the series. Just be sure to have some file space, because they're sizable installs.
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
You may not be able to play the complete Dark Souls trilogy on your current gen system, but Scholar of the First Sin does what it can to make you forget that. With new enemy behaviors and adding an extra pair of players in multiplayer, Scholar makes all the dying again worth it.
The Last of Us Remastered
Naughty Dog's swan song on the PS3 is given new life on the PS4. It already looked amazing, and that certainly doesn't change on the PS4. Audio commentary from the developers, plus an extensive photo mode, make Joel and Ellie's adventure one worth returning to.
Grand Theft Auto V
Most remasters feature nothing but improved visual, but Rockstar wasn't satisfied with that. The current gen versions of the game add in denser traffic (it's LA, after all), better draw distance, and a first person mode for you to try your hand at. You know, in case you really want to get into the mindset of your criminal friends.
About the author
Justin Carter
Sometimes a writer, always a dork. When he isn't staring in front of a screen for hours, he's probably reading comics or eating Hot Pockets. So many of them.
