Not All Remakes Are Equal
Nostalgia can be a dangerous thing in gaming. One minute you’re replaying a beloved classic, the next you’re realizing the publisher just sold you the same story with shinier textures and half the soul. Still, not every remake is a scam. Some genuinely revive the magic—proving passion still matters in game design. Keep reading to see which titles cashed in and which ones cashed out. Let’s begin with the remakes that were total cash grabs.
1. Warcraft III: Reforged (2020)
Gamers had waited years for Warcraft III: Reforged, but the excitement didn’t last long. It launched buggy, missing ranked ladders and custom campaigns that made the original legendary. The flat visuals and rushed release turned nostalgia into one of Blizzard’s biggest misfires.
2. Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition (2021)
When Rockstar announced The Trilogy, fans expected perfection—what they got was a mess. Glitches plagued every city, cheat codes disappeared, and the rain system practically blinded players. Even the warped character models became memes before a 2024 patch tried saving face.
3. Silent Hill HD Collection (2012)
Fog once hid the horror, but Silent Hill HD Collection skipped it entirely. The missing effects, along with the jarring new voice acting and broken visuals, stripped away tension. Additionally, developers used incomplete code, which created new bugs while Konami refused refunds for the troubled launch.
4. Dungeon Keeper (2013)
Fans of the original Dungeon Keeper discovered something sinister—microtransactions everywhere. The mobile remake forced slow progress unless players spent real money, so greed ultimately destroyed its legacy and turned the series into a cautionary tale.
5. Secret Of Mana (2018)
If charm could be patched, Secret of Mana might have stood a chance. Instead, dull 3D graphics and awkward animations dulled the wonder. Even the reworked soundtrack fell flat, with fan favorites like “The Oracle” losing their haunting, nostalgic edge.
6. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered (2020)
Square Enix called it a remaster; players called it a downgrade. Crystal Chronicles Remastered removed local multiplayer and replaced it with clumsy online play that felt isolating. The iOS “lite” edition didn’t fare better—it was pulled in 2025 after an unfixable purchase bug.
Antoni Shkraba Studio on Pexels
7. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl (2021)
They looked cute, sure—but Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl couldn’t hide their flaws. Duplication glitches, lag, and missing Platinum content left fans underwhelmed. The chibi visuals didn’t help either, making Sinnoh’s return feel less like a celebration and more like déjà vu.
8. The Last Of Us Part I (2022)
Some remakes honor their legacy; The Last of Us Part I charged full price to replay it. Aside from accessibility upgrades and a new permadeath mode, not much changed. Released just before the HBO show, it felt more strategic than sincere.
9. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered (2024)
Few games age this well, yet Sony still remastered Horizon Zero Dawn. The result looked sharper but added little substance. Players grumbled about forced PSN logins and lingering bugs, questioning why anyone needed to buy a prettier version of an already stunning game.
10. Double Dragon II: Wander Of The Dragons (2013)
Every remake hopes to revive a legacy—Double Dragon II just ruined its own. Sluggish controls and dated visuals made combat unbearable, and reviewers tore it apart. Some even called it one of the worst Xbox Live Arcade titles ever made.
Now, let’s celebrate the remakes that actually got it right.
1. Resident Evil 2 (2019)
Few remakes redefine their genre like Resident Evil 2. Built entirely from scratch, it trades fixed cameras for a tense over-the-shoulder view and modern combat. Critics loved its dual campaigns with Leon and Claire, praising how fresh it felt without losing its terrifying heart.
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2. Super Mario RPG (2023)
Nintendo lovingly rebuilt Super Mario RPG for a new era. With crisp 3D graphics, Triple Moves, and post-game boss rematches, the remake feels celebratory. Players can even toggle between original and remastered soundtracks mid-adventure.
3. Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)
Shadow of the Colossus didn’t need reinvention, just reverence, and Bluepoint delivered exactly that. Every colossus looked breathtaking in rebuilt HD graphics, while refined controls modernized the adventure. The remake kept the quiet melancholy intact, proving beauty and restraint can coexist in gaming.
4. Demon’s Souls (2020)
PlayStation 5 launched with a statement piece—Demon’s Souls. Bluepoint rebuilt the cult classic into a visual marvel without softening its brutal challenge. A mirrored “Fractured Mode” added fresh replay value, and Jim Fowler’s orchestral soundtrack gave each boss fight cinematic weight.
5. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (2017)
Nostalgia rarely hits this perfectly. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy revived the first three titles with sharp visuals and refined controls. Coco’s addition as a playable character across every game delighted fans and made the series feel fresh without losing its charm.
6. Spyro Reignited Trilogy (2018)
Playful and full of heart—Spyro Reignited Trilogy nailed the tone fans adored. Each world glows with personality, rebuilt completely from the ground up. Additionally, Tom Kenny returned as Spyro’s voice, and players could toggle between the classic soundtrack and its lively remaster.
7. The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening (2019)
Nintendo turned a black-and-white Game Boy gem into a charming diorama. Link’s Awakening retained its intricate puzzles while adding a bright, toy-like art style and a dungeon builder. The reworked soundtrack captured the whimsy of adventure without losing the original’s simplicity.
8. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 (2020)
When Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater came back, it stuck the landing. The remake fused updated visuals with the same perfect control feel and even restored its legendary soundtrack—plus a few new tracks. Old pros and new players found it equally irresistible.
9. Metroid: Zero Mission (2004)
Zero Mission did more than modernize Metroid—it perfected it. The enhanced visuals, refined controls, and stealth-driven epilogue gave Samus’s first outing new life. Fans appreciated how it respected the 1986 original while making its world smoother, faster, and more accessible than ever.
10. Dead Space (2023)
Some remakes merely polish; Dead Space reinvented fear. Its seamless ship design eliminated loading breaks, immersing players in the Ishimura’s dread. Enhanced visuals and a new dismemberment “peeling system” reminded everyone why Isaac Clarke’s nightmare remains survival horror at its best.
