The Best Video Game Remasters for PS4, Xbox One and PC
What's old is new
Some of the best games you can play on your new console are actually pretty old. Many of gaming's greatest classics have been gracefully remade for modern platforms, from complete reimaginings of '80s and '90s favorites to streamlined, spruced-up versions of last generation's biggest hits. Whether you're looking to fill a hole in your gaming history or want to relive some of your favorite titles from yesteryear, here are the best remasters and remakes to check out for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC and more.
Credit: Bandai Namco
Resident Evil (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
One of gaming's most defining remakes, the 2002 GameCube version of Resident Evil fully reworked the '90s horror classic with fresh visuals and sounds that made exploring the iconic Spencer Mansion even more terrifying and immersive. This remake was later ported to PS4, Xbox One and PC, complete with even smoother, crisper graphics and multiple control schemes. (Yes, you can ditch those infamously janky tank controls.) The original Resident Evil is still one of the series' best installments, and this is the definitive way to experience it.- Mike Andronico
Credit: Capcom
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection (PS4)
The Nathan Drake Collection brought Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Among Thieves and Drake's Deception to the PS4 for the first time. The Naughty Dog classics were ported by Bluepoint Games with enhanced graphics, Photo Mode, new trophies, several new difficulty options for new players and experts alike, and even better audio. If you're first getting into Uncharted, there's really no better way to start than with this set of remastered titles. - Andrew E. Freedman
Credit: Sony
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Remastered (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare completely revolutionized online shooters back in 2007 and set a standard that nearly all games in the genre still abide by to this day. It also still holds up quite well, especially if you're playing the 2016 remaster for PS4, Xbox One or PC. Modern Warfare Remastered lets you enjoy the game's iconic single-player campaign and genre-defining multiplayer suite, and it's all wrapped up in a graphically enhanced package with improved textures and lighting. - Mike Andronico
Credit: Activision
Borderlands: The Handsome Collection (PS4, Xbox One)
Not only is Borderlands: The Handsome Collection a collection of two great games, complete with improved resolution and frame rates; it's also one of the most comprehensive couch co-op games on the PS4 and Xbox One. The Handsome Collection lets players experience both Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel — two FPS/RPG hybrids that cast you as a treasure hunter on the dystopian alien world of Pandora. (If the Mad Max series were also RoboCop with a side of Aliens, it'd look a little like this.) While the Borderlands games have fun gameplay and sharp writing, the real draw here is the potential for four-way split-screen co-op. - Marshall Honorof
Credit: 2K Games
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch)
The original PlayStation mascot is back, and he's looking better than ever. The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a lovingly crafted remake of the first three games in Naughty Dog's popular platforming series, with fully reimagined graphics that make these '90s classics look delightfully fresh. Just be warned: Everything from the original Crash Bandicoot games is fully intact here, including the sometimes brutal difficulty. - Mike Andronico
Credit: Activision
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Skyrim has been ported to so many consoles that it's become a running joke, but there's a good reason why Bethesda's beloved open-world role-playing game has endured so long. An immersive adventure set in a massive fantasy world, Skyrim is the kind of game you can play however you want, whether you want to take down dragons, spend a few hours exploring or goof around with mods. Skyrim: Special Edition delivers spruced-up graphics and bundles in all DLC on PS4, Xbox One and PC, though you can also opt for the excellent Nintendo Switch version if you prefer to adventure on the go. - Mike Andronico
Credit: Bethesda
Mega Man Legacy Collection (PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch)
To get all six classic Mega Man games on PS4, Xbox One, PC or Switch, you'll have to buy two separate collections. That's not great. But that's about the only drawback of the Mega Man Legacy Collection. All 10 of the Blue Bomber's original adventures are here, as pixel-perfect as the day you first popped them into your NES (or downloaded them on your Xbox; this isn't Mega Man's first port job). Most of the games hold up surprisingly well, offering an addictive combination of running, gunning and figuring out how to evade the games' notoriously tough bosses. There's also a museum mode, if you want to get your nostalgia fix. - Marshall Honorof
Credit: Capcom
Halo: The Master Chief Collection (Xbox One)
Online issues aside, Halo: The Master Chief Collection is the best way to play through the first four games in Microsoft's iconic shooter series. The collection is worth it for Halo 2 Anniversary alone, which fully reworks the 2004 Xbox classic with refreshed graphics and stunning new cutscenes. The 1080p, 60-frames-per-second versions of Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3 and Halo 4 certainly don't hurt, either. The Master Chief Collection also includes the full multiplayer suites of all four games and is slated to get a huge update soon, complete with 4K support for folks on Xbox One X. - Mike Andronico
Credit: Microsoft
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition (PC)
Baldur's Gate was something of a revelation when it first came out in 1998. Up until then, Dungeons & Dragons video game adaptations tended to be either too complex for their own good, or bizarre (but agreeable) arcade spin-offs. This open-ended BioWare RPG let you choose your protagonist's race, class, sex and name, and then set off into the Forgotten Realms to seek adventure, net profit and/or stop a villain terrorizing the Sword Coast. The game's Enhanced Edition makes it playable on modern computers (and tablets), streamlines a few of the rules and even adds new romanceable party members. - Marshall Honorof
Credit: Beamdog
Burnout Paradise Remastered (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
After waiting 10 long years, fans of Criterion's cult combat racer finally got their wish: Burnout Paradise is back, and if you have an Xbox One X or PS4 Pro, it runs in glorious 4K at 60 frames per second. Honestly, we shouldn't have had to wait as long as we did — there's a reason Paradise City is still a beloved destination for racing fans, and the lack of new Burnout is a tad easier to stomach now that there's a convenient way to play it on a platform you actually have hooked up to your TV. Best of all, it comes equipped with all the original game's DLC, of which there was a lot — legendary rides inspired by films like Back to the Future and Ghostbusters, motorcycles, toy cars and, of course, Big Surf Island. - Adam Ismail
Credit: Electronic Arts
Age of Empires II: HD Edition (PC)
In 1999, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings was as good as RTS games got. By 2013, it didn't look nearly so good. The core game was still a deep and detailed historical simulation, full of juicy campaigns and enjoyable "what-if" matchups. (Koreans versus Huns on a map of Texas, anyone?) However, the game was nearly impossible to run on modern systems, and the multiplayer community had long since dried up. Age of Empires II: HD Edition gave the title a new lease on life, complete with full Steam integration and three new expansions focusing on Eastern Europe, Africa and South Asia. - Marshall Honorof
Credit: Microsoft
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD (PS4)
I can't tell you how many hours I spent playing the original versions of both Final Fantasy X and X-2 back in the day. I mean, those Dresspheres were to die for, and Paine was my girl! But outside of the wardrobe changes, both FFX and X-2 delivered gripping stories involving love, loss and acceptance; solid battle systems; and a gorgeous world whose vibrancy was outshone only by the myriad characters. The remasters include lovely updates to the graphics, allowing fans and newcomers alike to take a fun trip down memory lane. - Sherri L. Smith
Credit: Square Enix
StarCraft: Remastered (PC)
Blizzard recently made the original StarCraft and its Brood War expansion free to download. The game still technically works on modern PCs, but you'll have to put up with low-res graphics and haphazard multiplayer matching. If you want the original StarCraft experience, fully optimized for modern machines, you'll have to shell out some money for StarCraft: Remastered. This title fully integrates StarCraft and Brood War with the Blizzard platform, offering complex matchmaking and cloud saves. Furthermore, you'll get resolutions of up to 4K and brand-new recordings of the game's classic, catchy music. However, the games are just as difficult as before, so be ready for a challenge. - Marshall Honorof
Credit: Blizzard
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
Dark Souls II was a solid sequel, full of inventive new enemies and breathtaking locations. However, it wasn't quite as polished as its lauded predecessor. The difficulty curve in Dark Souls II was all over the place, the game's most memorable bosses were hidden away in its DLC and, to top it all off, the final boss simply wasn't that memorable. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin addressed all of those issues while giving the game welcome face-lifts in resolution, frame rate and texture. The titular Scholar also showed up at various points in the game and helped weave a more interconnected narrative. - Marshall Honorof
Credit: Bandai Namco
BioShock: The Collection (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
BioShock is one of those rare series that are consistently good — and fans and critics alike discovered its goodness right away, rather than needing a remaster to experience it for the first time. Still, BioShock Infinite, arguably the best entry in the franchise, came out at the tail end of the Xbox 360 and PS3 era, and gamers wondered what it would have looked like if Irrational Games had held out just a few more months. BioShock: The Collection bundles a remastered version of Infinite along with similar upgraded versions of BioShock and BioShock 2, adding in fun extras like developer commentaries and museum modes. Would you kindly check it out? - Marshall Honorof
Credit: 2K Games
Shadow of the Colossus (PS4)
Shadow of the Colossus was a critical darling when it debuted on the PS2 back in 2005, and for good reason. The game was, without a doubt, jaw-droppingly beautiful, with an equally engaging story that didn't hold your hand. And, of course, there are the colossi, massive living stone golems that you have to climb to deliver the death blow. Rebuilt from the ground up, the new remaster looks absolutely stunning on PS4 and even better on PS4 Pro. Unfortunately, even though the graphics have been redone, the frustrating controls remain the same. - Sherri L. Smith
Credit: Sony