I’ve been around video games for over 25 years. It’s my go-to hobby and has been for such a long time. In those years, I’ve played some masterpieces with memorable experiences. I have also played some absolute stinkers in my years.
There are some gems from way back when that definitely deserve a remaster, but a remaster that’s done right with the correct care and attention to it.
Let’s break down 5 games that fully deserve a fully remastered game, with an honorable mention at the back. Please note, these are not in any particular order. The games below are easily some of the best experiences that I have ever had.
1. The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Fortnite recently did a season dedicated to The Simpsons, literally the full map and everything. It’s renewed calls for a possible remaster. Imagine Hit & Run with today’s technology? In all honesty, I’d take a PS5 release with the OG game with trophies at this point. It’s a shame because a Hit & Run remaster is incredibly unlikely due to licensing issues, as the rights are split all over the place.
It’s a game that holds so much nostalgia. I recently went back and watched a few people on YouTube play it, and it still looks like it holds up pretty well in today’s standards. It’s why a remaster would be a dream. It would look fantastic and could be fully expanded on what was already built.
2. Bully
2000-2010 was peak Rockstar. There are 3 games on this list from this period alone. Bully, or for those of us in the UK and Europe, Canis Canem Edit was a masterpiece. There’s no denying that this was easily one of the best games ever made. I’m still surprised we haven’t had a remaster or even a sequel.
You had to stick to a timetable, attend classes, cause chaos in the school or outside, go to the fair, drive a go-kart around everywhere, fight clubs, and tells a damn-good story! It was a game that had everything. In typical Rockstar fashion, it felt ahead of its time considering it’s still very much playable today. I adored this game as a 13-year-old, and I adore it still today. It’s not just nostalgia, it’s just brilliant. A remaster could offer modern technology, new mechanics, expanded areas, 60 fps, lighting upgrades, and so much more.
3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Besides Grand Theft Auto 5, San Andreas is very easily one of those games on many people’s lists as one of the best of all time. San Andreas was revolutionary for its time, very similar to how GTA 4 and 5 were. San Andreas, for me, personally, still featured one of the best stories in the franchise.
I know San Andreas got the Definitive Edition, but that wasn’t great. I believe San Andreas could do with a proper update. Modern visuals and graphics would work a treat. The issue I think this game has for a redo is the fact that Rockstar tends to throw all of their eggs into a single basket, throwing money at it. That’s GTA 6, which I don’t mind. I can’t wait for 6, but I’d love to see San Andreas get some proper love.
4. Red Dead Redemption
The third Rockstar game on the list. The first Red Dead Redemption game was a masterpiece, but the second game truly showed the difference. RDR2 was the ultimate masterpiece, no question. The biggest issue I have now is that I feel like the first Red Dead Redemption game has a lot of plot holes that don’t make a lot of sense. There’s also no mention of Arthur Morgan. Logically speaking, this is because Arthur wasn’t even thought of when the first game came out in 2010.
By doing a remaster, you can add those moments in. You can even expand on the game a bit more by adding a lot of dialogue to reference people like Arthur or Micah. When you watch the scene of John and Dutch, it doesn’t hit as much as it should. A remaster could definitely fix a lot of issues, give us the modern treatment to feel like the second Red Dead Redemption, and it would be a hit instantly. I’d love to play through RDR2 all the way through and immediately hop into a modernized RDR1.
5. Fallout: New Vegas
What’s your favorite Fallout game? New Vegas is often at the top of people’s lists. It baffles me that New Vegas hasn’t been touched. It was Obsidian that made New Vegas, with Bethesda publishing the game, whereas 3 and 4 were Bethesda throughout. It’s more likely that if Bethesda opts to remaster another game after Oblivion, I’d be willing to bet it’s Fallout 3. I’d be okay with 3 as well, but New Vegas hits differently.
The thing is with the Fallout games is that you could update the gameplay mechanics a touch, freshen the graphics, and generally touch the game up, and it could pass as a remaster. I’d even take that at this point. New Vegas, despite its critical acclaim, even today, I feel like it’s dated, especially compared to Fallout 76 and 4. Out of all of the Fallout games, it’s definitely the one that deserves a fresh update.
Honorable Mention: Batman: Arkham Knight
The Arkham games are some of the best superhero games of all time. You could, in theory, pick any 3 to remaster. The reason why I chose Arkham Knight is that it’s the one I enjoyed the most out of the 3. I loved the twist with the Knight, all of the Easter Eggs, the true open-world mechanics, and everything else. Arkham Knight only came out in 2015, but it’s still more than playable today. It would be great to see the game even further expanded upon, with new abilities, suits, and other mechanics. Maybe one day, after the disaster of The Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, we’ll see a remaster. Rocksteady will need a giant win.
That’s the end of my list. I know there’s hundreds of games we could pick here. Vice City, Scarface, any older Final Fantasy title, and loads of others. This list is purely based on my own personal preferences.
