14 Classic Games That Need Remakes

Mention the word "remake" around a Capcom Stan and a survival horror fanatic and their minds will immediately go to the late 90s classic they want to see remade the most. That game is obviously Dino Crisis, a terrifying third-person action-adventure game featuring everyone's red-haired heroine Regina. The Resident Evil formula worked like a charm for this game's focus on revived dinos that hunt you down and are capable of knocking weapons right out of your hands.

Confronting raptors and the T. Rex himself elicited screams of terror & memories that aren't so easily forgotten by everyone who played this PS1 gem. A lot of dreams would come true if Capcom took the time to spruce up this game just like it did for its previous RE remakes thanks to the power of the "RE Engine." Prettier graphics, refined aiming & shooting controls, and even more merciless behavior from those dammed dinosaurs would do wonders for this highly requested remake.

Another highly coveted remake that Capcom fans have been going crazy over for the longest time is a reimagined version of Claire Redfield's harrowing adventures in a remote prison island set in the Southern Ocean and a research facility located in Antarctica. Resident Evil – Code: Veronica has a few things going for it - being able to play with the Redfield siblings, confronting the superpowered version of Albert Wesker, and experiencing the classic playstyle of RE with a coat of new paint made the original release a worthwhile experience.

But we can't front - this game has a few knocks against it, namely Steve Burnside's horrible voice acting, the less-than-stellar boss fights, and some of its gameplay segments not exactly eliciting the same highs fans came across in previous RE games. We'd love to see Capcom iron out all the issues of the original Code: Veronica, vastly improve its moment-to-moment gameplay with the controls featured in the modern-day RE remakes, and possibly even give us an additional DLC chapter that turns Code: Veronica X's Albert cutscenes into a playable experience.

Hear us out, Nintendo! Out of all the games that need remakes from your celebrated catalog, it's undoubtedly Super Mario 64. Now here's the thing - a remake of that game already exists in the form of the Nintendo DS release, Super Mario 64 DS. And to be more specific, we feel like that's the version of the iconic N64 game that's deserving of a major overhaul. Just imagine being able to hop & bop as Mario, Luigi, Wario, and Yoshi through revitalized renditions of "Lethal Lava Land," "Bob-omb Battlefield," and "Cool, Cool Mountain" that look just as detailed as the worlds featured in Super Mario Odyssey!

With double analog stick controls, the platforming aspects of this remake would feel a million times better than its original handheld counterpart. And finally, we'd be more than satisfied with this remake if it brought back the multiplayer portion of the original and backed it up with the blessing of strong online connectivity (maybe the Nintendo Switch successor will have the improved netcode needed to make that happen?)

First off, we have to show respect and love to the sadly defunct publisher Eidos Interactive - everyone should do so since it's responsible for putting the development studio's Crystal Dynamics' magnum opus, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. When you bring up the topic of games that need remakes in a random Reddit gaming forum, chances are that game will get mentioned a bunch of times. And that's because it still holds up as a classic gothic action-adventure title remembered fondly for its enthralling world, excellent tale of revenge, and memorable main character Raziel.

Amy Hennig (known for her work on the Uncharted series) actually has her legacy forever attached to this classic game as she worked as its main director and was also one of its producers, designers, and writers. Our prayers would be answered in full if Embracer Group (which now owns the Legacy of Kain IP) reached out to Amy to oversee a Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver remake that's developed by Crystal Dynamics once again. All the remake has to do is improve the original's visuals, audio, and combat while also making its objectives a bit clearer and easing up the difficulty of those hard-as-hell puzzles.

During the mid to late 90s run of Square's RPG slate, it experimented with the narrative themes of survival horror with turn-based combat to produce one of the publisher/developer's most distinctive games. That game is Parasite Eve, an incredibly atmospheric trek through a version of New York City decimated by the deformed beasts stricken by Mitochondria and their maniacal figurehead Eve. Gamers didn't even know they wanted a survival horror game with turn-based combat until the first Parasite Eve arrived.

Ever since its 1998 release, those who've played it have made pleas to Square Enix about getting a remake of Aya Brea's most lauded adventure. Now when it comes to classic games that need remakes, we realize this request is extra hard to fulfill since the game is pretty much a sequel to the novel of the same name written by Hideaki Sena. You guys already know how hard it is to renegotiate the rights usage of that IP, plus who knows how many extra hands are attached to the licensing legalities attached to modern-day Parasite Eve! We don't want to worry ourselves too much about that stuff, though - we just want Square Enix to bring back Aya and pit her against Aya all over again that's just as visually breathtaking as Final Fantasy VII Remake.

Sorry to bother you again Nintendo, but we've got another idea for a remake that would net you guys tons of pre-orders the very minute this game is announced. It's pretty clear to us and everybody else that Link's biggest supporters is ready for a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - just take a look at the comments section for that video demonstration of that fan-made remake made with the development engine Unreal Engine! Just looking at the cleaned-up visuals showcased by that project has us wishing that Nintendo and Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma got to work on the official remake of Ocarina of Time ASAP!

Here's what would we need in order for this remake to be extra special - spruce up the graphical prowess, add side quests & other random activities to do in "Hyrule Field," make the "Water Temple" section actually worth a damn & not a chore to play through, and have the combat mechanics mimic those of Breath of the Wild. Nintendo has a habit of putting out the types of games that print money once their reveal trailers drop - we're sure that'll be the case for this one if it ever becomes a reality. A new and improved rendition of Ocarina of Time is easily one of the most requested games that need remakes.

Alright, guys and gals, let's get back to Square Enix! So Final Fantasy VII has already gotten the big-budget AAA remake treatment fans have been clamoring for. There is another collective of Final Fantasy diehards out there who are making their voices heard about another classic series entry that they'd pay top dollar to see receive a treatment of its own. That game is the marvelous 16-bit JRPG that is considered one of the best SNES games and Final Fantasy games period, Final Fantasy VI. The continued fan adoration attached to party members such as Terra Branford, Celes Chere, Locke Cole, and Sabin Figaro has substantially grown over time.

It's become a known fact that Kefka Palazzo is near the top of the mountain when it comes to ranking the best Final Fantasy villains. At some point, we'd love for Square Enix to make one of these remake options happen in our lifetime - either we get an HD-2D remake akin to the one that made Live a Live popular outside of Japan or a 3D remake that mashes up classic Active Time Battle (ATB) system combat mechanics with striking 3D visuals. Either way, it's high time for Final Fantasy VI to have its time in the sun once again in a completely remade form.

Yep, we're staying with Square Enix for this sensible entry on our list of games that need remakes. Just like our entry on Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger is held in high esteem as one of the most revered 16-bit RPGs that made quite the splash when it launched on the SNES back in 1995. The time-traveling trek that Crono, Lucca, Frog, and the rest of the game's endearing roster of heroes embark on results in emotional storyline developments, high replay value due to the presence of multiple endings, and monumental turn-based battles that excite thanks to essential cooperative "Tech" attacks.

We hear most of you loyal Chrono Trigger enthusiasts out there - you'd go all-in if Square Enix completely remade it into a fully realized 3D release that retains its well-tuned turn-based battles. We wouldn't be one bit upset if Square Enix decided to go the HD-2D route instead, mind you. But there is a part of us that would rather see Chrono Trigger get remade and the entirety of its indelible plot get retold to a modern audience.

When it was finally confirmed that Konami and Bloober Team had joined forces to do a full-on remake of Silent Hill 2, we reacted to it with tons of excitement...and bouts of confusion. Now we totally understand that the second game in that survival horror series is goated, but it's still strange to see the first game get skipped entirely. We're praying that the Silent Hill 2 remake is excellent so the Bloober Team development studio can then get the OK to use all the lessons it has learned to properly redo the first Silent Hill game. Now it will definitely be tougher for them to remake a PS1 game as opposed to the PS2 game they've been tasked with refining for a modern-day audience.

But after seeing how amazing Capcom's GameCube remake of the first Resident Evil is, we'd pay top dollar to see the first Silent Hill come out just as good as that one. We want to see Harry Mason all over again and push him through that very first journey through the misty, monster-ridden town that still haunts our dreams. Just be sure to improve those shooting and melee controls, Bloober Team! Survival horror fans everywhere know that the first Silent Hill is a top choice for games that need remakes.

Now this is a tough ask! Jade Dragon wasn't much of a big sales earner when it originally launched on the original Xbox. Plus the original development studio that made it in the first place (BioWare) is more than busy trying to craft the next entries in the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series. But with all the seemingly unlimited funds Microsoft's Xbox brand has in its vaults, we'd be overjoyed to wake up one morning and find out that the massive company has announced it has commissioned today's BioWare to remake one of its most underrated games of all time.

A Jade Dragon remake (more specifically, a remake with all the added content seen in the Special Edition) would have a higher chance of being a success over the original due to the massive player base visible across the Xbox Series X|S and being tapped to launch day one on Game Pass. Highly improved graphics, more refined martial arts combat mechanics, and overall better pacing for the gameplay & story as a whole are everything we'd love to see implemented into this action RPG remake. We're ready to become a "Spirit Monk" once again!

Speaking of RPGs, here's yet another one that belongs on everyone's personal lineup of games that need remakes. When Square's Final Fantasy VII made headlines and caught the attention of non-RPG fans, other developers followed suit and began making highly cinematic RPGs of their own. Sony Computer Entertainment's Japan Studio was given the duty of entering the great 90's RPG race and it succeeded with the creation of The Legend of Dragoon. Players found themselves enthralled by a high-fantasy world where the heroic Dart and his band of fellow warriors came together to stave off the destruction of their world.

While the protagonist's motivations weren't all that original, this game still managed to stand out thanks to gorgeous cutscenes, active button presses that impacted attacks during battle, and the cool ability to power up your party through "Dragoon Spirit" transformations. Today's Sony is known for having the golden touch when it comes to making highly sought-after AAA titles. We think it'd be in their best interest to tap a talented RPG studio (any of the development teams at Square Enix would suffice!) to remake a game from its library that has acquired quite a passionate cult following.

Keep it turn-based, make it look even better, tidy up some of the weaker story developments, and you have yourself a major win here, Sony!

Square Enix has sure gotten a lot of mentions on our list of games that need remakes, haven't they? And for good reason - the company has a vault full of forgotten IPs that would do well being placed back in the public eye via a remake. Speaking of which, we've been praying to our heavenly father for years to make Square Enix revisit Vagrant Story in that manner. The harrowing mission that noted "Riskbreaker" Ashley Riot (WHAT A NAME!) found himself in during this game's duration had us glued to our controllers back in 2000.

The gothic medieval feel of it all, the action RPG combat that employed pausable real-time mechanics like Parasite Eve, and the gripping story are the main reasons why we still hold this game in high regard. Now as for a Vagrant Story remake, here's what would make the most sense for it to truly prosper - vastly improved visuals, the return of the original game's limb-targeting action RPG combat, a simplified weapon customization system, and the ability to wield two weapons at once.

Sega, are you paying attention right now? At the moment, you have two expert RPG studios in your midst - Like A Dragon's Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and Persona's P Studio. Surely you can task one of them with bringing back one of the Sega Dreamcast's best games? Actually, we'd love to see either of those talented RPG makers step up to remake the GameCube "Director's Cut" version of that classic. We say all that to say this - it's about time Skies of Arcadia Legends got properly remade to help realize its full potential! Vyse, Aika, Fina, Drachma, Gilder, and Enrique's swashbuckling adventures included riveting airship clashes and your fair share of classic turn-based combat.

The GameCube port of the game did so much to make it even better thanks to a wealth of new side quests, new secret discoveries, and an additional "Wanted List" of enemies to vanquish. A remake of that version of Skies of Arcadia should include all of those elements while also sprucing up the visual design, having enemies become visible so random encounters are a thing of the past, and making those air battles even more epic. WE NEED THIS REMAKE EXPEDITOUSLY, SEGA!

Now to wrap up this list of the best games that need remakes, we're going to make a final request to NetherRealm Studios. Now here's the thing - there were plans to remake Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat II, and Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 by a studio called Ocean Interactive. And it was to be called Mortal Kombat HD Kollection. For some reason, a playable demonstration of that collection never got shown off and the project as a whole got canned. With how much big money MK brings in, we think Ed Boon and the rest of his studio should convince Warner Bros. Games to revive that compilation so MK fans can finally have a modern way of playing three of the series' finest games. All we would need from this game is cleaner HD visuals and rollback netcode and we're set! We're trying to run some sets with our classic Stryker, Noob Saibot, and Ermac once again.