The saga of game remasters: How gaming’s greatest hits are getting a second wind

Prakrit Dhondiyal, a gamer for 28 years and enjoying everything from shooters to story modes, remembers booting up Final Fantasy VII Remake for the first time, and what struck him wasn’t just a feeling of nostalgia, but rather a feeling that this was a true transformation. ”Updated graphics, new plotlines, and very different gameplay from the original” – it felt almost like a new (yet familiar) game, and not just a rehash.

However, like many seasoned gamers, Dhondiyal doesn’t celebrate every remaster. He believes that while many take you down the nostalgia lane, the unfortunate few feel like a lazy take. And the difference is apparent. “Some games have made an honest attempt at bringing something new to the table, but others were buggy and underwhelming,” he says. 

Regardless of how these games land, remasters are in trend, and they offer a second life to hit titles. For game developers like Ubisoft to Capcom, it’s raining remasters, and what’s interesting is that they prefer remastering games that are a decade old. 

As per the White Paper’s report on game remasters, only four per cent of remakes have a time gap of zero to five years between the original and remake. The rest that are over a decade old. For instance, there are only three remakes released within 10 years of release – The Last of Us Part I, Part II, and Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir.

Interestingly, it’s not just games, but also movie makers who are increasingly on a nostalgia trip. Just look at the number of long-running series that continue to rule the box office (Mission Impossible!) or sequels that have released after ages – Final Destination: Bloodlines or Top Gun: Maverick. 

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So, why are remasters so popular? Are they easy bets to stream in profits, or truly a fan service? Also, what’s that one thing common between game remasters and movie remakes?

Why do game remasters sell?

Imagine watching James Cameron’s The Terminator or Robert Rodriguez’s Spy Kids again. Only this time, in a modern avatar, the CGI roars louder, the dialogues are clearer, and nostalgia hits harder.

It’s a recipe that seems to be working. Movie makers are serving this up on a platter – from Top Gun: Maverick landing decades after the original to Blade Runner 2049 elevating a cult classic, the playbook is established. It’s the same formula fueling the return of Krrish 4 and many other yet-to-be-released sequels and remakes.

It’s emotion, nostalgia, and undeniable profits. Now, relate all that to gaming, and there’s a clear connection. Take the most successful or fan-favourite games from the past and announce their remakes with upgraded graphics, better lighting, and most importantly, make these compatible with all platforms. The result? Fans keep waiting, and the stock prices climb.

Remasters sell because they walk a fine line between familiarity and freshness. They are safe bets as they worked before and already have a set fanbase. Plus, by releasing them on most platforms, there are more takers. More takers equal more business.

Khumail Thakur, a gaming journalist who plays games and reviews them for a living, hints at remasters offering a portal into the past that doesn’t feel jaded. “The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion remaster lets people like me, who never played the original, experience the lore without the outdated graphics.”

Remasters are clearly a new beginning for young players, and a second chance for veterans. But they need to be done right. For instance, most Resident Evil remakes were able to hold fan attention because they were done right. Big graphical improvements, added upscaling features, and support for modern resolutions and frame rates helped breathe new life into this classic franchise.

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But on the other hand, games like GTA Trilogy, Mafia II: Definitive Edition, and Warcraft III: Reforged were marred by poor graphical upgrades, bugs, and missing features.

Gamer Perspective: Nostalgia with conditions

It’s clear that not all remasters are created equal, something Dhondiyal was quick to point out. “Some games have made an honest attempt at bringing something new to the table – whether it’s upgraded graphics, newer gameplay, or just an interesting twist to the tale; remasters have great potential without the baggage of establishing something new.”

For him, Final Fantasy VII Remake and Black Mesa stand out, but titles like Warcraft III: Reforged, Dead Space Remaster, and Crysis Remastered felt underwhelming.

“While the occasional walk down memory lane is highly appreciated, technology’s about looking forward, not being stuck in the past,” he says, making it clear that remasters are a good idea, but it’s important to look forward to new IPs that set a benchmark.

What are industry experts saying?

Rishi Alwani, a veteran game journalist and industry expert, adds another layer to the discussion – backwards compatibility. “Backwards compatibility in games is an important feature that makes remasters moot more often than not when done well,” he says.

“If done correctly, you really don’t need a remaster,” he continues. After all, remasters let you delve into nostalgia using your latest gaming hardware.

Microsoft’s Xbox program and Nintendo’s cross-generational support have shown that there are ways to let people enjoy older games without charging gamers. But there’s another reason for such remasters, “they offer a cost-effective way to gauge if a franchise is still worth investing in.”

Like Dhondiyal, Alwani also lauded the Final Fantasy VII remake. “There’s a point where modern polish elevates the experience – like with the Final Fantasy VII remaster, which added a whole lot of quality to life improvements in terms of gameplay tweaks versus the self-censorship we’re seeing with S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Legends of the Zone Enhanced Edition on PC.”

So, where does that leave us? Somewhere between reverence and reinvention. The industry is starting to understand that remasters can’t just be about slapping a new coat of paint on old code. They need to respect the original while offering enough value to stand on their own.

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It’s clear that remasters aren’t just comfort food, but a new dish with the same (sometimes similar) ingredients, and if cooked properly, it can satisfy you. If it’s done incorrectly, it could spoil the entire dish.