The 10 BEST Remakes of the Decade So Far (2020-25)

10 Best Remakes of the Decade So Far (2020-25)

Whether you like it or not, video game remakes are here to stay. And if they can reach the same heights as these, we’re pretty okay with it. Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking at the best remakes of the decade so far, released from 2020 to 2025. Just in case it needs to be said, we aren’t including any remasters on this list.

“Super Mario RPG” (2023)

Mario’s first RPG has long held a special place in the hearts of many players. Thankfully, a whole new generation got to experience its glory with a remake in 2023. With a new engine, “Super Mario RPG” features new levels of visual charm. But there are also some appreciated quality of life improvements, like an additional difficulty option and the ability to swap party members on the fly, and new gameplay features like powerful team attacks that build up over the course of a fight. It’s an already damn good game updated for the modern era. And if you’ve often heard about how great a game this is and want to experience it yourself, this is an excellent way to do it.

“Demon’s Souls” (2020)

FromSoftware is one of the best developers when it comes to crafting a tense atmosphere. And while that’s still true of the original “Demon’s Souls,” we must give credit to Bluepoint for its incredible improvements. Technical performance and visuals were obvious things improved, and definite points of praise since this game is truly stunning to look at. But Bluepoint also made small, but appreciated advancements to gameplay and controls that make everything less frustrating. That’s not to say the game isn’t still bonkers hard, because it absolutely is. It’s just a much smoother, more polished version. So, you’ll still want to break your controller in half, but the game plays things a bit more fairly now.

“Star Ocean: The Second Story R” (2023)

A bit of a darker horse, the original “Star Ocean: The Second Story” was released in 1998. So, it was a prime choice for a remake. The story remains the same, so purists won’t find changes there. But developer Gemdrops went the popular HD-2D route for visuals, refreshing the character sprites while redoing the environments. And just like many other games to utilize this style, it’s genuinely gorgeous. With new music and strong voice performances, it’s a treat for the ears as well as the eyes. Plus, even more important for a sprawling JRPG, it’s got an addictive gameplay hook that keeps you glued to its world for hours at a time.

“Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater” (2025)

There will probably always be a slight dirty feeling when consuming “Metal Gear Solid” without its creator involved. Who knows if we'll ever fully forgive Konami for how it treated Hideo Kojima. But the fact remains that this is a great remake of a great game. It isn’t as in-depth a remake as others. Visuals were clearly touched-up, and controls were refined to make things smoother. But there were no real expansions on story, levels, or voice acting. That’s not necessarily a bad thing; it isn’t as if it really needed to be touched up in those departments. All in all, it’s the best way to revisit a classic, or to experience it for the first time.

“Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2” (2020) & “3+ 4” (2025)

The best types of remakes can take a game that hasn’t exactly aged gracefully, and revamp its controls, graphics, and mechanics to capture what it felt like when you played it originally. The remakes of the “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater” series do exactly that. For “1 +2,” developer Vicarious Visions knocked it out of the park. It still had the nostalgia we feel for those games, yet everything still felt so fresh. “3 + 4,” developed by Iron Galaxy, didn’t quite hit as high a mark, specifically because 4’s career mode was lacking. Still, both packages are supremely fun, able to transfer us all back to that time when Pro Skating was the coolest thing around.

“Persona 3 Reload” (2024)

Since it was a fan request for years, it was only a matter of time before “Persona 3” was refreshed for modern consoles. Thankfully, Atlus didn’t miss a beat in doing so. Style is clearly an important facet of the series. So, seeing the original art design enhanced to be more in line with what you see in “Persona 5” made every frame a delight to experience. That, along with some new music, make it one of the flat-out coolest JRPGs you can find. That’s not to mention the various quality of life improvements to mechanics and controls that make it the best way to play. “Persona 3 Reload” is another great inclusion in what has become one of the biggest JRPG franchises around.

“Silent Hill 2” (2024)

To say that “Silent Hill 2” is one of the most important survival horror games of all time would be accurate, and still an understatement. Plenty of players had their misgivings leading up to the release of its remake. Yet, against the odds, Bloober Team delivered a stunning, disturbing, and terrifying experience. The team remained loyal to what came before it, only touching up and changing things that were absolutely necessary. Visuals deserve special mention; the atmosphere is incredibly tense, and the reworked creature designs are truly the stuff of nightmares. Even if you’ve played the original dozens of times, this remake will have you on the edge of your seat all the way up to the devastating end.

“Dead Space” (2023)

If you thought the original “Dead Space” was disgustingly horrific, then you were probably extremely happy with the remake. The visual enhancements make every Necromorph design that much more unsettling, making your heart beat out of your chest as you cautiously navigate every dark corridor. This was complimented sublimely by some truly incredible sound design. Subtle tweaks to gameplay and action sequences made everything just a bit more thrilling. And crucially, Isaac Clarke received a hefty dose of characterization, no longer a silent protagonist. This is a perfect revitalization of one of the best horror games of the 2000s. Whether you played the original or not, we cannot recommend it highly enough.

“Final Fantasy VII Remake” (2020) & “Rebirth” (2024)

It almost feels like cheating to call these games remakes. With a third entry planned to cap them off, they’ve made greater changes to the source material than anything else on this list. Yet, although change can be scary, these are some truly glorious games. Since the original came out in 1997, there are notable updates and alterations beyond how the story progresses. And all of it, from its graphics to the voice acting to the gameplay, is extremely strong. It has been such a joy to revisit one of gaming’s all time greats. And the way that the story, character dynamics, and areas have been expanded on has made “Final Fantasy VII” a pleasure to get lost in all over again.

“Resident Evil 4” (2023)

When Capcom began remaking the classic “Resident Evil” games, we knew one day they’d get to one of the franchise's crown jewels. We awaited it with eager anticipation, and it more than lived up to the hype. Like many others on this list, an incredible visual overhaul made for a flawless atmosphere. And the reworked control system helped us to savor every bit of it. One of its biggest improvements was Ashley, notoriously annoying in the original, but given more depth and likability thanks to new story elements and changes to her escort missions. Everything that Capcom could improve about “Resident Evil 4,” it did. And it did it with such aplomb and respect that the original titan deserved.

Did we leave off one of your favorite remakes of the 2020s? Which upcoming remake are you most looking forward to? Share your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see you next time!