10 Licensed Games That Need to be REMADE

10 Licensed Games That Need to be Remade

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re taking a look at ten great licensed games that we think deserve the full-on remake treatment.

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (2002)

Before “Arkham Asylum” proved many licensed games could truly thrive, 2002’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” on the original Xbox was already staking its claim as a masterpiece. Serving as a playable "lost episode" nestled perfectly into Season 3 of the beloved show, this exclusive powerhouse combined authentic banter from the show's cast with a brutal, weighty, and satisfying combat system. It wasn't just about pummeling vampires; it was about dynamically smashing chairs and pool cues to craft improvised stakes mid-brawl. Tragically trapped on legacy hardware and absent from backward compatibility, this cult classic is practically begging for an Unreal Engine 5 remake to bring Sunnydale’s moody, gothic atmosphere—and unmatched supernatural beatdowns—into the modern gaming era. Here’s hoping!

“The Grinch” (2000)

Forget your typical heroic saving-the-day adventures—“The Grinch” on PS1 was all about being delightfully bad. Dr. Seuss' iconic green cynic became the star of a brilliant puzzle-platformer where your sole mission was to actively weaponize mischief against the festive citizens of Whoville. Instead of standard power-ups, players navigated a sprawling sandbox of holiday destruction using a brilliantly wacky arsenal that featured Rotten Egg Launchers, Slime Packs, and tactical recon missions controlled via Max the Dog. It was a refreshing, chaotic counter to traditional gaming tropes that modern hardware could elevate into something truly spectacular. A next-gen remake utilizing a stylized, living-storybook art direction, some modern stealth mechanics, and wacky physics for domino-effect pranks would perfectly capture the hearts of original fans and new mischief-makers alike. You’d get no “bah humbugs” from us if this got remade. And yes, I know “bah humbug” is a Scrooge saying not a Grinch one…but you get the idea. Ah, forget it.

“The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age” (2004)

What happens when you fuse the cinematic grandeur of Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth with the turn-based brilliance of “Final Fantasy X?” You get “The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age,” a 2004 EA RPG gem that bravely stepped out of Frodo’s shadow to deliver an unforgettable parallel journey. By following an entirely new fellowship of unsung heroes, players experienced iconic movie battles from a refreshing, ground-level perspective. The game’s crown jewel, however, was "Evil Mode"—a genius feature allowing you to switch sides and play as Sauron’s monsters, stepping into the various roles of Middle-earth’s nefarious baddies to slaughter your own heroes. Bringing this gem into the modern era is a no-brainer. A full-scale remake would thrive on a revamped turn-based combat system inspired by the likes of “Baldur's Gate 3” or “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33,” lush Unreal Engine 5 landscapes, and an expanded Evil Mode featuring global online multiplayer showdowns. It remains a legendary RPG experiment that desperately deserves a second fellowship.

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“007 Nightfire” (2002)

Step into the tuxedo of Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond for 2002’s “007: Nightfire,” a showstopping adventure that arguably perfected the espionage genre long before modern multiplayer suites took over. Rather than safely retelling a movie plot, Eurocom crafted a thrilling, standalone narrative packed with death-defying alpine car chases, underwater infiltration, and zero-gravity space shootouts. While the campaign was an explosive blockbuster, the true legend lies in its split-screen multiplayer mode, which devoured countless weekends thanks to iconic maps, controllable guided missiles, and even customizable AI bots. Resurrecting this classic today could be amazing. A modern reimagining could combine tactical, gadget-heavy scenarios, intense online lobbies featuring cross-play, fully destructible environments, and a remastered orchestral score. It still stands as a timeless high-water mark for the franchise.

“The Nightmare Before Christmas: Ooogie’s Revenge” (2005)

Tim Burton’s holiday masterpiece received an official, interactive sequel in 2004 that no one saw coming: a stylish, gothic hack-and-slash heavily inspired by “Devil May Cry,” no less. “The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge” armed Jack Skellington with the Soul Robber—a shape-shifting green whip—transforming the Pumpkin King into a combo-chaining force of nature. Capcom’s brilliant twist here was integrating the movie's musical DNA directly into the gameplay, forcing players to time their attacks to theatrical, villainous song-and-dance numbers during boss fights. Really cool stuff! The AAA gaming landscape is starving for this flavor of bizarre creativity right now. A current-gen remake would absolutely sing if it married the fluid, high-speed combat precision of “DMC 5” with breathtaking, claymation-style (or cel-shaded) visuals that mirror modern animated films. Throw in more exploration, more collectibles, and even some light RPG systems to upgrade the Soul Robber and Jack; and you’d have a bonafide holiday hit on your hands.

“X-Men Legends” (2004)

Raven Software cracked the definitive formula for comic book storytelling with 2004’s “X-Men Legends.” This isometric action-RPG prioritized team chemistry as the literal heart of the experience, elevating the game far beyond standard punch-and-kick mechanics. Assembling a custom four-mutant squad allowed players to trigger devastating, screen-clearing combo attacks. Between missions, the game transformed into a deep narrative, character-building experience where players explored a highly interactive Xavier Institute (your home base) to talk with iconic characters and dive into rich comic lore that fleshed out the mutants and their motivations. Revitalizing this foundation is an absolute goldmine for current-gen hardware. A ground-up remake featuring a massive roster of deep-cut mutants, seamless local or online four-player co-op drop-in/drop-out play, and even branching story choices that dynamically alter mutant-human relations would instantly capture a massive modern audience.

“Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines” (2004)

Absolute player agency became the ultimate law of the night back in the day when “Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines” translated its spooky tabletop roots into a gritty, neon-soaked vampiric adventure. Your chosen vampire clan completely dictated your reality, whether that meant skulking through sewers as a hideously deformed Nosferatu or deciphering the fractured, prophetic dialogue of a Malkavian, and everything in between. Navigating this cutthroat political web required social manipulation and strict secrecy (thus attempting to uphold the titular masquerade), making clever dialogue and wit far more vital than raw combat. The urgency for a modern resurrection has only intensified since “Bloodlines 2” stripped away these deep role-playing elements in favor of a linear, streamlined first-person romp. A freshly dug up remake is the only way to deliver the atmospheric, slow-burn depth fans crave, smoothing away the original's notorious legacy jank while honoring the unmatched freedom that made this dark legend immortal.

“Batman: Vengeance” (2001)

Gotham City’s iconic dark and gothic art deco aesthetic leaped straight off the television screen in 2001 with Ubi Soft's release of “Batman Vengeance.” This action-adventure title achieved cult status by perfectly capturing the moody atmosphere, sleek character designs, and cinematic weight of “Batman: The Animated Series.” Instead of focusing on mindless brawling, players had to actively think like the World's Greatest Detective, utilizing a robust utility belt packed with batarangs, flash bombs, and a grapple gun to solve environmental puzzles and defuse hostage situations. The theatrical narrative unfolded through beautifully stylized cutscenes, enhanced by the legendary voice talents of Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill. A modern reimagining of this specific era would be a dream come true for Batman fans. Implementing cel-shaded graphics via current-gen rendering engines, introducing dynamic rooftop prowling mechanics, and expanding the tactical investigation elements would effortlessly honor the timeless spirit of the animated universe while providing a fresh, stylized alternative.

“Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time” (1999)

Stepping through time-travel portals to outsmart classic cartoon villains made the 1999 PlayStation release of “Bugs Bunny: Lost in Time” an absolute joy. This platformer captured the irreverent, slapstick spirit of the “Looney Tunes” universe, tasking players with collecting golden carrots across wildly distinct historical eras, from the Stone Age to a futuristic dimension. Gameplay was deeply tied to Bugs’ iconic personality, forcing players to dive into rabbit holes, kick anvils, and use stealthy tiptoe mechanics to bypass foes like Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam. It never fails to put a cartoony smile on your face. Authentic voice acting and whimsical tracks made every level feel like a playable Saturday morning cartoon. Bringing this delightful adventure into the current generation would be brilliant. A modern take on “Lost in Time” could utilize advanced physics to make the slapstick comedy highly interactive, (yes, with lots of ragdoll shenanigans), feature lush cartoon rendering that mimics modern high-definition animation, and even expand the time-travel hubs with clever new historical periods and multi-layered environmental puzzles.

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (Philosopher’s) Stone” - PS1 (2001)

Nostalgia is a powerful spell, but the PS1’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone” offered something far more enchanting: an atmospheric, blocky blueprint of Hogwarts that felt genuinely magical for the time. This adaptation excelled by transforming the boy wizard’s first year into a whimsical, secret-filled adventure exploration title. From collecting Every Flavour Beans to soaring through the sky on a broomstick during high-stakes Quidditch matches, the game captured the cozy yet mysterious essence of the “Harry Potter” world perfectly. Of all the early adaptations, this specific PS1 iteration is the one that most desperately cries out for a remake, primarily because its iconic, low-poly aesthetics—while deeply memed and loved today for "Hagrid's head"—severely restrict the sprawling grandeur of the castle grounds. A conjured reimagining could bridge this technological chasm by keeping the game's focused charm while breathing life into the environments with dynamic magical physics, a lush orchestral score, and stylized, high-fidelity (yet still cartoon-like) graphics that look like a magical moving storybook.

So, what did you think of our picks for this list? What are some great licensed games you think should be remade? Let us know in the comments.