10 Nintendo Games That DESPERATELY Need To Be Remade

10 Nintendo Games That Desperately Need to be Remade

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking at some of Nintendo’s first-party releases we’d love to see given new life with a remake, no matter how unlikely it is. However, we’ll be doing our best to stay away from games that have already been remade at least once.

“Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem” (2002)

In an age of excellent horror remakes, “Eternal Darkness” deserves the same treatment. Released on the GameCube in 2002 and developed by Silicon Knights, it’s the very definition of a cult game. It sold poorly on release, the developer eventually closed in 2013, and the director has tried and failed to get a spiritual successor off the ground twice. Still, it’s one of the most unique horror games ever made, thanks to the Sanity Meter that has you experience a wide variety of freaky effects, some of which broke the fourth wall in clever ways. It would be cool to see Nintendo revisit one of its rare first-party, Mature titles with updated visuals and controls that it badly needs. Even better, the ways in which a remake could update those Sanity Effects is extremely enticing.

“Donkey Kong 64” (1999)

We here at MojoPlays have a soft spot for “Donkey Kong 64.” But we can’t ignore the obvious flaws that a potential remake could fix. Developer Rare famously went overboard with a mountain of collectibles for each of the five Kongs. And that would be the first place to touch up on a revisit. Maybe don’t give each character a hundred bananas scattered across every level that only they can collect. Or maybe we can do without all those blueprints for Snide the weasel. At the very least, some quality-of-life changes could make dealing with all of these much easier; namely, the ability to quickly swap characters so we don’t have to backtrack to a Tag Barrel. Plus, given how good “Bananza” looked and felt to play, a remake in that same engine (minus the destructible environments, of course) would be stunning.

“Pokémon Colosseum” (2004)

The core “Pokémon” games have been receiving remakes for years, the latest being “Brilliant Diamond” and “Shining Pearl” in 2021. However, when it comes to spin-offs, those have never gotten the same treatment. And “Colosseum” is one of the best. While the “Stadium” games before it showed the capabilities of 3D, home console battles, there wasn’t any story to it. The GameCube’s “Colosseum,” on the other hand, did have an original story. It focused on a boy going up against an evil organization to rescue Shadow Pokémon - those that had been corrupted by their trainer’s evil ways. More linear than the core games, and with a smaller PokéDex, that doesn’t stop “Colosseum” from delivering a great “Pokémon” experience. With better visuals, smoother controls, and additional creatures from the more-than two decades since its release, it could be even greater.

“Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War” (1996)

“Fire Emblem” fans have a large group of older games to choose from when it comes to which ones should be remade. For most of them, it’s because Nintendo never released them outside of Japan. So, why “Genealogy of the Holy War” specifically? Well, released in 1996 for the Super Famicom, it’s one of the more influential entries of the franchise’s earlier days. Several gameplay features that were introduced here, like romance, would be brought back and expanded on. And the story was much grander than previous games. It would obviously be great to experience one of the franchise’s most important installments in a new light, with updated controls, graphics, and maybe even some elements from future games.

“Kid Icarus: Uprising” (2012)

With a charming main hero and Nintendo’s fun take on Greek myth, “Kid Icarus” is something we need more of just in general. And the so-far last game in the series was released over a decade ago on the 3DS. “Uprising” is a great action game; a blend of third-person and railgun shooting with a light tone and humor, and all of it working in tandem to give you a quick-paced experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Controls would undoubtedly be the most noticeable improvement in a remake. But the art direction is strong, so better visuals could make great use of it. It would also introduce a new audience to Pit’s world, and (fingers crossed) lead to a revival.

“Golden Sun” (2001)

For RPG fans with a Game Boy Advance, “Golden Sun” was a must play. It had all of the depth and wonder of a console RPG, and it fit right in your pocket. Sadly, even though it was a hit that turned into a series, the last game was way back in 2010. Many have wanted to see its return over the years. And a remake is certainly a safer bet than a brand new game. It has aged fairly well; we would expect updates to graphics, some smoother controls, and some quality-of-life additions. But what would really make it special would be if Nintendo bundled it with the sequel, 2002’s “The Dark Age,” since both games tell a larger story.

“StarTropics” (1990)

A bit of a dark horse for our next pick, but “StarTropics” on the NES never really got its due. Taking inspiration from “The Legend of Zelda,” it follows the young Mike Jones on a trip to visit his archaeologist uncle on a strange island…only to find that he’s gone missing once he arrives. There’s a fun mystery at its core, the dungeons are great, and exploring C-Island offers joy in the unknown with plenty of zany NPCs to boot. But imagine how incredible it would be to explore these places with a fresh coat of paint. Plus, it being the oldest game on our list, there are so many directions to go and things to improve with a potential remake.

“The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages” & “Oracle of Seasons” (2001)

Speaking of “Zelda,” it’s honestly surprising that Nintendo hasn’t remade the “Oracle” games yet. The formula for success is already there: take the two Game Boy Color titles, and put them in the same engine as the “Link’s Awakening” remake from 2019. And fans would absolutely eat it up, especially if both “Ages” and “Seasons” were bundled together. While the improved graphics, with that fantastic diorama aesthetic, would be great to see, there are also some notable quality-of-life changes we’d like to see made. Like how painfully challenging it is to earn some of those magical rings, or with some of the dated awkwardness that came from linking your saves. Regardless, this would be an easy win for Nintendo.

“Super Mario Sunshine” (2002)

Some may yearn to see “Super Mario 64” in the “Odyssey” engine. But that’s a groundbreaking classic, which has already been remade once. “Sunshine,” on the other hand, had its issues even at launch and would therefore benefit much more from a remake. There are definitely a few infamous Shine Sprites that are hard to earn only because of a cheap set-up like the Pachinko Machine, the Lily Pad Ride, or some of the levels where Mario loses F.L.U.D.D. A remake could fix these inconsistencies in quality. Additionally, Isle Delfino is one of Mario’s most engaging worlds. And we have no doubt that better graphics would make its sun-drenched locations and deep oceans that much more breathtaking. Along with some minor updates to controls, and maybe some new voice actors for those cutscenes, a “Sunshine” remake could improve on one of Mario’s more contentious adventures.

“Mother 3” (2006)

Honestly, this entry almost writes itself. “EarthBound”, or “Mother 2” in Japan, is widely regarded by pretty much everyone to be one of the best RPGs ever made. But it sold horribly, and an N64 sequel was canceled before being revived on the Game Boy Advance in 2006…two years after the DS was already out. Naturally, “Mother 3” has never been released outside of Japan, despite its critical acclaim and very vocal outcry from the fanbase, which took it upon themselves to translate it to English when Nintendo didn’t. I’m sure fans would be over the moon just to receive an official port. And a remake, with all the bells and whistles that come with it, is probably never going to happen. But hey, we can dream, right?

What’s a first-party Nintendo game you’d like to see get a remake? Share your thoughts in the comments, and we’ll see you next time!