These rankings are based on a direct vote put out to DualShockers’ 100+ contributors, writers, and editors, not our individual reviews.
FromBaldur’s Gate 3toSea of Stars, 2023 was packed full of new top-notch experiences, but there were also some standout remakes and remasters, which have allowed long-time fans to relive nostalgia while giving new players a chance to experience some of the best games ever made in slick, modernized form.
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2023 had a plethora of interesting and engaging characters. This list breaks down the ones we’re never going to forget.
Whether you’re a fan of horror, action-adventure, turn-based strategy, or anything in between, there was likely a remake/remaster released this year that will tickle your fancy. According to DualShockers, here’s how all the remakes and remasters stacked up to one another in 2023.
10Risk Of Rain Returns
Home Away From Home
Risk of Rain Returns is a remaster of the originalRisk of Rain. Players who enjoyRisk of Rain 2, or loved the original when it was first released, will surely enjoy racing through Petrichor V while battling hordes of enemies.
…a faithful remaster that gives fans of the series a ton of new content to delve into.
Risk of Rain Returns gives players a choice of survivor, with new and returning options available. They must fight waves of challenging enemies in an effort to escape the harsh planet landscape that surrounds them. While it isn’t quite as smoothed out as the 2020 sequel, it is a faithful remaster that gives fans of the series a ton of new content to delve into.
Risk of Rain Returns
9Like A Dragon: Ishin!
Guns & Swords? Yes, Please!
Like A Dragon: Ishin!is a remake of the 2014 Yakuza spinoff. Breaking from more recent entries, Ishin takes players to 19th-century Japan, in the clogs of Sakamoto Ryoma on the path of revenge.
As with the original, Like A Dragon: Ishin!’s combat is fantastic, giving players a choice between guns, katanas, or good ol' fisticuffs. Mohamed, our reviewer, gave the game a fantastic score,9 out of 10. He loved the Trooper Card system and how it shook up the game’s combat.
Like a Dragon: Ishin!
8Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
Turn-Based Strategy At Its Finest
The Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp remake brings a ton of life and color to the classic GBA strategy games. The game may not be as complex as modern-day strategy games, but when you’re looking at remakes, it doesn’t get much better. The visuals, dialogue, and combat have all been updated for modern players.
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It’s a tight race for top strategy game of the year.
It may come as a surprise, but the mechanics in this game have aged incredibly well. Don’t let the colorful and cartoony visuals fool you; the game can get truly challenging. Capturing cities, taking on enemy units, and strategizing your next move are essential to success.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
7We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie
Collecting Garbage Has Never Been So Fun
The Katamari games are pretty straightforward. You roll a ball around an area, gathering garbage, items, people, and animals. The more you collect, the larger your ball grows and the more/bigger items you can pick up. It sounds simple, but in We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie, things can get pretty tricky in the later areas of the game.
As the game progresses, players will need to collect specific items and grow their ball to a certain size to satisfy demands. As for the visuals and story of We Love Katamari, it doesn’t get much zanier than this, and the remake brings that front and center with updated textures and models.
We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie
6Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection
Ten Games In One?!
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection is a whopping 10 games in one! It’s a remake that takes theMega Manseries back to several of its more interesting releases. The Battle Network spin-offs took Mega Man for a roleplay spin, and it’s great seeing those make their way to modern consoles.
If you’re a fan of the core Mega Man games and want a different experience, you’ll enjoy the Legacy Collection!
All of the games feature similar elements, from the story-heavy emphasis to the real-time tactical combat system, which was new to the franchise prior to Battle Network’s release. If you’re a fan of the core Mega Man games and want a different experience, you’ll enjoy the Legacy Collection!
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection
5Metroid Prime Remastered
Spend Some Time On The Beautiful Tallon IV
It’s been two decades since the originalMetroid Primewas released on the Nintendo GameCube and the remaster truly did the game justice.Metroid Prime Remasteredgives the entire game a fresh coat of paint. The original’s outdated controls, less-than-stellar textures, and even some audio cues have been revamped for the Nintendo Switch.
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If you’re a fan of puzzle games, you’ll enjoy this selection of 2023’s best.
The world looks gorgeous on the Switch, and it’s a great way to kill the time while we await news of Metroid Prime 4… if that ever comes. Joshua gave the gamea stellar 9.5/10, calling it a “successful experiment in gaming perspectives and a paragon of how to improve on an already excellent game.”
Metroid Prime Remastered
4Persona 4 Golden
High School Drama Or Paranormal Mystery
Persona 4 Golden is one of the best JRPGs ever made. It is a blend of so many different genres and mechanics that it’s tough to define it in one go, as you delve into everything from mundane daily activities, to paranormal investigations, dungeon crawling, and more.
…delve into everything from mundane daily activities to paranormal investigations, dungeon crawling, and more.
Persona 4 Golden has an incredibly memorable narrative and cast of characters that make this game an all-time classic. Whether you’re a fan of JRPGs or not, Persona 4 Golden is worth your time. Our reviewer, Joshua,gave the game a 9.5/10, saying “By the end of the game, I knew every face, every spot and could teach you which bait was the best to properly catch a fish in the Samegawa Flood Plain.”
Persona 4 Golden
3Super Mario RPG
Put Geno In Smash
Super Mario RPGis one of the most inventive and unique entries in the Super Mario franchise. It introduced the hero to new characters, new combat mechanics, and a rich narrative. A stark contrast to the normally predictable 2D sidescroller.
Super Mario RPG’s remake gives the game a beautiful new look.
Super Mario RPG’s remake gives the game a beautiful new look, which is a given for a game that was originally released on the SNES. There were some more meaningful changes in the audio department, some new combat mechanics were included, and there’s even more content for players to delve into after they beat the main campaign. Geno and Mallow are standout characters, and hopefully, their 2023 revival will make them more prevalent in modern Nintendo games (cough cough Smash Bros. cough cough).
Super Mario RPG
Incredibly Grotesque
WhenDead Spacewas originally released, it was groundbreaking.Dead Space’s 2023 remakeis just as horrific and brutal as the original game, if not more so. The spooky ambiance is cranked up to 11 and the Necromorphs have never looked more grotesque.
The spooky ambiance is cranked up to 10 and the Necromorphs have never looked more grotesque.
Dismembering your enemies just before they reach you will always be satisfying. Dead Space Remake is essential playing for fans of the original game, and while there were some notable changes made (like new side missions, an alternate ending, and new floorplans), the game is a faithful remake of a horror staple.Reviewed a 9/10by our Elijah Beam, he said: “Dead Space Remake is damn good fun, with interesting ideas and appreciation of the greater franchise that most remakes lack.”
Dead Space Remake
1Resident Evil 4 Remake
The Return Of Leon S. Kennedy
The originalResident Evil 4is a timeless classic and one of thebest survival horror gamesof all time. The remake does very little to change that.Resident Evil 4 Remakeis true to form, with cheesy dialogue lines, a wacky story, and endless Ganados to mow down.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is true to form, with cheesy dialogue lines, a wacky story, and endless Ganados to mow down.
RE4 Remake made some much-needed fixes. you’re able to now bind weapons to your D-Pad, auto-save comes in handy, and there are even new enemies to tangle with as you attempt to rescue the president’s daughter. While this game came in first on our list of best remakes, our reviewer Elijah was less thrilled andgave RE4 Remake a 7/10! Nevertheless, the people have spoken, and Leon Kennedy reigns supreme!
Resident Evil 4
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