Why Remakes and Remasters Are Important

All righty then! Last time, we tackled the topic of backwards compatibility and today’s subject is a natural sequence of that conversation.

Remakes and remasters often emerge as a solution to the absence or failure of proper backwards compatibility. But when done right, they become much more than stopgaps. They can spark renewed interest, reignite dormant franchises, and even redefine how we remember certain games. While many discussions focus on their commercial appeal, I want to take a step back and look at why these types of games are becoming increasingly important for both gamers and developers.

Defining the Basics: Remaster vs. Remake

Before diving into their significance, let’s quickly define the two terms, since they’re often used interchangeably but represent different approaches.

A remaster is an updated version of an existing game that enhances the original’s graphics, audio, and performance, while keeping the core gameplay, story, and structure largely intact. Think of it as a visual and technical polish.

A remake, on the other hand, is a rebuild from the ground up, often using a new engine and typically reimagines the gameplay, visuals, and sometimes even aspects of the story. It’s a fresh interpretation, not just a facelift.

TLDR:
👉 Remaster = Polish
👉 Remake = Rebuild

The Gamer's Perspective: Nostalgia, Access, and Preservation

Experiencing an old game especially through a faithful remaster can feel like stepping into a time capsule. It’s a rare and fascinating way to engage with gaming history, and when the remaster is done well (like Metroid Prime Remastered on the Nintendo Switch), it lets the brilliance of the original shine through with a modern coat of paint. If the source material is strong, a little visual and audio modernization can go a long way.

But remasters and remakes go beyond just being visually improved re-releases. They offer gamers pathways to nostalgia, access, and renewed appreciation. Unlike books or films, video games are often tied to specific, aging hardware. As consoles evolve, older titles become increasingly inaccessible—unless they’re preserved or reintroduced in modern form.

A well-executed remake or remaster doesn’t just revive a game, it preserves it for future generations. Consider a young gamer today who never had a chance to play the original Final Fantasy VII or Resident Evil 4. These titles are cornerstones of their genres, but their original versions can be hard to go back to due to outdated graphics, clunky controls, or platform limitations. A remake doesn’t just port the game forward, it translates it into a form that today’s players can appreciate without losing the essence of what made the original special. For veterans, it’s a fresh revisit. For newcomers, it’s a proper introduction.

Remasters and remakes also contribute to inclusivity and accessibility. Old games often lacked features like re-mappable controls, colorblind modes, autosaves, or scalable difficulty. Modern versions can integrate these features, making classic games more welcoming to a broader audience.

The Developer’s Perspective: Creative and Commercial Opportunity

From the developer’s side, remakes and remasters offer a rare balance of creativity and low-risk investment. Based on interviews and reports, these projects are often seen as safer bets especially remasters, which typically require less time and fewer resources than building something entirely new. The original game already has a fanbase, and its successes and failures are well-documented, giving developers a roadmap of what to refine or rethink.

A great example is the Dead Space Remake. Developers directly addressed fan feedback, some of it pulled from years-old blog posts and forum discussions to shape a new version that stayed faithful while fixing flaws and modernising gameplay.

But beyond safety and familiarity, remakes give developers a chance to explore “what if” scenarios. What if they had today’s technology back when the original was made? What ideas were left on the cutting room floor due to hardware limitations? What mechanics could now be executed properly, thanks to improved tools? This reimagining turns the remake into a labor of love a chance to polish and evolve, not just reproduce.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake is a textbook example. It goes far beyond just retelling the same story it adds new layers, scenes, and interpretations that expand on the original in bold ways. It shows how remakes can become new creative works in their own right, not just tributes.

Remakes and remasters also serve a practical function: they’re great training projects for new talent. Working with an established IP allows junior developers and designers to learn the studio’s tools, pipelines, and culture by iterating on proven content. It’s mentorship through legacy. Everyone benefits! gamers get a polished experience, publishers gain returns on legacy IPs, and newer devs gain experience without the pressure of launching something entirely from scratch.

Reviving Franchises and Cultural Conservation

On a broader scale, remakes and remasters can revitalize entire franchises. Look at Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, or Resident Evil. All saw renewed relevance and even brand-new sequels after successful remakes. In a market saturated with new IPs, sometimes the best way to stand out is to go back and build upon the foundation that made a series iconic in the first place.

There’s also a deeper, often overlooked angle: digital preservation and consumer rights. As digital storefronts close and physical media becomes rarer, we're at risk of losing access to entire generations of games. Without official ports, remakes, or remasters, many of these titles vanish into obscurity. If we want gaming to be taken seriously as a cultural and artistic medium, we need to preserve its history just like we do with classic literature or restored films.

In this context, remasters and remakes aren’t just commercial strategies they're acts of cultural conservation. They allow future generations to study, enjoy, and learn from the games that shaped the medium.

Final Thoughts

Remakes and remasters are becoming more than just ways to make old games look pretty. They’re essential tools for preserving gaming history, reintroducing timeless experiences, training the next wave of talent, and even reviving franchises that were on hiatus or lost popularity.

As the industry evolves and more legacy content becomes inaccessible, their importance will only grow. Whether you're revisiting a favourite from childhood or discovering a classic for the first time, remasters and remakes ensure that great games never truly disappear, they simply evolve.

Your Turn: What Do You Think?

That’s enough from me. Now I’d love to hear from you:

• What remaster or remade game you last played?

• What game do you want to see remade from the ground up?

Let’s keep the conversation going. 👇