25 Games That Don’t Need a Remaster

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There are many games that have been released over the many years of the games industry that have been remade. However, have you ever thought about games that just don’t need a remaster

Whether they are already perfect or far too new to be considered for one, this list compiles all of the games that don’t need a remaster. Additionally, some of the games on this list have a remaster, but either the game didn’t need it, or the remaster did a shoddy job of remastering it and adding anything to make it worth an extra hefty price tag.

It Takes Two

It Takes Two is a relatively recent game, but it’s not unheard of for new releases to get remasters soon after. However, It Takes Two is one that just doesn’t need it, no matter how old it gets.

The experience is so much fun, whether you play it single-player or with a friend. It may break your heart along the way and leave you feeling empty inside, but it’s a great game nonetheless!

Resident Evil 6

Before you get angry, this game is on the list for a good reason. Not because it’s perfect by any means, but because it just doesn’t deserve a remaster. Truthfully, I don’t think any amount of tweaking and updates could fix the game that Resident Evil 6 is.

While it can be a lot of fun while playing it with friends, it just isn’t quite the masterpiece that the other Resident Evil games are. Even the newer iterations in the franchise are significantly better than this one.

Chrono Trigger

While Chrono Cross, a game set in the same universe as Chrono Trigger, received a remaster, I think that Chrono Trigger doesn’t need one. 

Sure, the game would look fabulous with new graphics and a bit of tweaking, but the storyline carries the game so heavily that it’s a masterpiece with or without a remaster. Despite being made in 1999, the game still holds up incredibly well today.

Portal

Portal is such a fantastic game, as is the sequel to it. Getting to make portals for physics-based puzzles felt like such a unique game at the time, and to some degree, it still does. 

Although simplistic in style, the gameplay is innovative, and the characters are a ton of fun, too. Despite being made in 2007, the graphics are pretty darn good. It doesn’t matter if you’ve played it once or a hundred times. Portal never gets old.

The Last Guardian

The Last Guardian is such a stunning game that I’m politely requesting that it not be touched. If it gets ported to other consoles, that wouldn’t be a problem. However, it’s such a perfect game that I don’t see the need to remaster or remake it.

The game is full of emotion and takes you on a wild journey with a boy and the most adorable guardian named Trico. It’s a half-mammal and half-bird creature, and it is so cute! What’s not to love about this game, really?

Dark Souls 3

Now, while some may think that Dark Souls 3 could do with a bit of an update in visuals and graphics, I don’t think it needs it. The game is snappy and responsive enough; if we look at the remasters of Dark Souls 1 and 2, I don’t think they added much to them. 

Additionally, we know from their previous remasters that the games do not go above 60fps, so there isn’t much left to remaster. It’s the perfect game as it is.

Earthbound

Earthbound is just such a unique little game with beautiful graphics, despite it being released in 1994. It’s such a timeless game that you can replay it today, and it will still give you the same wondrous experience you may have had in the nineties.

While it may be a fantastic experience to see this game with high-definition graphics and upgraded audio, it stands resolute as it is and doesn’t need anything.

Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag

The Assassin’s Creed games are delightfully clunky and buggy. There’s something about the jankiness of the games that adds charm to the experience. Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag is probably one of the franchise’s most beloved games, so I think it should be left well alone.

Allegedly, there is a remake in development, but I honestly can’t see that happening. Leave the game as it is. Let me enjoy my buggy pirates in peace!

Baldur’s Gate 3

I would say this about Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, but they have already been remastered and enhanced. Not that they ever needed it, but I can confidently say that Baldur’s Gate 3 will never need to be improved or remastered. The graphics will hold up incredibly well as technology advances.

The amount of playtime you can get from the game and still experience and discover new things is wild. You can sink hundreds of hours into the game and still find new interactions with your favorite character. 

Bioshock Infinite

While Bioshock 1 and 2 have received enhancements to remaster them, Bioshock Infinite doesn’t need it. The graphics are still fantastic today, and the gameplay holds up considerably well. 

The story is undoubtedly outdated, another huge reason why Bioshock Infinite doesn’t need a remaster. Despite the stunning graphics and the innovative gameplay, the story is just a bit too uncomfortable for my liking.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece in its own right. Even if you aren’t a fan of shooters, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that may change your mind. While the game is so much more than that, shooting enemies is a huge part of the game.

However, if you can look past it, look at the story, and get attached to the main character, you’ll find yourself loving this game. It’s a masterpiece as it is, and it doesn’t need to be remade in any way whatsoever.

Resident Evil 7

While I think it’s highly unlikely that Resident Evil 7 would get a remaster, the odds are never zero. It breathed a new lease of life into the franchise after Resident Evil 6 and brought new people to the franchise who had never played a game in this survival horror series. 

The graphics hold up incredibly well, and the game is beautifully grungy. Luckily, it isn’t bug-ridden or anything of the sort, so Resident Evil 7 doesn’t need a remaster. 

Persona 5

We are now seeing the rest of the Persona games in the franchise get a remake or a remaster. Luckily, Persona 5 is relatively new, so it’s highly unlikely that we will get a remaster any time soon.

That said, I would fail to see what could be remastered, even if it were due for one. It has an iconic soundtrack, beautiful graphics, and an amazing story that hauled in new fans by the bucket.

Journey

Journey is a beautiful, relaxing, and iconic game first released on the PlayStation 3. Luckily, it has now made its way to other platforms, allowing new and old players to experience the game.

No matter how old it gets, Journey is such a stunning game, and the gameplay is seamless. There is no need to remaster this game; it’s already pure perfection. 

Life Is Strange: True Colors

The original Life is Strange has already received a remaster, although I think it didn’t need one. Life is Strange: True Colors is the franchise’s latest game, and it removes the charming art style from the original.

Instead, we have high-definition graphics with epic stories with great female protagonists. This game is pretty perfect as it is, and I can’t see why it would need remastering at any point. It’s had a lot of love poured into it. It has some great LGBTQ+ representation, and the game conveys Alex’s emotions perfectly. It’s a battle against her emotions and using her power for good. It’s one of the best choices matter games out there, and for that reason alone, it should be left as it is.

1Alien: Isolation

Alien: Isolation is such a phenomenal game. While it did have some mild FPS issues on the PlayStation 3 when it was released, the game has held up incredibly well. The graphics are some of the best, and the horror of Alien: Isolation never gets old.

While I don’t want to see a remake of this game, I would love to see Alien: Isolation get a sequel. What happens to Amanda Ripley? Is there more out there in the universe? I have so many unanswered questions!

Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is one of the most classic horror games released in 2010. It has been ported to many consoles and remains a very scary game. Are you seeing things that aren’t there, or are you really being chased by a monster with a gaping mouth?

The game holds up very well today. While the graphics are a little bit dated, there’s nothing wrong with it, and the fundamentals of the game are all intact. It even has a great mod community if you want some extra scares.

Halo Infinite

While the multiplayer mode for Halo Infinite has come under fire, the single-player campaign is pretty darn good. You can’t fault it, and it has some great graphics and realism to immerse the player in the world. 

Although I don’t want a remaster of this game, it would be cool to see the multiplayer get tweaked to make it more player-friendly and have fewer microtransactions. The player experience in multiplayer just isn’t that great, unfortunately. 

Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a masterpiece in every sense, whether it’s the epic boss fights, the world design, or the NPC questlines. It had a rough start as there were a couple of bugs and graphical issues on release, particularly on PC, but they are more than fixed now. 

The DLC for Elden Ring is just around the corner, and we get to see the magical world of Elden Ring evolve even more, which gives us more snippets of the lore to piece together the puzzle.

Kingdom Hearts 3

Kingdom Hearts 3 is such a fantastic game. Long-term fans of the franchise waited what felt like an eternity for Kingdom Hearts 3 to come out. When it did, it was precisely what the players wanted from the game. It was nostalgic, heartbreaking, and beautiful all at the same time.

While I’d say that the original games didn’t need a remaster, I’m also going to say that Kingdom Hearts 3 doesn’t need a remaster, either. There’s nothing horrifically wrong with the game, and it’s highly accessible. 

Dead by Daylight

Dead by Daylight is a great live-service game that is constantly evolving. However, when it was first released, it suffered a significant amount of jank. Additionally, the graphics for the game aren’t that good, and it feels lackluster overall.

While a remaster could give the game a new lease of life with updated graphics, the original is fine. It’s a great time if you’re playing with friends. However, there is still the issue of toxic players, which can dampen the experience.

Fallout 4

Fallout 4 is a great game and recently received a next-gen update, which has helped spruce things up a little. Some additional content has also been added for those who enjoyed the game but wanted to keep going with the story.

In typical Bethesda fashion, the game is not without issues. It is flawed and still has a significant amount of bugs today. However, those bugs are a “feature,” so it’s fine, right?

Don’t Starve

Don’t Starve has one of the most unique art styles I’ve seen in a game. It’s a beautifully dark experience and can be pretty scary at times, too. Whether you play it alone or with friends in the separate game Don’t Starve Together, both are great experiences. 

This title has so much replayability as you constantly find new things to explore and create. It’s such a beautiful and well-thought-out game that is still getting updates from time to time. It doesn’t need a remaster or remake.

Telltale’s Tales From the Borderlands

The original Tales From The Borderlands is a fabulous game. It’s full of the classic Borderlands witty humor and combines it with some shocking sadness by the end of it. The game takes you on a real journey, an unforgettable experience.

It’s so perfectly crafted that the game doesn’t need to be remade or remastered. The Telltale games are brilliant as they are and couldn’t get any better.

The Last of Us Part 2

For some bizarre reason, The Last Of Us got a remaster, and I couldn’t tell you why. The game wasn’t remotely outdated, and the graphics were fine. Porting it, I could understand, but there was no need for a remaster.

Another strange thing is that The Last of Us Part 2 has already been remastered. I just don’t understand why. The game was essentially brand new; the graphics were up to date. It was just completely unnecessary. While this entry may be seen as a cop-out, I couldn’t share how much of a gripe this is.

Whether the game is perfect as it is and should be immortalized that way, or the game is just downright terrible, these are all the games that didn’t or don’t need a remaster. Making games more accessible is something I absolutely agree with, but sometimes, keeping them as they are is a better experience.