Classic video games are making a comeback in 2025 thanks to remasters of beloved titles like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. Bethesda's hit has shown fans that some games do withstand the test of time and are just as good as fans them—especially when they're presented with beautifully upgraded graphics and quality-of-life improvements.

Oblivion Remastered is just the tip of the iceberg, with so many more video game remasters already out or launching sometime this year. Besides these, some games are also rumored to be coming sometime soon, but not officially announced yet, including GTA4, Chrono Trigger, and Final Fantasy 9. Even if these titles aren't official yet, there are plenty that are, allowing fans of older games to relive the nostalgic and wonderful world of classic video games in all their remastered and upscaled glory.

10 Donkey Kong Country Returns HD

Released January 16 (Out Now)

Donkey Kong fans are having a great year as, after seven years without a new release, the big ape has returned to start in not one, but two new games. Donkey Kong Bonanza smashes into action on July 17 as a title for the Nintendo Switch 2. Until then, fans can revisit the shenanigans of the 2010 Donkey Kong Country Returns, thanks to the HD remaster.

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In Donkey Kong Country Returns, fans can relive (or experience for the first time) the fun level design and catchy soundtrack of the Wii game as Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong run, swing, and ride through 80 levels in search of their stolen bananas. The remaster kept the original game intact, upgrading its visuals to crisp high definition for the Nintendo Switch. The game includes the additional levels from the 3DS version, and has two-player couch-co-op for twice the platforming fun.

9 The Sims: Legacy Collection

Released January 31 (Out Now)

Some would argue that the Legacy Collection versions of The Sims 1 and 2, which were re-released as part of huge deal for nostalgic gamers.

The Legacy Collection for each of the retro games includes the original titles—optimized for Windows 10/11—seven content packs, and one additional goodie pack in each collection for The Sims 4. Whether you enjoy creating structured storylines and completing challenges or you like the chaos of open-ended play, the two games have something to offer for anyone who dabbles in the dollhouse that is The Sims franchise.

8 Tomb Raider 4–6 Remastered

Released February 14 (Out Now)

Lara Croft returns in a second installment of remasters by Aspyr, this time tackling the fourth, fifth, and sixth games in the series. The remaster follows the successful release of the upgraded Tomb Raider 1-3 collection, which came out in February of last year.

Like the first collection, Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered brings all three games up to modern standards. The collection includes Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation, Chronicles, and The Angel of Darkness, which follow the Egyptian God Set story arc and see Lara exploring Egypt, presumed dead, and on the run as a fugitive—all as the darkness of Set's curse threatens to destroy humanity entirely.

Aspyr's remasters optimize Tomb Raider 3, 4, and 5 both visually and mechanically, making them look and play great on modern computers. The remastered versions also improve the controls, make it possible to see boss health bars, and add over 150 trophies and achievements. And if you prefer the classic version of Lara, you can switch to the original polygonal models at any point.

7 The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered

Released April 22 (Out Now)

The GTA6 has been delayed to 2026. The remake is a great example of how to do remasters right, faithfully recreating Oblivion for old fans while bringing it into the modern gaming era for new audiences. Oblivion Remastered transports players back to the land of Cyrodiil, where they must journey through the lands to uncover the dark secrets behind the mysterious and dangerous Oblivion Gates that have started appearing.

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Oblivion Remastered has earned innumerable brownie points for Bethesda, and this could kick-start an era of remakes for the studio moving forward.

Fans and critics generally agree that the remaster takes everything that made the fantasy RPG so good to begin with and makes it accessible to current gamers. In Oblivion Remastered, Deven McClure commends Bethesda for mastering the remaster, writing:

"The balancing act between maintaining the original's odd charm and making modern improvements was a delicate one, but from what I’ve seen so far, it’s largely been a success."

Between the labor of love that went into this remake from the developers to the thriving modding community that's already working on adding content and making improvements, this is one remaster that'll likely continue to be loved and played for many years.

6 Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4

Coming July 11

The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater games defined a generation with their iconic and addictive skateboarding gameplay and grunge-y punk late-90s/early-2000s soundtrack. The first two games were remade in 2020, recapturing the feel of the classics with new visuals and drastically improved controls. The third and fourth entries return this summer, promising the fun and familiarity of the franchise with plenty of improvements and even some new content.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 rebuilds both games from the ground up in "jaw-dropping 4K" for a huge visual improvement from the original titles. Along with all the beloved content of the over 20-year-old games, the remasters add new skaters, parks, tricks, and an extended version of the park and skater creation modes. Developer Iron Galaxy also promises "eardrum-shattering music," as per the franchise's tradition. And Tony Hawk's not done yet, as he's also stated that he wants to remaster Tony Hawk's Underground.

5 Gears of War: Reloaded

Coming August 26

The announcement of a Gears of War remaster came as a surprise to many fans, who were expecting a remake collection of the original Gears trilogy. Instead, Gears of War: Reloaded is set to return to the award-winning shooter from Epic in a new and enhanced visual style and performance. The game will (re)tell the story of a group of soldiers, led by Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago, who embark on potentially deadly missions to try and save their planet from an army of underground enemies called the Locust.

Reloaded is being developed in collaboration between The Coalition, Sumo Digital and Disbelief, and promises 60 FPS during the campaign and 120 FPS in multiplayer, all presented in full, stunning 4K. The game will also make several upgrades to the gameplay, though not much information has been revealed about the nature of these changes, yet. This remaster is especially noteworthy, since it will release on Xbox Series X/S, Windows, and PlayStation 5, marking the first time that the franchise has been released on a console other than Xbox.

4 Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar

Coming August 27

Thanks to the remake of Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, cozy gaming aficionados can now experience a title from the game series that popularized the genre. The remake completely recreates the Harvest Moon game, giving players the opportunity to farm, raise animals, and get close to the residents of Zephyr Town. Throughout this experience, fans will also work toward restoring the titular Bazaar that once livened up the town's streets.

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Grand Bazaar is a complete remake of Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar, presented under the series' new name and entirely recreating the game for the Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, and PC. The core of the story and all 10 of the original romanceable characters will be included in the game, but the remake will also include plenty of new additions including two brand-new potential romance partners, a new visual style, and an expanded story. The game will also have a full cast of voice actors for the potential marriage candidates for the first time in the series' history.

3 Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater

Coming August 28

Hideo Kojima is a busy man these days, thanks to the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and the accompanying world tour that Kojima is embarking on to celebrate the game's release. But before he was heading his own studio at Kojima Productions, he created the legendary stealth-shooter series Metal Gear Solid, starring the spec-ops spy and mercenary, Snake.

Konami is poised to revisit Snake's story this summer, even without Kojima's involvement, bringing fans a remaster of the 2004 Metal Gear Solid 3, titled Metal Gear Solid Δ: Snake Eater. Delta brings fans back to several decades before the events of the first game, where Naked Snake has to face off against his own mentor in the middle of the Cold War.

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With this edition of the classic title, Konami hoped to keep the game as close to the original as possible while looking like a modern-gen game. Still, Delta will also add several improvements, including much-needed upgrades to the controls and camera. The remaster also enhances the graphics and adds 3D audio to make fans feel like they're actually out in the jungle right along with Snake.

2 Syberia Remastered

Coming In 2025

Released in 2002 by Microids, point-and-click adventure game Syberia tells a poignant story of self-discovery through clever puzzles and gorgeous hand-drawn environments. The game's story, written by Benoît Sokal, followed Kate Walker on a journey that started with a simple job for her New York law firm and turned into a trek across fictional locations in Eastern Europ, on the quest to resolve some mysteries and find new meaning in life.

A remaster of the first game in the series is planned for late 2025, which will turn the already beautiful and atmospheric game into an even more impressive HD version of itself. The game promises to faithfully recreate the feel of the original title while making visual and gameplay improvements. A VR version of the remaster for the Meta Quest 3 will release at the same time as the PC remaster, allowing players to experience the world of Syberia and its iconic locations like never before.

1 Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Remake

Coming In 2025

Dragon Quest is a massively popular RPG series, especially in Japan where the franchise is as big—if not bigger—than the Final Fantasy games. The tagline for the Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D Remake is "The Legacy Begins," but the first two games in the DQ franchise weren't the first to get a remake: Square Enix actually remastered the third game late last year. This time, the studio is tackling the first and second titles that started the classic series.

The remake completely transforms the two games visually, rendering them in a stunning 2D format that adds depth to the games while retaining the charm and style of the originals. The two games follow the hero's journey to protect their homeland from nefarious bad guys—the Dragonlord in the first title and an evil wizard in the second.

The release date and more information haven't been revealed yet, but if the remasters for 1&2 are similar to the third game's remake, fans can expect stunning visuals and possibly even a new class or two. Between remastets like Dragon Quest, the Tomb Raider franchise, and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, fans can get their fix of nostalgia, whether they're gaming veterans of just embarking on their first journey into these classic games.

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Your Rating

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered
Top Critic Avg: 82/100 Critics Rec: 87%
Released
April 22, 2025
ESRB
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Sexual Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Virtuos, Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
Unreal Engine 5