13 remastered games you need to play on PS4 or Xbox One

13 remastered games you need to play on PS4 or Xbox One

Got a PlayStation 4 or Xbox One? There’s no shortage of awesome new stuff to play on both consoles. But before you plunge in, don’t dismiss a whole genre of games which you might be tempted to overlook on account of them not being ‘new’. We’re talking, of course, about “remastered” games: titles from the last generation of consoles (or even earlier) which have been given glossy remakes. Ready to revisit a few classics? Here are 13 of the most essential remastered games available on PlayStation 4 and/or Xbox One right now, all of which get the Stuff stamp of approval.

SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS (PS4)

Skipped out on Shadow until now? It’s a simple story: your beau is dead, and to revive her you must trek across a vast and barren land, killing the 16 monumental beasts that inhabit it. First released on PlayStation 2, this cult favourite was then upgraded to HD for the PS3 – and has now been buffed up all over again with HDR and a 4K resolution. It’s easily the best-looking edition of what was already an awe-inspiring game.

CRASH BANDICOOT N. SANE TRILOGY (PS4)

It’s been almost 20 years since the last great Crash Bandicoot adventure, so we’d almost forgotten how great the first three were back in the PSone’s day. The N. Sane Trilogy packs in Naughty Dog’s classic trio of 3D platformers, but instead of just giving them the usual widescreen and HD support, these games have been visually rebuilt from the original code – so they play the same, but they look like lush cartoons.

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE – REMASTERED (PS4/XB1)

Even after a decade of increasingly grandiose Call of Duty games, 2007’s Modern Warfare remains the best of the pack – so it’s a good thing you can play it on current consoles. Modern Warfare brings back the tense campaign mode, which still delights even if it doesn’t surprise on repeat plays, while the seminal boots-on-the-ground multiplayer action serves as a welcome respite from the futuristic shenanigans of Infinite Warfare.

GRAND THEFT AUTO V (PS4/XB1)

Grand Theft Auto V is one of the most spectacular games ever created, and it’s even better on new-gen consoles. The Xbox One and PS4 versions amplify the open-world classic with greatly improved visuals, and make the whole experience more engaging via the addition of an optional first-person perspective.

THE LAST OF US REMASTERED (PS4)

We once picked The Last of Us as the greatest PlayStation game of all time, across six platforms and 20 years worth of amazing experiences. Need we say more? Remastered refines the PS3 visuals and improves the frame rate – very welcome improvements – and bundles in the heartbreaking Left Behind add-on campaign.

HALO: THE MASTER CHIEF COLLECTION (XB1)

Before Halo 5: Guardians rolled around, Microsoft decided to bring not one, not two, not three, but all four earlier series entries to Xbox One with sharpened graphics. It’s an almost hilarious amount of content in one package, including four full games and every bit of DLC from over the years – we’re talking 100+ multiplayer maps, all of which can be played online.

BIOSHOCK: THE COLLECTION (PS4/XB1)

BioShock is an absolute legend in gaming, and the sequels are almost as strong – and now you can experience all three of them on your current console with BioShock: The Collection. The original is still the essential game in the batch as you’re introduced to Rapture, a grim underwater city filed with genetically-modified freaks and armored beasts alike.

WIPEOUT OMEGA COLLECTION (PS4/XB1)

WipEout has always looked amazing, even back on the PSone, due to incredible art direction, but it’s only improved with each new hardware advance – so we’re stoked to be able to play the Omega Collection on PS4 Pro in 4K with HDR support. Of course, the game’s a stunner and incredibly fun even on the standard PS4, as this collection bundles together the excellent Wipeout HD and Fury from PS3 alongside Wipeout 2048 from Vita.

METRO REDUX (PS4/XB1)

Finding its niche in the space between typical first-person shooters and stealth-action affairs, the Metro series is quietly powerful – plus it’s based on a Russian novel, and primarily takes place within post-apocalyptic Moscow’s subway system. Metro 2033 and sequel Metro: Last Light are different-feeling games, but this remastered bundle offers a very cool perk: the ability to play each game with the other’s gameplay approach, if desired.

UNCHARTED: THE NATHAN DRAKE COLLECTION (PS4)

Yes, the brilliant Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is also available on PS4, but that’s doesn’t dampen how fantastic a package this is. The Nathan Drake Collection compiles all three of the PS3’s Uncharted games’ campaigns in a single bundle, delivering hours and hours of high-intensity action.

RESIDENT EVIL (PS4/XB1)

Capcom’s been pretty aggressive over the years with re-releasing Resident Evil games, but a remaster of a remake? That’s just funny. But seriously, this is by far the best way to experience the iconic original game. It glosses up the great GameCube remake from years back by improving the environments and adding 1080p and 16:9 widescreen support. Perhaps best of all the tweaks is the option to ditch the old “tank controls” and use a more responsive, modernised scheme

THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM – SPECIAL EDITION (PS4/XB1)

Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim remains the completely essential, totally enormous, absolutely epic role-playing odyssey of choice – and, yes, it’s even better on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Skyrim looks a lot better than the earlier console editions, even if it’s still a bit rugged in a lot of ways, plus it bundles in the various add-ons and allows for an array of approved fan mods, giving you a massive amount of fantasy excellence to dig into.

TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION (PS4/XB1)

Lara Croft’s initial reign atop the gaming world ended in ruin – but 2013’s Tomb Raider restored the iconic heroine to greatness. It’s a supremely exciting adventure that satisfies with wild action and dazzling exploration sequences – and also reboots Croft’s origin story with success. The Definitive Edition makes the console versions look as amazing as the PC release did on a high-end rig, plus bundles in previously paid multiplayer add-ons.