Our Game of the Year coverage continues with the Best PS5, PS4 Remake, Remaster, or Re-Release of 2023, of which a top four has been put together by the Push Square editorial team. This category celebrates games that have already released and were brought back this year, either in their original form or updated with better visuals and more features.
Bronze Trophy: Like a Dragon: Ishin!
First released as a PS4 exclusive launch title in Japan, fans of the Yakuza series thought they'd never get to experience this trip back to the late Edo period on Western shores. To much-unexpected delight, though, SEGA this year released a complete remake that localised the game and allowed everyone to see what the fuss was all about. A worthy historical trek, this is a great title just as good as any mainline Yakuza game.
Silver Trophy: Star Ocean: The Second Story R
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a remake done absolutely right. It takes a classic JRPG and, without recolouring perceptions or tone or atmosphere, it provides numerous gameplay improvements and an impressive graphical overhaul. For our money, this is the best version of what is arguably the best Star Ocean game — and the Star Ocean game to play if you're new to the series. In fact, it's left us hoping that Square Enix will go ahead with additional remakes of its retro catalogue, because The Second Story R is exactly what it needs to be.
Gold Trophy: Dead Space
EA Motive has rescued Dead Space from the clutches of the PS3 with what is basically a one-to-one remake that faithfully brings back Isaac Clarke and the USG Ishimura. There are some redone scenarios and welcome new features like being able to backtrack through the space ship, but this is the Dead Space you remember with a glorious new lick of paint. It looks fantastic on PS5, and having already been one of the best survival horror games around, it retains that accolade whilst looking and playing better than ever.
Platinum Trophy: Resident Evil 4
Continuing its plight to remake all of the classic Resident Evil games, this year it was the turn of one of the greatest games of all time: Resident Evil 4. Capcom faithfully brought back the Nintendo Gamecube original with top-of-the-line visuals, new side content, and better combat in every sense. It's not quite as dramatic a remake when compared to Resident Evil 2 as the original title already had a third-person camera, but this is a gaming masterpiece made even better.
Honourable Mentions: Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster I - VI, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection, Persona 3 Portable, and Persona 4 Golden.
What was your favourite PS5, PS4 remake, remaster, or re-release of 2023? Place a vote in our poll and then explain your personal pick in the comments below. For further Game of the Year coverage, click the link.
What was your favourite PS5, PS4 remake, remaster, or re-release of 2023? (877 votes)
- Dead Space
- Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster I - VI
- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
- Like a Dragon: Ishin!
- Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection
- Persona 3 Portable 0%
- Persona 4 Golden
- Resident Evil 4
- Star Ocean: The Second Story R
- Other
Comments 33
RE4 and it isn't close.
Man i can't stop thinking how RE4 is awesome: a god tier game and remake. I loved Star Ocean too, a great piece of remake by Square
Quake 2 was the only remaster I played this year. I was too busy playing hogwarts,diablo 4,lies of p and lords of the fallen but quake 2 was an excellent blast from the past to break things up for an hour or 2 here and there.
Both Re4 and Dead Space. If I could choose 2 it would be both of those games because of how amazing of a remake they both were. Both remade and reimagined in the best way possible. For now I have to choose RE4 because of the writing and story being much more consistent and paced really well. Problems I had with RE4 was that Ashley sucked and was a joke of a character, it never dealt with Leon's PTSD of Racoon City, and the progression of the virus in Leon and Ashley wasn't all that developed throughout the story.
Red dead redemption.
This is the best one since it is equal to the original. Literally.
Resident evil 4 remake by a mile but ONLY due to the VR mode. Other than that there were some disappointing omissions and “reinterpretations for a modern audience”. Still, as the VR mode is one of the greatest gaming experiences I’ve had over a near 4 decade period, I can forgive it that.
How is the Quake 2 remaster not on here? There was so much love and care put into every nook and cranny and it offered an insane amount of content for just 10 bucks.
Star Ocean, perfect unless you need to read. Text is too small to even attempt it, let alone any of the others.
Hands down RE4. The Remake was such an incredible game.
Ishin broke the Yakuza spell for me. First one I didn't finish. Think it felt like a massive step back after the continual upward trajectory of the series. Still, glad it finally got released over here and people got to enjoy it.
My vote goes to Star Ocean Second Story R, only got the game yesterday but I've been playing it all day today. Such a great game and gorgeous mix of art styles, if only more classic JRPG's got this kind of treatment.
Resident Evil 4 is hands down the greatest remake ever made, in my opinion. It’s such a phenomenal game that needs to be experienced by all intrigued by this form of media.
On a side note — I’m glad that 10% of the voting went to Star Ocean The Second Story R. It’s not going unnoticed which is one of the best compliments a game of its nature can receive.
Both resident evil 4 remake and dead space remake looks amazing.and are 2 of the best games ever made.word up son
@PixelDragon @PegasusActual93 it's criminal that's what it is..
@PixelDragon I agree, that bucket of puke Konami made with scotch tape and used bubble gum shouldn't be taking the place of a game that was made with love and care like Quake 2.
RE4 remake might be better remake than Dead Space and it's definitely great game, but Dead Space far ahead on my list of favorite games
After reading this article I definitely need to play some of these. Dead Space was experienced back in the day during wisdom tooth removal recovery, so I’m curious how the remake would play in nowadays in a more aware state. RE4 seems to be a must play especially for someone who never experienced the original.
RE4 for remake. As for remaster/re-release I give it to FFI-VI Pixel Remaster with MGS Master Collection right after.
RE4 all the way!
Earth to Konami, this is how it's done.
Yeah RE4R without a doubt, one of the best games this and it might even be my favourite RE game especially with the DLC included. Really hope they remake Code Veronica next because it really needs it, its really important story/lore wise but god damn its aged badly and even at the time it felt old. Either way though Capcom are on a massive high right now and i can't wait for the next RE game.
@PegasusActual93 Because there's only 4 trophies on offer and the year has had a lot of strong remakes/remasters meaning some don't make it plus PQ were really down on it for some reason.
I'm definitely going with star ocean for this one
Dead Space remake and it isn't even close
Having played the first six Final Fantasies I can tell you that without a doubt the Pixel Remaster deserves the gold. It is the perfect example of how to update an old game whilst keeping its feel, tone and gameplay.
Whoever voted for MGS must be trolling. They are literally the same games with no improvements.
Resident Evil 4 Remake is great, some parts of the original I prefer but much of this is better amd the controls are much better and the VR mode is just so good.
But as @PegasusActual93 points out, where is Quake 2? That is easily one of the very best remasters ever and certainly the best one this year. It has all of the content, a brand new expansion, online multiplayer which is cross play, the Quake 2 N64 mode, accessibility options and more. Yet its not even an option when the frankly embarrassing Metal Gear collection is
I quite enjoyed Ishin, especially the dungeons but it did feel like I was playing an older game where as RE4 and Dead Space felt modern and looked stunning. Can't wait to try RE4 VR mode and then Village after that!
I loved both RE4 remake and Dead Space remake but I’m a sci-fi nut so it will always be Dead Space for me. 🤞🏻 they make Dead Space 2 remake too
By far Resident Evil 4
Quake 2. Dead space was good but i didn't like the changes to characters, Isaac's old face from 2 and 3 was better and Nicole looks like the old woman from the shining despite supposedly being younger than Isaac who looks 15 years younger than her in the remake.
@Czar_Khastik I think if you call something a remaster or remake you need do some work on it so it doesn't even qualify for this.
Never mind a re-release somehow counts as well.
@LifeGirl Still baffled they didn't do a second run of physical copies or a real one.
Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space are the remakes of the year, no doubt.
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