Video games endure even as their original platforms fade into technological obscurity. Playing great old games is a problem that remakes and remasters exist to solve. 

It’s common to see a classic title or even a recent blockbuster get a remake or remaster for modern consoles and PCs. But what’s the difference between a remake and a remastered game—two related (and often conflated) but generally distinct terms? 

In this story, we’ll show you several ways to differentiate remastered games from remakes, clarifying the differences, unmasking the marketing, and exploring the reasons why a game might get a remake or a remaster. 
 

What is a remastered game?

A remaster is like a modern facelift for an old game. 

With a remastered game, developers tend to treat the original as the source material and create a new version based on it. The remaster can include upgraded features like modern audio, improved graphics, and increased frame rate and resolution.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 was released decades after the originals, and the remaster includes every mode from the originals while updating controls and visuals as well as adding playable characters. Alan Wake Remastered includes the original 2010 campaign while adding both of its DLC packs and 4K graphics support. 

 

What is a game remake?

Where remastered games give an old title a modern update, remake games tend to treat the original as a reference point and build something new, with developers generally feeling free to make more changes than they would in a remaster. 

Dead Space offers an excellent example of a remake. Developer Motive Studio didn’t simply build on the bones of the 2008 original. It rebuilt the game in a new, modern engine and added audio improvements and visual fidelity, even going so far as to rearrange some of the gameplay and story. It’s fundamentally the same game as the original, but treating it as a remake allowed the developers to change more than they would have in a straightforward remaster. 
Final Fantasy VII Remake went even further. It brought the core characters from the 1997 original but made sweeping changes to the visuals and gameplay mechanics while adding new features and changing parts of the story. 
 

Why is a video game remade or remastered?

Let’s take a look at some of the most common reasons that a game gets remade or remastered. 

Technological advancements

A game may have had innovative graphics and gameplay at its release, but time can make it look and feel outdated. Remaking and remastering are often synonymous with modernizing these aspects. 

Financial incentives

If there’s a strong fan base, developers may see remakes and remasters as lucrative.

Improving original flaws

Game patches and updates are modern luxuries, but many old games retain glitches, exploits, and other undesirable aspects that date back to their releases. A modern remake or remaster gives developers an opportunity to fix mistakes and provide a better experience for players. 

Expanding the audience

Nostalgia has a powerful pull. Reviving beloved mascots and game series offers an opportunity to reach an underserved audience. Remakes and remasters can even introduce games to a new audience. 

Preservation

Video games are fundamentally software that’s developed to run on targeted hardware. As their original consoles, compatible PCs, and physical media age, break down, and enter into incompatibility, games can become unplayable. Remaking and remastering games keeps them running and extends their lifespan.

Additional content

A remake or remaster offers an opportunity to add cut and new content. Online multiplayer, new chapters, and additional weapons give returning players something new while modernizing aspects for newcomers.

Physical-to-digital transition

Playing old games that only exist on physical media can be a challenge. Disc drives were once the cutting edge of video game delivery, but many modern PC rigs don’t include optical drives. Many cartridge-based consoles are long out of production. A digital remake or remaster can keep games like this alive.

Fan demand

Fandom is timeless, and demand for a beloved game creates a market opportunity. A remastered or remade game can serve the demands of long-standing fans.

Artistic vision

Video game remakes create an opportunity for the original creative team to realize their original artistic vision, which may have been constrained at the time. A video game remaster offers a chance to make more subtle visual or gameplay tweaks while increasing compatibility.
 

Play your favorite remakes and remastered games on the Epic Games Store

Now that you know how to settle the remaster vs remake debate, why not try some out for yourself? The Epic Games Store is full of remastered and remakes. Check out our catalog for some remasters of your old favorites, or play a modern take on a classic with a remake.

Make sure you check out the Epic Games Store's news page to catch up on the latest from all of your favorite developers about all of your favorite games.