Nostalgia is massive enterprise in video video games — just about each writer out there may be constantly rereleasing extra polished variations of their most beloved video games for contemporary {hardware}. These remakes and remasters run the gamut from comparatively easy new-gen ports to full-on reimaginings just like the Remaining Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. And 2025 has been a banner 12 months for reborn retro video games — particularly for followers of RPGs. Listed here are Polygon’s favourite remakes, remasters, and re-releases of 2025.
Remaining Fantasy Ways: The Ivalice Chronicles
The Ivalice Chronicles took house this 12 months’s Sport Award for Greatest Sim/Technique, and its impeccable jobs system is a significant motive why. In the event you love customizing characters and sending lopsided teams into the fray — oops, all summoners! — then that is the technique RPG for you. Remaining Fantasy Ways’ battles are notoriously tough, however the job system’s flexibility and freedom makes trial and error an enormous a part of the enjoyable. You’ll expertise many swift defeats right here, but it surely solely amps up the satisfaction of lastly cobbling collectively a profitable strategy.
Trails within the Sky 1st Chapter
Gaming’s reply to Robert Jordan’s (and now Brandon Sanderson’s) Wheel of Time novels, the Trails collection is a sprawling science-fantasy epic spanning 13 installments with an overarching story. It was conceived by Falcom to have essentially the most bold story ever advised in video video games, so you possibly can perceive why newcomers are slightly daunted by the prospect. Now, no extra excuses: Trails within the Sky 1st Chapter is the definitive place to begin this storied journey — irrespective of how deep down the rabbit gap you dare to enterprise.
Konami’s remake of the third Steel Gear Strong recreation is probably going simply the beginning of a spate of re-releases for Hideo Kojima’s beloved espionage collection, and it’s a hell of one. It’s a cautious remake that doesn’t stray too removed from Kojima’s unique imaginative and prescient, for higher and worse: Delta retains all the unique recreation’s potential for crazy experimentation in fight, but it surely additionally holds onto its penchant for leering, creepshot digicam angles.
Dragon Quest 1+2 HD-2D Remake
Impressed by the Wizardry and Ultima video games, the OG Dragon Quest is the very first console RPG, from all the way in which again in 1986. The story is easy but acquainted: There’s an historic evil to be sealed, a princess to avoid wasting, and a few mystical MacGuffins to gather alongside the way in which. Sq. Enix’s nifty HD-2D remaster offers the primary two video games an excellent glow-up and sands off among the rougher edges of the 8-bit period, like solely with the ability to save in a single particular fortress and the dearth of a dash button. It’s the right strategy to expertise the classics — with out the offputting, old-timey clunk.
Suikoden 1 + 2 HD Remaster
Aesthetically, this assortment is extra of a lightweight refresh than a full-on makeover, and that’s all these enduring PS1 classics actually wanted. The entire gimmick of the Suikoden video games is that you simply get to recruit 108 occasion members. A few of these recruits are badass warriors, lots of them aren’t price leveling up, and the rest are simply dweebs who hand around in your fortress. The primary recreation within the bundle is completely fantastic, however the true meat right here is Suikoden 2, which options one of the delightfully fiendish villains of all time, an outstanding soundtrack, and a few legitimately jaw-dropping plot twists. In the event you love golden-age RPGs, this assortment is certainly price your time.
It was the worst-kept secret within the video games business for months, however when the Oblivion remaster was lastly shadow-dropped again in April, it lived as much as all of the hype. With The Elder Scrolls 6 nonetheless far, far-off, greater than 9 million Bethesda oldheads and newcomers alike dove eagerly into the world of Cyrodiil. The remaster contains modifications to its UI and leveling system to hew nearer to fashionable RPGs, and enemy animations have been up to date to offer the fight extra heft and realism. And, thank the gods, there’s a dash button now.
Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 + 4
Saved from the brink of cancellation when a brand new studio stepped in to take over the mission, Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater 3 + 4 offers a recent coat of paint to the arcade skater and provides a bunch of playable characters, however strips down the fourth recreation’s profession mode. Polygon known as the bundle “each a bolder and extra conservative sequel to its 2020 predecessor” in its assessment and famous it was a compelling argument in favor of Iron Galaxy to imagine management of the franchise going ahead.
Gears of Battle: Reloaded
The final word Dudes Rock shooter is again, and simply as bro-y as ever. In one among many indicators that 2025 marked the top of the console battle as we all know it, Reloaded deserted the collection’ console exclusivity for good and launched on the PS5. A product of the PS3/360 period of Very Brown Video games, the remake provides some welcome pops of colour right here and there as a part of its visible refresh. Certain, the story and characters are paper-thin, however you’re not right here for Shakespeare, you’re right here for massive dumb enjoyable, and Gears of Battle: Reloaded delivers.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
This revamped model of the 2008 Nintendo DS recreation Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar stands out for its lickety-split development and give attention to group, which permits it to sidestep a number of of the extra tedious facets of its life-sim brethren. A strong and open-ended romance mechanic solely provides to the attraction. It’s a must-play for cozy-game devotees.
The Talos Precept: Reawakened
This Portal-meets-Myst mashup will get a top-down rebuild in Unreal Engine 5, however the improved visuals aren’t the one draw right here. Reawakened provides a Mario Maker-esque puzzle editor that permits you to share creations on-line, in addition to an interactive developer commentary that’ll make you would like extra video games put this stage of thought and care into their remasters.
