30. Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (Switch)
A beautiful game with potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay, there's still no getting away from the fact that this is an ageing GBA title at its core. The dungeon-crawling genre has evolved over the years to try and make things feel less repetitive, and while Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX does add some features to modernise the process a bit, they tend to fall flat. It's still fun in bursts, it just gets samey after a while.
29. Super Mario Advance (GBA)
The first of the GBA's Super Mario platformer ports (and the one that kicked off the most convoluted naming convention in gaming history), Super Mario Advance brought Super Mario Bros. 2 to the GBA in the 16-bit style of Super Mario All-Stars. With the ability to choose between four characters carrying over from the original, it gained a point system in addition to its facelift, as well as several collectibles to find throughout each stage. Overall, it's still one of the best ways to revisit the game, and you also get the remake of original Mario Bros. bundled in — that little multiplayer bonus would feature on multiple other entries in this GBA port series going forward.
28. Luigi's Mansion (3DS)
Luigi’s Mansion proved that there was still life in the 3DS, even as the Switch swooped in and barged it out of the spotlight. With this version, we got to play a lost piece of Nintendo’s history; a game that was originally envisaged as a stereoscopic 3D experience on GameCube, but never came to fruition in that form. You could finally play Luigi's Mansion as the designers did before the 3D idea was scrapped, and it is as fun now as it was when the GameCube launched. If you’ve never played it before, you should definitely seek out this version. If you already have, the added functionality in the 3DS port provides more than enough reason to pick up the Poltergust one more time, although if you're one of those people who found the charming 2001 original disappointingly lightweight (yes, such people actually exist), then this update is unlikely to change your mind.
27. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (DS)
The next game to release after Wii's Radiant Dawn, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is a DS remake of the original Famicom Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light that launched the franchise in Japan but never saw release on the NES or in the West — until surfacing for a limited-time on Switch, that is. Did you get it?
Featuring series favourite (and Smash Bros.) veteran Marth, this remake was the first time people outside Japan could experience the original game, and the DS provided the perfect platform for it. It'll cost you a pretty penny to pick up a copy nowadays and it's clearly far less complex than recent offerings, but this is still a great example of the series' core gameplay.
26. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Switch)
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a delightful reimagining of two classic GBA strategy titles. The gameplay here remains as endlessly addictive, finely balanced, and challenging as ever, and the addition of a handful of modern conveniences and the ability to play against friends online makes for a slick overall package. With a crisp, clean new art style that adds lots of new animations and cutscenes, a remastered soundtrack, and voice-acting in the mix, this is a polished return to Advance Wars action that's got us fully addicted to the series all over again. This is the sort of game you'll reserve a permanent space for on your console, a timeless experience you'll keep tucked away on your Switch for the foreseeable future.
25. Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land (GBA)
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land is a worthy remake of the pink puffball's first home console adventure. While what it offers is a tad basic compared to more modern Kirby titles, it's still very playable, and there are little creative moments where the game shines. As with practically every other game featuring the Kirbster, its delightful, colourful visuals make it a supremely charming experience, and one which will be most appreciated by players looking for only a very light challenge.
24. Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (3DS)
This spruce-up of the DS original did more than enough to impress us and, along with Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn, gave the 3DS a truly great swansong, even if most Nintendo fans had moved on to Switch by January 2019. With updated visuals, a brand-new side story involving Bowser Jr., and the ability to speed up gameplay, it’s the best version of arguably the best of the Mario & Luigi RPG series. Plus, you get to root around in the intestines of a giant fire-breathing lizard. What’s not to like?
23. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (Switch)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD introduced a raft of technical improvements and quality-of-life updates that revitalised the Wii game. The alternate button control scheme totally worked if you still couldn't get on with the motion controls, the graphics got a sensitively-handled HD overhaul, and a once-bothersome sidekick was streamlined into something altogether more useful. Yes, the locking off of instant travel behind the official amiibo was a misstep, but beyond that issue, this was a great remaster of a divisive game.
22. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (Switch)
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a fantastic remaster of one of our favourite Kirby adventures. With slick new visuals, some meaningful gameplay tweaks, and two excellent new modes to dig into, this is a big, loud, colourful celebration of all things Kirby that should delight new and returning players alike. Magalor's Epilogue is a surprisingly chunky addition to the core action that gives the campaign a nice boost, whilst Merry Magoland ensures that you and your pals are kept busy with plenty of minigames, missions, and online challenges to best once you're done with the main story mode.
21. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (3DS)
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga is a classic, and this version is arguably the definitive one. Bowser's Minions is a harmless but shallow add-on, but the Superstars are the real attraction. This is a series that has a distinct and special place within Nintendo gaming, and after experimentation and not-always-popular approaches in the 3DS era of games, this took us back to the IP's roots. What a treat it is, too - funny, smartly designed, and pure unpretentious joy. This is a great starting point for those that missed the original in the Game Boy Advance era, and should also be tempting to those with fond memories of that adventure.
20. Metroid: Samus Returns (3DS)
The Game Boy sequel to the original Metroid on NES was remarkable back in the day, but if there was ever a perfect candidate for a remake in Nintendo’s back catalogue, that was the one. MercurySteam did a fabulous job updating Metroid II’s mechanics for the 21st century, giving a whole new audience the chance to experience an important chapter in the series’ story. Handy additions like the map were joined with a new melee attack which introduced a delicate balance of risk versus reward and the result was one of the best games on the system. It was no surprise that Nintendo partnered with the developer on Metroid Dread.
Comments 64
Yeah, I mean, most of the top ones aren't really remakes, but they are very good games.
Link's Awakening was amazing. Should be higher on this list.
There should always be an option to buy the original instead/with the remake
No remake's gonna be better than/as good as the OG
Yeah Nr.1 makes perfect sense. Can't be beaten.
@Princess_Lilly That's not always the case. Sometimes a remake a can improve an original.
Sometimes an original wasn't that good to begin with, and a remake does it better.
It's a case by case sorta thing. Granted remakes can also be bad or worse, but not always.
Wasn't this an article a few days back?
Majora’s mask doesn’t belong anywhere near this list. It absolutely ruined the boss battles and zora swimming. Also where is Metroid Prime remastered? You can’t say that game wasn’t a complete remake
@gcunit Who knows. NL updates lists all the time from articles months ago and puts it on the front page.
I’m not entirely convinced that Wind Waker HD and Link’s Awakening DX shouldn’t be on this list.
I'm missing Metroid Prime! One of the best remakes I've seen (at least from Nintendo).
No matter if they call it "remaster", it's the perfect definition of a remake in my eyes.
Also Wind Waker HD should be here.
I would argue that WWHD was an HD remake. New graphics technology, altered sequences, quick movement, second screen, more storage, updated inputs, and more besides. It wasn’t a visual affair only, but a full remake of the under-the-hood of that game.
Some of these tread far closer to remaster than remake imo. Star Fox 64 3D is a remake? Really? I even have a hard time considering the Zelda 3DS games remakes. What makes those remakes but Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD are not? Both OoT 3D and MM 3D are just visually cleaned up a bit with minimal changes in mechanics. Heck if we are going by this list’s standards of what makes something a remake then Mario Kart 8 Deluxe certainly deserves a spot here as it has one of the most meaningful mechanics changes with returning the ability to hold two items at a time and bringing back proper battle mode.
From NL’s own review:
“ In fact, this remake arguably serves a much greater purpose than any Legend of Zelda game since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time made the successful jump to full 3D gameplay.”
https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/wiiu/legend_of_zelda_the_wind_waker_hd
Still holding out hope that we get a Samus Returns HD. Great remake but it deserves to really shine on Switch
@gcunit I believe the article a few days ago was just asking us to vote.
My favorite on the list Brilliant Diamond got last place. 😝 Personally I loved the gameplay and loved the art. I never played the original, so technically I only love it as a game, not as a remake.
No Metroid Prime Remastered? Better lay off that crack pipe.
@arabiansanchez That's a remaster, not a remake There is a difference.
Also I disagree with most of these, but I usually do with Nintendolife's "best of" lists
"If it came down to a duel, there are Nintendo Life staffers who would actually take this over the SNES game."
Raises hand.
I would. 100%
Super Metroid is unquestionably the more influential release, but when I'm deciding on a Metroid game to play, this wins almost every time. Perfectly paced, perfect controls, and one of the coolest climax setpieces in the entire series.
@sanderev Metroid Prime is as much as a remake as most of the games in the list lol
In that case... @nintendolife WHERE IS METROID PRIME REMASTERED?!?!
Hrmm too many variables in play for this list to have any credibility. Need a clearer definition of what's being ranked in the first place...!
Man why do people hype up samus returns so much. I get that it did a lot of things right but the things they did wrong just completely ruin the gameplay
Seeing this list really does put into perspective just how many remakes they did for GBA and 3DS specifically because WOW there's a lot XD
I've always been an avid fan of remakes in general myself, especially in regards to comparing both the new and original versions and seeing what was changed, improved, removed, etc. Having said that then, I oddly enough haven't played that many Nintendo remakes in my time (I think I've played about 8-9 of the games here?) but I don't think my overall favourite is going to be changing any time soon: Link's Awakening 2019. Utterly gorgeous aesthetically, super fun gameplay-wise with great modernisations and the game that turned me into a Zelda fan; absolutely adore LA 2019 myself 💖
This prompt seems like a strange candidate for user ratings. Those are generally absolute and don't factor in the improvement over the respective predecessor(s). This would make more sense coming from NL staff directly.
Also, to add a layer to the remake/remaster debate, some of these (N64 to DS, SNES to GBA), just seem like ports.
@FishyS Same here honestly: while I also can't compare it to the originals as I started the series at Gen 5, BDSP was a blast from a gameplay standpoint with the impressively high difficulty compared to other modern entries and the chibi style, while it certainly benefitted some characters more than others (poor Cyrus/Volkner), looks really well done for the most part!
@CaleBoi25 @arabiansanchez In the voting process that happened last week, they specifically outlined that they wouldn't be including remasters like MPR or Skyward Sword HD as they fall into a sort of grey area between ports and remakes.
@Darthmoogle If it were actual remakes, this list would be 1 page long.
@gcunit Yep, it was posing the question and requesting ratings, and this is the result.
@CaleBoi25 As we covered before, it's in the title!
As I said before, there's a fine line and several grey areas, and we haven't been consistent in our own categorisation over the last two decades. I think a game that has the word Remastered in its title is a pretty open-shut case, though.
Yeah Nintendo Life, we’re going to need a remake of this list (see what I did there?) Based off other points made in the comments section. Also…no Xenoblade Chronicles DE? Wack
@Vexx234 I don't really recall such situation, but if you have any, do tell, I'm curious (not malicious btw)
I mostly don't like how remakes modernize the old classics, and we all know that modern is bad
@Princess_Lilly I think 2-5 on this list are all better than the originals. And Ocarina and Majora's Mask are my favorite games of all time.
@sanderev Neither are some of the top games on this list
I feel like there were more than 30...
Also, a lot of those devs are wrong. FDC was MAGES and Advace Wars was Wayforward.
I actually happen to have all the games on this list.
@Princess_Lilly Well Non-Nintendo related, but I would argue a game like Resident Evil 2 Remake is a good example.
The lack of some of the 3DS' best remakes being ported to switch is a bit of a travesty IMO. Although to look good on modern TVs they'd have to upscale all the textures.
Metroid 2's remake would have been the perfect follow up to Dread on switch.
@nbell31b as a first timer, MM3D is really enjoyable. So much quality of life injected to it. Gladly for the N64 we now have save states in the Wii U and SO ports.
@Talasian The big N works in strange ways.
It actually annoys me how little Nintendo remakes some of their games which are locked into specific systems. And I'm not saying they should 'do a Sony' and release updates of games the way they do. But seriously, F-Zero GX, Fire Emblem Radiant Dawn, Chibi Robo. Even Mario Paint would have been perfect for DS/3DS.
Super Mario All-Stars, the Mario Advance series, the Pokémon Gen 1-3 remakes, Metroid Zero Mission and Samus Returns, the Zelda remakes, and Fire Emblem Echoes Shadows of Valentia are the high points of Nintendo's remakes for me.
I know it's not perfect and didn't score well on this list, but a part of me always really likes Mario 64 DS. It could've just been a simple 1:1 version of the game, but instead they decided to almost remix the game. Plus Luigi gambling is iconic.
Majora's Mask 3D, Ocarina of Time 3D, then Super Star Ultra for me. The Switch Metroid Prime & Link's Awakening are outstanding as well.
Where are the other Zeldas like Twilight Princess HD Wii U, Skyward Sword HD Switch and Windwaker HD Wii U? Windwaker HD would be another top 5 level remake. In terms of work done maybe the best?
Not even an honorable mention of Luigi's Mansion for 3DS?
Edit: also Diddy Kong Racing DS
If I could map the DS's L and R to the Wii U GamePad's ZL and ZR respectively, that would be the definitive way to play Super Mario 64 DS for me.
In fact, if I could do that mapping, the Wii U Virtual Console would've been my go-to version for those available that use L and R.
I don't understand why The Wind Waker HD was'nt considered as a remake contrary to Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora's Mask 3D. TWW HD was also "totally revised, remodelled, and rebuilt from the ground up" though.
Anyway, I don't particularily like some remakes of the top, like Majora's Mask 3D (Ocarina of Time 3D is just OK), Link's Awakening Switch, or Super Mario All-Stars.
Famicom Tantei Club was a great remake (there was also a very good remake of the second game on SNES), though not having included the third game is a pity.
And Metroid Prime on Switch is missing.
The Game & Watch collections are really good. Didn't expect to like them, but Nintendo's game design was strong enough to make most of their LCD games more interesting than the competition. I went back to Mario 64 a couple of years ago and I came away from that experience unhappy. Some people say it has not stood the test of time, and I would agree. The controls were among my complaints, so if the DS version is worse in that regard, then that sounds painful. I get why it's on the list, though. Super Mario All Stars is a good compilation, but it's also very sloppy, in my opinion. Hackers have made it a better experience. But the games themselves are super strong, so even a sloppy compilation is very good. (Doki Doki)Super Mario 2 is the best of the remakes on there, that I agree with.
Where the heck are the superb DS remakes of Final Fantasy III and IV?
@sanderev I accept it’s not a remake per se but it’s also much more than a lick of paint. I’d also say it didn’t NEED to be a full remake because the original was just that damn good.
Anyway, I love it; put it on the damn list 😂
Zero Mission should be #1. But I can't be upset with Heartgold and Soulsilver being there. Best versions of the best Pokemon games.
@Ultimapunch And I know everyone hates Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond. But I would totally take a Johto remake in the vein of those on Switch or Switch 2.
Is it a stretch to count Mario Bros. in the original SMB3 and in all the SMA's as a remake of the original NES Mario Bros.?
🤔
Link's Awakening is far too low the Top Ten, but I can respect Ocarina of Time 3D being almost at the top. It was my first proper introduction to that game and finally got me into the Zelda series in general.
Kirby Super Star Ultra is also a stellar remake that happens to be my first serious Kirby game. I watched family members play Kirby 64 when I was little but didn't actually play it and I didn't get into the series until Super Star Ultra. It was a revival for Kirby at the time. It greatly influenced future 2D Kirby games with things like the cutscenes and multiple boss rushes.
@highscore Yes, in a world of 8.1 billion people, you are one of super rare ones who do not care for remakes.
One correction: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2009) released after Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007), the Wii sequel to Path of Radiance.
Really surprised there’s no Metroid Prime Remastered on this list, or did I just miss it
Where is Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi’s Island? That’s my personal favorite
No Metroid Prime on Switch??
@dartmonkey Why not straight up include remasters then considering what you mentioned and the fact that there's clearly high demand for the inclusion of games like Metroid Prime Remastered, Wind Waker HD etc.?
I get that this ranking would become even longer than it already is, but on the other hand we've seen much bigger lists here on Nintendo Life.
Of course it's up to you, but I feel that would put to rest most if not all the complaints!
MM3D is a much better remake than OoT3D. OoT3D rates so highly due to fondness for the original. As a remake, this version of the game does almost nothing to merit such a high placement.
Why are you guys still using bootleg art of FireRed?
@JohnnyMind You know, I might just do that when we add Mario vs. DK in due course. I enjoy exploring the delineation between remakes and remasters, and it created some good discussion on the previous post where we canvassed opinion, but it is nebulous and seems to be derailing things here.
@NerdyBoutKirby You're right — thanks for the heads-up.
@Sisilly_G You're also right! I've replaced the box and banner art.
@dartmonkey Thank you for taking my suggestion into consideration and couldn't agree more with you, it can be quite an interesting topic to explore even though here it does seem to have derailed the discussion more than anything!
@Princess_Lilly
Resident Evil, Tales of Destiny Directors Cut,Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song,Lunar Silver Story Complete, Lunar 2 Eternal Blue Complete and Ys The Oath in Felgana are remakes that easily match or clear the orginal. Ys III Wanderers from Ys is one of the worst in the series while Ys The Oath in Felgana is one of if not the best.
This is gonna sound stupid, but. . .I kinda feel like Return to Dreamland Deluxe should be on here. I mean, they gave it a new art style and everything.
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