Best Nintendo Switch Remakes And Remasters

Notice that New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe wasn't here.

This shows that Nintendo Life actually cares about their articles.

Or maybe I just hate that game too much.

I'm really looking forward to Live A Live being on this list

@HotGoomba I don't understand why people hate on that game. Definitely the best of the New Super Mario Bros. games with its connected overworld and creative level design like the star snow level, the giant beanstalk, and the Van Gogh level.

Will take actual decent remakes any day over Nintendo's lazy full price ports, and remasters are just the same game just hd textures which is another greedy and lazy way to charge people again

Games like trials of mana, final fantasy 7 remake, let's go eevee, resident evil 2 and links awakening are examples of some decent remakes done properly

@HotGoomba but that wasn't a remake, it was a port

Xenoblade chronicles definitive edition is the best imo it was made in the XC2 engine (which is not the Xenoblade Wii engine), improved the audio, tweaked gameplay and included new content with important story

@Ade117 The visuals are mediocre at best (excluding the Van Gogh level, the whole game should've looked like it), the game is uninspired, and Super Luigi U is better.

And that's just the Wii U version.

The Switch version has terrible touch screen controls, if you're playing with four players, someone will get a free advantage (toadette, Nabbit), and the Switch version is $60 versus the $20 Wii U version WITH Super Luigi U.

@UltimateOtaku91 Fair, but I mean you could also consider it a remaster if you will.

Glad that Pokemon BDSP isn't on that list

I feel like A Boy and His Blob is too much of a reimagining to be considered a remake or remaster. It's more like a reboot sequel. Personally I'd take that off the list and replace it with Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania. Regardless of how Monkey Target has been butchered

Edit: or maybe Destroy All Humans?

Why is Sonic colors ultimate on the list

Ninja Saviors / Ninja Warriors Once Again is pure brilliance and a great remake of the SNES original.

“Final Fantasy VIII's remaster proves to be just as weird and polarizing a release”

Indeed, it was VERY polarizing when it first released. I absolutely loved it and I remember a good friend of mine who was also a huge FF fan hating it with a passion. Some of the mechanics were kind of weird, but they were still fun and the characters in FFVIII were great. Google essays sometime regarding how Squall has schizoid personality disorder.

@Ade117
Objectively, NSMBU is the best one if we’re not counting Luigi U. The level design can be really good if uninspired, and the secrets and world map are the best in the series. I think the primary problem is when it came out. I was dead tired of these games when U came out, and I grew up on them! It’s just the same thing that it always has been, and there’s nothing really new added. The original brought 2D Mario back from the grave and introduced ideas from the 3D games, Wii brought back 4-player co-op and decently fun level themes and concepts that we hadn’t seen in a Mario game, and as much as I dislike 2, the coin gimmick was at least something new. U is just a rehash of Wii and 2, with nothing new except for maybe three new level themes that last for 2 levels each. If you were to play the games in reverse order, anyone would prefer U, but it came out at just the worse time for Mario fans.

#1 remaster is definitely the Switch port of Xenoblade Chronicles X. Don't mind it's hypothetical nature.

Seriously, though, this list needs Okami HD, Valkyria Chronicles Remastered and Tales of Vesperia.

As a casual Nintendo fan for most of my life until the Switch, the Phoenix Wright, Crash, and Spyro trilogies all get my seal of approval. I’m really glad that I got to experience the more niche or non-Nintendo consoles via the Switch. Sonic and NSMBU Deluxe are quite nice as well, but both somewhat play itself. I still need to try Zelda and Pokémon, those are the two Switch first-party games that have kind of slipped through the cracks for me.

$40 is a good price for Link’s Awakening (hint - the top end of 3DS game pricing).

No reason it should still be $60 on the eShop. Especially for NSO members.

@anoyonmus Ikr? It’s buggy as heck, and the credits take ages to finish

Could Castle Crashers Remastered be on this list? I know it released originally on Xbox One in 2015 ish but it’s still on Switch.

@HotGoomba i think that super mario bros u is a simple port and not a remastered or remake

@Scapetti I think they are saying that the Switch version of A Boy and his Blob is a remaster of the Wii game. You are correct that the Wii game is a reimagining of the NES original.

😊I would've mentioned 'Alex Kidd: Miracle World' but TLOZ:LA is DEFINITELY a beautiful game to look at.

I never played the GB or GBC version but I was always interested in this Game and the plasticine/Claymatiom-style look intrigued me.

They were many times I had to stop while playing just to admire the graphics.

No GTA trilogy?

The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors aka The Ninja Warriors, deserves a place on the list. As does Outrun and Virtua Racing, especially Virtua Racing.

Don't forget The Legend of Dark Witch on Switch. A remake that happens to be the best version for reasons beyond the Capacity Gauge.

TENGO PROJECT: Wild Guns and Ninja Warriors

@OwenGamer22 it should be removed from this list

@Mauzuri it shouldn’t even be on the list

Shadow man should be up there! it is amazing!
OMG NL BIAZZAUD!!

urgh. Crash trilogy. I hate that game. soo boring and repetitive and worthless controls. glad to have been a Nintendo kid in my youth so I didn't have to put up with games like that.

Good to see a few people giving Ninja Warriors some love…..real old school gamers right there!

@homero_jimeno I forgot about Wild Guns. That definitely deserves a place. Pocky & Rocky is next from Tengo Project.

Trials of mana was amazing, loved it!

I wouldn't even put Skyward Sword on this list lol, there is almost no difference from its wii version on the switch, you might as well call it a port.

I think a problem with alot of these lists is that instead of listing the "best" of said category you just list everything including shovelware and other bad games.

i remember sonic colours ultimate having some pretty big issues at launch and iirc even after the patch it still had some issues that weren't in the original such as load times being quite a bit longer, which given how colours is split into multiple small stages it made them quite a bit more noticable.

with FFVIII i remember one of my main issues being similar to what happened with FFVII and FFIX, in that it had high rez character models but the backgrounds were the original psone resolution causing them to clash with it, there were also some more subtle graphical effects missing, i think it may have been based on the PC version like VII which had similar quirks.

The powerslave Exhumed remaster was amazing, it went above and beyond what is usually expected from a remaster (though it is nightdive who have an amazing track record)
I also remember enjoying the SaGa frontier remaster, it adds some QOL stuff alongside the new character fuse whose adventure sheds some light on various plot points.

Chrono cross was dissapointing in that it still sufferent from technical issues that the psone version had (including battles going as low as 10fps) which after the various SaGa remasters and remakes felt dissapointing.

Though speaking of square enix that live-a-live looks amazing as does the DQIII one.

@JakedaArbok i think the problem with the New series is that it feels very stale at this point. I was very disappointed in NSMBUD despite the fact that i had only ever played the Wii game at a friend's house a little bit back in the day. Its a port of the fourth game in the series. It just feels really stale and uninspired.

The only times Mario has ever even had two similar games before were the original and SMB2 (japan release only), and Galaxy 1 and 2. Four games and a port for the New series is just lazy. 2D Mario desperately needs a new style game, the New series is dead from a innovation pov.

The DS and Wii games brought back 2D Mario and it felt fresh and great, they should have stopped there and then done something different for 3DS and U. Now that we're on the Switch 2D Mario soooooo needs a new take on the formula. Like imagine if on the Wii U you were playing Super Mario Sunshine 4... that's the situation the New series is. It is boring and mediocre at this point, and hopefully Nintendo is far along in development on a completely fresh take on 2D Mario right now

Zelda LA, Xenoblade, Tony Hawks and Trials of Mana are the best, imo. Good examples of how to make proper remakes/remasters.

RE: Ports vs Remasters . . . I think it is a case of six of one and a half dozen of the other. But the best is to have both, 'cuz then you get the full dozen.

I've downloaded Link's Awaken on my 2DS. (The DX version for the Game Boy.)

I think it's great that I can do that. 'cause even if I went and bought the cartridge, I don't have my Game Boy anymore. (Given to my nephew years ago.)

There is something cool about seeing those old-school graphics, and really admiring how well they were done and how such little amount of pixels could pull you into the world of Zelda so well.

And then on the other hand, I look at Link's Awakening for the Switch and think, OMG the graphics are amazing! This is a great way to explore this story.

If these new graphics makes the game more approachable to contemporary gamers, then I think . . . more people get to enjoy this story.

I wish with all my heart Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania could have made the list...but it's nowhere near

I still love it to bits...but yeah, I know what I'm playing.

At least Katamari made it. I love that game too.

Holding out hope for a Spyro 4 ♥️

1. Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition
1a. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Are Splatoon 2 and 3 remakes? Does it count as a remake when you release the same thing three times, with a few tweaks? Maybe it's $60 DLC?

@Moistnado I loved splatoon but splatoon 2 added salmon run. That was much bigger than dlc. I normally love hating on Nintendos pricing or more accurately gouging but this isn’t it.

A Wii port for full price a year after getting a Mario all star collection is where your anger should lie.

@Ade117 its just the burnout i think

Link's Awakening set a standard on how radically faithful, yet different any sort of remake should be. It didn't remove the features added through DX, but it also introduced numerous changes that effectively "modernized" the game outside of just updating the graphics and reusing an engine or mechanics. Supporting the same control scheme as the 3D/HD remasters and ALBW was the best decision one could ever ask for and changing certain items to be more in the background fixed a lot of the same problems that OoT was infamously known for.

I am looking forward to seeing what's next from Grezzo. Whether it be an Oracle of Ages/Seasons remake or another port/remaster, I hope it'll help fill the gap between now and Breath of the Wild 2 (as Age of Calamity and Skyward Sword were previously intended to).

Turok 1+2 and Shadowman

@HotGoomba It is a port, not a remake. Same as Mario Kart 8 or Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze

When I clicked the link I thought this article was going to have 20 pages at least….

@ModdedInkling

+1

I think LoZ Oracle games would make a lot of sense being made over in the style of Switch's Link's Awakening.

For a port, I'd like to see Gnomz (the Wiiware game where you fight for the socks) ported to the Switch.

It is one of the games that we still fire up our Wii for.

I played and enjoyed Xenoblade DE, Famicom Detective Clubs and the Zelda rereleases. Links Awakening and Skyward Sword. I like the remasters that fix issues the old version had or sharpen and make it look prettier.

That being said, I hope Grezzo remaking Link's Awakening was a testing if they could work on 2d Zelda on HD hardware and they get another chance to make their own 2d Zelda game. Much like how Mercury Steam got to work on Metroid Dread after proving themselves with Samus Returns which sold way worse then Links Awakening's Remake.

Xenoblade chronicles definitive edition is by far the best remaster ever made.

"Who needs the Virtual Console, eh?"

Hoo-boy, THAT'S a loaded question...

@ModdedInkling i believe Grezzo is working on a remake of Oracle of Age/Season.

@GinMiguel didnt Grezzo developed Legend of Zelda Triforce Heroes?

no Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? That seems like the best of the bunch. The remake has battle mode, labo support, you can get 2 items at once, the resolution is bumped up to 1080 instead of 720, and it includes all the dlc from the original.

Mario 3d All Stars was a great remaster as well, if you were going to play those games again, 3d all stars is easily the best way to play them.

@Nintendo_Thumb
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe classifies as an enhanced port rather than a remaster, because it didn't make significant changes to the pre-existing engine other than a few QoL improvements

@PtM
Remasters are all enhanced ports. Enhanced ports are NOT always remasters.

@ModdedInkling A remaster is an enhanced port. If you want to disqualify Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, you'd have to remove Skyward Sword, Final Fantasy VIII Remastered, Katamari Damacy Reroll, and Grim Fandango Remastered from the list also, as they all are enhanced ports with a few QoL improvements.

@Giancarlothomaz They did but that's not on HD hardware.

@GinMiguel true, but i wonder what Grezzo is developing next for Switch next? could they be working on a remake of Oracle of Age and Season or a new Legend of Zelda game for Switch this year?

@Giancarlothomaz They said its some medieval stylish action game. Before the winter direct last year.

Pocky and Rocky should be on here.

I have a feeling this list might be in need of an update... 👾🚀

I'd love to say Link's Awakening is a top tier remake but the framerate issues drive me nuts.

How the heck did sonic colors ultimate make it onto this list?! Even if you like the core gameplay loop (admittedly, I don't so I'm bound to be more judgmental), this version makes it look somehow worse, makes the game work less soundly, and the new stuff is either lazy (metal sonic's challenges look like pop up ads dude) or an excuse to sell cheap dlc with the game (cosmetics and in-game currency). I love sonic, but I really cant stand colors ultimate. Considering getting it for Wii to see if that makes me like the game more since I really want to.

Always good to see Kate's name still brighten up this website.

No The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles!? It's over, we were defeated by f*ck*ng Sonic colors.

@HotGoomba

I don't really like the game either, but it's a port, not a remaster. There is a clear, objective difference in what those things are.

@Patendo

It's a great game. I played through switch version, and will probably keep it for life. I played through on PS5 several years later, and unlocked the trophies. It was a lot of fun.

When the gaming industry implodes, the oldies come to save us

Atelier Marie soon to join the list!

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is one of the Best Remake I have ever played.
But.... I played the PS4 version as I successfully got the Spyro Reignited + CTR 2019 edition with All three Spyro games in one disc (36.24 GB after got installed).

The best remakes for the Switch are Twilight Princess HD and Wind Waker HD. Oh wait...

I'm fortunate enough to have owned and played the vast majority of these. Top, top gaming and largely properly done remakes with often "love" but into the product.

@epicgamner I loved the Wii version dearly but must agree with you regarding the Switch "remake"

After scrolling past Links Awakening on the first page, I was like, "What the heck is all these crap games I've never heard of?" The list got better by the third page.

@abbyhitter That frankly says more about you than the quality of the article.

Metroid Prime is the best remaster I've played. Link's Awakening looks good too. Not sure too many here are a "remake", which is essentially a game made again to fix flaws, enhance playability or the original subject matter is too dated to update. Metroid Zero Mission on GBA and Metroid Samus Returns on 3DS are two that I'd put in that category. Something like New Super Bros U Deluxe I would classify as a port, which could be why it doesn't appear here (as the first comment queries). It needs to be a substantial upgrade.

The Link's Awakening, Metroid Prime Remastered, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2, and Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap remakes are all wonderfully done.

House of the Dead may not be the lightgun game it should have been, and they should have remade the Overkill extended cut instead, but with the now added touch controls it's a great game if you can get it cheap. I got the limidead edition if that's what it's called for cheap and enjoyed it a lot. It's a bit like Dead and Furious (or Touch the Dead) on the DS if anyone else ever touched that game, except more playable and more available.

Link's Awakening is the obvious winner, on all platforms, for quite a while. Sure, there is the apparently great RE4 remake, but I only play Switch, and no way it's better than the Wii edition, I simply refuse to accept that possibility.

Plss Remake Breath of Fire 2

"Zelda: Skyward Sword" and "Metroid Prime" (as part of "Metroid Prime Trilogy") both play much better on the Wii. As such, these Switch versions are actually downgrades (albeit still a big improvement on the original GameCube version of "Metroid Prime").

@ModdedInkling If significant changes are made to the engine, then it's closer to a remake than just a remaster. Between the slight graphical update, the revamped Battle Mode, all the extra DLC, and a few other upgrades, "MK8 Deluxe" made enough changes to qualify as a remaster.

Metroid Prime Remastered, Xenoblade Chronicles, Zelda Link's Awakening and Paper Mario TTYD are absolute MUST HAVE. They're Nintendo at its best. Every Switch owner should have them.

Link's Awakening!?!? That is the worst remaster/remake. I mean, unless you're a fan of massive blurring and screen shuttering. One of the best Zelda games remade into the worst.

Some good games on list shame some only e shop quake was physical from limited run. I did download it play quake 2 on pc back in the day think I was a demo. I stuck on first level on switch . Would buy tomb raider if get a physical all on the cart version

The switch really does have a great selection of remakes/remasters. A couple here I still would like to try are Star Wars dark forces and trials of mana. Dark forces I’m not sure would click for me, like powerslave on here those games play great but I really do not like how easily you can get lost on some of these shooters. Few shooters in my opinion have aged very well from that era.

This is a nicely compiled list…..there are a few omissions we can all complain about but overall it has a lot great recommendations. My tops are Metroid….a total modernization that adds free look with twin sticks was huge as I hated wii motion controls. Xenoblade DE because it was barely released in the USA and so few people got a chance to play it. Super Mario RPG and Paper TTYD because they were some of history’s finest and then the two GBA updates with Advance Wars and Mario vs. DK. Truly the Switch has birthed an entire generation of remakes/reboots and when you mix that with great new Nintendo content, incredible Indy support, and some excellent 3rd party ports it has the best library of any Nintendo console ever.

Famicom Detective Club: I'm so sad we didn't have a physical of this, I mean its a 1st party Nintendo title. Almost seems wrong.

just beat Link's Awakening on Switch🙏🏻

@UNCLDNS Very true, we NEED Monkey Island 1+2 for the Switch!

So this is a list of remakes on Switch with the best scores,
but couldn't it be argued that the best remakes are those that improve most on the original? So if the original got 4 out of 10, if the remake gets 8 out of 10, it's a damn good remake.
Maybe.

@rainbowtick huh thats strange. I beat the game today and i did not encounter any blurring or screen shuttering (u mean frame rate drops right?)

@ThatZeldaNerd

The blurring was a design choice or simply current gen's take on N64 fog to conceal hardware limitations, so not necessarily a game bug or issue. Netflix, for example, is guilty of using this trick for many of its shows. It's as if they are using portrait mode when filming to hide some quality inconsistencies due to budget constraints.

The screen shuttering/frame rate drops/slowdown occurred during high movement screens and more frequently than tolerable.

I could handle one or the other, but coupled together and with the overall shiny, plasticy, soulless look and feel... I couldn't continue playing.

This was definitely Nintendo's biggest disappointment for me as a Zelda fan, and as someone that holds Link's Awakening in high regard.

@rainbowtick ahh i see

When Sega gonna remaster Sonic Adventure 1 + 2 doh?

@rainbowtick I've never had issues with those. I still don't see the problem. Imo, it's the best Zelda game (yes, THE best) made even better.

@rainbowtick soulless? LA2019 Link is my favorite Link.

@batmanbud2

I'm glad you and the vast majority like it. That's the beauty of variety in style, and options. What's subpar for one, is amazing for another.

@rainbowtick came back here to say I'm sorry about the upcoming Zelda game. . .maybe you'll still be able to give it a try.

@Moistnado absolutely not. You've clearly never played all of the Splatoon games. They all have their distinct differences (especially in the single player) that set them apart.

@batmanbud2

If there's a demo, I'll definitely give it a try. Not closed off, as Zelda fan no chance of that, just burned and cautiously unoptimistic from the Link's Awakening remake.

FFVII Crisis Core is really reaaly good especially for a noob....... like me

Link's awakening is good too

I would add Tactics Ogre Reborn to the list. Easily one of the best tactical RPG's ever made.