Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed (Switch)

Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a welcome return for one of Mickey’s most memorable adventures, this is just about everything one could’ve wanted out of a revisit to a lost classic. It fumbles its execution a bit with the performance, but there are enough novel ideas and enjoyable gameplay concepts here to make the experience more than worth your while.

Enjoyable gameplay, a captivating world, lots of replayability, and a raft of tweaks and improvements over the original make this one an easy sell.

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Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered (Switch eShop)

Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 are just as enjoyable and atmospheric as they were two decades ago. This remaster treatment faithfully cleans up the visuals, adds some quality-of-life improvements, and stuffs the package with bonus materials, presenting the games at their best, notwithstanding some minor visual bugs.

Here's hoping the success of this collection sparks interest in a return to Nosgoth.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (Switch)

It's been a long time coming, but Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake largely lives up to expectations. Performance issues aside, this is a faithful adaptation of a treasured RPG classic that elevates its strongest aspects while doing its best to make up for any shortcomings. Some may be put off by its relative simplicity but, refreshingly, it neither overstays its welcome nor spreads itself thin with too many half-baked ideas.

It goes without saying that fans of the original will want to snap this up, but if you’re looking for a good ‘entry-level’ RPG or you just want to know what the long-running franchise is all about, Dragon Quest III is the game for you. This is the definitive version of Dragon Quest III in our eyes.

Killing Time: Resurrected (Switch eShop)

Killing Time: Resurrected is yet another success for Nightdive Studios, with the team unearthing a forgotten comedy-horror cult classic and bringing it right up to date for modern consoles with revamped visuals and updated controls.

Like PO'ed: Definitive Edition, however, it's not a game that's going to appeal to everyone thanks to its bizarre cast of characters and unorthodox method of storytelling. That said, if you're curious to experience one of the more unique games in the FPS genre, this is without a doubt the best way to do so.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch)

For years, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door has been held as the best Mario RPG of all time, and the Switch remake proves it has earned that title. This is a fantastic RPG adventure, whether you’re a Mario fan or not, with some best-in-class combat, brilliant writing, and a few little creases ironed out to make this the definitive way to play Thousand-Year Door.

We wish there was a little more to do post-credits, but there’s no doubt about it, this is a beautiful-looking Switch remake and a must-play RPG.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch)

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is an expertly crafted revamp that gives us all the bells and whistles we could wish for in terms of graphical upgrades. However, it's actually Monolith Soft's attention to clever gameplay revisions that impresses most.

This is X streamlined and modernised, carefully recast in order to play better than ever. Additional characters, a new ending, and all that snazzy stuff is all well and good, and fans will be excited by the fresh revelations that occur, but it's in how everything flows so much better now that we reckon the hardcore will find themselves most impressed. This is up there with the all-time great sci-fi RPGs and an absolute must-play.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army (Switch)

Note. Our review focuses on the Switch 2 version, although we have played the Switch 1 version and it's absolutely worth your attention if you haven't upgraded to Nintendo's newer console.

Check out our review of the Switch 2 version for the narrative and gameplay rundown on Raidou Remastered, but from a tech perspective, the Switch 1 version runs at an uncapped frame rate that typically hovers around 30fps.

Image quality drops to the Switch 1 screen's resolution of 720p in handheld mode, but aside from the longer load times, it’s otherwise the exact same game and it feels like a solid port that fits well on the Switch hardware. Make no mistake, the Switch 2 version is obviously the superior pick if you want the best possible experience. But this port still offers a wonderful retread of a forgotten action-RPG classic.

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny (Switch eShop)

Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny is a strong, worthy successor to the original that is now at its absolute best on Switch. Some of it feels dated by modern standards, with fixed camera angles that arguably should have been ditched back in 2002, but it still feels incredibly fun regardless.

The remaster adds in a bunch of quality-of-life updates and extras that both longtime fans and newcomers will appreciate, but ultimately, this is a faithful revival of one of the PS2's very best games.

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster (Switch eShop)

System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster is a wonderful way to experience one of the most well-regarded FPS titles of all time. With an excellent narrative and a world that begs to be explored, it's not only an incredible game in its own right but should also be considered essential reading for BioShock fans.

Minor combat concerns aside, System Shock 2's immersive mechanics will keep you hooked from start to finish, with Nightdive's enhancements and supplemental material providing ample bonus points. Now go play it, insect.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 (Switch)

Note. Our review of THPS3+4 is specifically of the Switch 2 version, although Ollie has played the S1 edition as well, and it's a winner - albeit one that halves the frame rate to a (pretty stable) 30fps.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 is another welcome return to the franchise's glory days, presenting the third and fourth entries with revamped visuals across the board while retaining the same slick gameplay. Some folks might be unable to get over the structural changes to Pro Skater 4, and we have to admit to being a little disappointed at the lack of classic music tracks, but overall, the positives absolutely outweigh the negatives.

If you're looking to inject a hefty dose of nostalgia into your life, or you simply want to see what the Tony Hawk series was like at its absolute peak, this is a great way to do it.

Heretic + Hexen (Switch eShop)

Heretic + Hexen is yet another slam dunk for Nightdive Studios. This release revamps both titles with modern controls, bonus content, and thoughtful changes to the core design that make each game a delight.

Granted, these are still FPS titles from the mid-'90s, so your mileage will definitely vary, but for returning fans and those with a particular fondness for old-school 'boomer shooters', you really can't go wrong. Now let's get a native Switch 2 port with 120fps please, Nightdive.

You know, when we started writing this list, we weren't convinced there were that many good remakes and remasters on Switch. Then we started compiling, and we realised how wrong we were. In fact, there are probably just as many average remakes that we didn't even include!

It's not a huge surprise, really — the Switch is a port machine, after all — and we're excited to see even more come to the eShop on Switch 2. Who needs the Virtual Console, eh?

As always, let us know which remakes and remasters deserve to be in this list by telling us in the comments!