To decide whether a remaster is worth buying, compare it with the exact original version you can already play, then weigh the changes you care about against your hardware, upgrade eligibility, save compatibility, and current local price. The “remaster” label alone does not guarantee a particular set of improvements.
Ask: “Is this remaster worth buying on my platform?” The answer depends on the specific game, the edition you own, and what you expect to gain.
Start with the exact game version and platform
Check the publisher’s game page and support FAQ for the console generation, PC storefront, and edition you are considering. Do not assume that support for one game in a franchise, or for one platform’s release, applies to another. Xbox says only select older titles are backward compatible and that supported features vary by game; the exact title listing matters. Xbox’s backward-compatibility information is a useful starting point.
For example, CD PROJEKT RED’s Witcher 3 remaster FAQ identifies supported platforms and separately describes a Switch-to-Switch 2 upgrade condition. Treat that as an example of platform-specific rules, not a promise that another game offers the same upgrade.
#1 Best Overall
- Updated and reconstructed visuals to be far more realistic and richly textured vs the original game
- Upgraded models for each character, graphical updates for a more immersive environment
- Estimated gameplay hours: 40 to 50 per title
- Sound: Players will be able to choose between original sound and the new, re-arranged sound
Find out what you can play without buying the remaster
“Can I play the original on my console?” is a separate question from “Will I get the remaster’s features?” Establish whether your current platform runs the original, whether you own it digitally or on disc, and what that edition includes.
Backward compatibility may let you play the original game without giving you the remaster’s visual modes, new content, or other additions. Xbox describes backward-compatible play as the original game and notes that older titles can have differences in online services, achievements, or save behavior. Check the specific game rather than assuming compatibility means feature parity.
Rank #2
- Return to the series origins - Discover the truth behind what led to the horrors at the Mansion in Resident Evil in this fan-favorite and popular prequel title to the series.
- Completely enhanced visuals - New high-resolution textures have been created from scratch, including 1080p support on next-gen consoles, while still preserving the classic appearance of the original release.
- Fan-favorite Resident Evil characters - Rookie S.T.A.R.S. member Rebecca Chambers and wanted criminal Billy Coen combine skills and buddy up to survive the undead and infected nightmares that await them.
- All original difficulty levels plus new Very Easy Mode for novice players
Compare the actual changes with what matters to you
Look beyond the label and list the changes the publisher identifies. Relevant differences can include resolution and frame-rate options, loading, textures or lighting, accessibility settings, new modes or levels, and included expansions. A feature only adds value if you will use it.
| Example remaster | Publisher-listed changes | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| The Last of Us Part II Remastered | Roguelike mode, Lost Levels, accessibility additions, and visual updates. | Would you play the additional mode or levels, or use the accessibility features? |
| Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered | Multiple graphics modes, accessibility settings, and the Frozen Wilds expansion content. | Does the added content or a particular graphics mode improve the experience you want? |
These are title-specific examples from the publishers’ The Last of Us Part II Remastered and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered pages; they do not establish a standard feature set for remasters generally.
Rank #3
- Graphics remastered in beautiful high-definition
- Two brand-new minigames
- Featuring music by Revo of Linked Horizon
- Redesigned UI for a single screen
- Quality of life upgrades: fast-forward, encounter rate settings, upgraded online compatibility for modern networks
Match graphics claims to your hardware and display
A stated resolution or frame-rate mode is not automatically a visible benefit on every setup. Check the modes available for your platform, whether your display supports the relevant output, and which trade-off you prefer. Publisher-listed targets describe the product specification, not independent performance testing.
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on PS5: PlayStation lists Quality Mode at 4K/30fps, Performance Mode at 4K/60fps, and Balanced Mode at 4K/40fps. The listed frame rates are targets, and 4K requires a compatible display.
- The Last of Us Part II Remastered on PS5: PlayStation distinguishes native 4K output in Fidelity Mode from 1440p upscaled to 4K in Performance Mode. An unlocked frame rate is dependent on a VRR-capable TV.
Those figures and conditions apply to the named PS5 games, not to remasters as a category. If you do not have a compatible display or do not value the listed mode, it may not justify the extra cost for you.
Rank #4
- Includes all expansions and updates in one definitive edition
- Smoother, more responsive combat
- Modern UI and full controller support
- Enhanced textures, lighting effects, and view distance enhanced textures, lighting effects, and view distance
- Community-driven fixes and improved stability
Calculate your real price and confirm upgrade eligibility
Use the live regional store page and support information to work out what you would actually pay. Do not rely on an old launch price: store prices and discounts change. Check whether an owner discount or upgrade applies to your exact edition and how you acquired it.
- Confirm whether the offer is available in your region and for your console generation.
- Check whether it applies to a disc, a digital purchase, or both. A disc-based upgrade may require a console with a disc drive.
- Verify whether a copy claimed through a subscription qualifies. Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered’s stated offer excludes PlayStation Plus redemptions.
- Include any required purchase or hardware condition in the total rather than comparing only the displayed upgrade price.
PlayStation’s The Last of Us Part II Remastered and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered pages describe title-specific upgrade conditions, including disc-drive restrictions for disc-based upgrades. The Witcher 3 FAQ is another example of platform and regional details affecting an upgrade. Check the current terms for your own game before buying.
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Check saves, achievements, and whether you can go back
If you have already started the original, verify save compatibility and achievements separately. A remaster may carry over progress but still change gameplay systems or limit your ability to return to the previous version.
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered’s FAQ says old saves work.
- CD PROJEKT RED says Witcher 3 saves and achievements carry over, but its skill-system overhaul resets skills; its FAQ also says reversion to an earlier version depends on platform.
These are different title-specific policies. Confirm the rules for the game and platform you own, especially if you are mid-playthrough.
Make the decision using your own comparison
Compare the original and remaster on the same points. Mark each item as confirmed for your version, and separate publisher specifications from your own preference about whether a change is worthwhile.
- Does your platform support the remaster, and can it play the original?
- Which visual modes, accessibility options, new content, or expansions are actually included?
- Can your hardware and display use the benefits you value?
- Do your saves and achievements carry over, and are there gameplay changes or rollback limits?
- What is the current total cost for your region, edition, and ownership type?
Buying now makes sense when the remaster is supported on your platform, its additions matter to you, and the effective price is acceptable. Keep the original or wait for a sale when it already meets your needs, the changes do little for your setup, or the eligibility rules make the upgrade poor value.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
