You finally want to catch up on Final Fantasy VII and find out there’s the original, a remake, a sequel to the remake and a third part on the way. With Resident Evil 4 the list is even longer, The Last of Us comes in three versions, and for some games the new release is actually worse than the original. So with classics, the question “What should I play?” has a second layer: which version.

Here are 21 well-known cases, each with a clear recommendation for which version you should play today. Everything is current as of October 20, 2026. Where something is about to change, I say so.

Remake, remaster, port: what’s the difference

  • Port: the same game on a different platform, usually with small tweaks.
  • Remaster: the old game with sharper graphics, a higher frame rate and more quality of life. Levels and structure stay the same.
  • Remake: a game rebuilt from the ground up, often with modern controls, new scenes and sometimes a changed story.

That’s why a good remaster usually replaces the original. A remake is more like a second game built from the same blueprint, so playing both can be worth it.

The questions that come up most

Ocarina of Time

With The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, things are in motion right now. You can play the 1998 N64 original today through Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, on Switch 2 as well. The best version so far is the 2011 one for 3DS: nicer graphics, smoother animations and the harder Master Quest as a bonus. You can only get it secondhand now, though, because the 3DS eShop has been closed since March 2023.

On November 5, 2026, a full remake comes out for Switch 2, with a jump button, a free camera and orchestral music. Whether it becomes the new best version is too early to say. From everything shown so far, a lot of love went into the details, but the combat feels dated in places. My tip until then: if you have a 3DS, go with the 3DS version. If you only have a Switch, play the N64 original through Switch Online or wait and see how the remake turns out. Around 32 hours.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t about remakes, it’s about editions and platforms. The game is available for PS4, Xbox One and PC. Rockstar still hasn’t announced a dedicated PS5 or Xbox Series version, and on PS5 the PS4 version runs at 30 frames per second. So if you have a decent PC, I’d play it there.

You can buy the Standard and the Ultimate Edition. The Ultimate mostly adds extras for Red Dead Online, which hasn’t had any major updates since 2022. For the story, the Standard Edition is all you need. If you want more afterwards: Red Dead Redemption from 2010 tells what happens after part 2, and since December 2025 it also runs natively on PS5, Xbox Series and Switch 2. Part 2 takes around 65 hours.

Persona 4

For Persona 4 there’s a clear answer today: Persona 4 Golden. The expanded version has more content than the 2008 PS2 original and is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch, while the original is only available secondhand. Golden holds up surprisingly well, only the look feels a bit dusty by now.

On February 18, 2027, Persona 4 Revival arrives, a full remake of Golden for PS5, Xbox Series and PC, with Switch 2 following in May 2027. If you want to play Persona 4 now, get Golden. If you can wait until February and want modern graphics, wait for Revival. Golden takes around 62 hours.

Super Mario Galaxy

There has never been a 3DS version of Super Mario Galaxy, even though lots of people search for one. Nintendo did try it, but on the small screen you could barely make out Mario, so it turned into a separate game. Today the answer is simple: the 2025 Switch version, which includes Galaxy and Galaxy 2. It runs in 4K on Switch 2 with a free update, has an assist mode and is the only version you can still buy new. There’s one small catch: aiming with motion controls is less precise than with the Wii Remote. Around 15 hours.

Where the new version is clearly better

Resident Evil 2

For me, the 2019 remake of Resident Evil 2 is the benchmark every remake has to be measured against. Instead of fixed cameras you get an over-the-shoulder camera, the puzzles have been reworked, and enemies now follow you through doors. That’s my clear pick. The 1998 original is available again on GOG and as a PlayStation classic. With its fixed cameras it has a mood all of its own, maybe even creepier. Better to play it afterwards, as a companion piece. Around 11 hours.

Resident Evil 4

The 2023 remake of Resident Evil 4 is just as clear a case. You can now move and shoot at the same time, parry and sneak, but the flow is almost the same as in 2005. Where the remake lost out is the humor: the original was a lot sillier, and the new version is missing some of exactly that charm. My tip is still the remake. If you want the trashy tone of back then, you can get the original cheap on Steam and Switch, ideally with a controller. Around 16 hours.

Shadow of the Colossus

The 2018 PS4 remake of Shadow of the Colossus doesn’t change anything about the game itself: same colossi, same world, plus optional, more modern controls and a photo mode. Camera and controls are still a bit clunky, though, and if you love the original, you’ll miss its hazy, almost washed-out look. For everyone else, the remake is the right version. It also runs on PS5 and is included in PS Plus Extra. Around 12 hours.

Demon’s Souls

The PS5 remake of Demon’s Souls shows how a remake should be done. Enemies, paths and combat timing are identical to the original, plus modern graphics and barely any loading times. You can only play the PS3 original offline now, since the servers were shut down in 2018, and the disc doesn’t run on PS5. So the decision is easy. The only objection: the remake is more colorful and lavish than the bleak original. Around 33 hours.

Metroid Prime

Metroid Prime Remastered for Switch is a must-buy and by far the best version. The graphics are among the best on Switch, and the new twin-stick controls make the game more accessible than on GameCube. If you’re looking for the trilogy with parts 2 and 3, you’ll have to go for the old Wii version, which is only available secondhand. Around 14 hours.

The 2019 Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is the version to play today, with its toy-like look, orchestral music and more quality of life. On the original Switch it stuttered in busy areas; on Switch 2 it runs smoothly with a free update. The Game Boy Color version, DX, is included in the Switch Online subscription as a nice extra for retro fans. Around 12 hours.

Persona 5 and Persona 3

For Persona 5, Persona 5 Royal is clearly the version you want. The only real catch is the length: plan for around 100 hours. For Persona 3, it’s Persona 3 Reload, the 2024 remake, ideally on PS5, PC or Xbox, because the Switch 2 version runs at an unsteady 30 frames per second. If you want to play as the female protagonist, who isn’t in Reload, Persona 3 Portable is your only option.

Mass Effect

The Mass Effect Legendary Edition is the best way to play the trilogy today: all three games with over 40 pieces of extra content, nicer graphics and noticeably better combat in the first game. It isn’t a remake, though, and the Mako drives are still a slog. Only if you want the multiplayer mode from part 3 do you need to go back to the originals. Around 90 hours for all three.

Dark Souls

Dark Souls: Remastered from 2018 changes little, and that’s a good thing: 60 frames per second even in the areas where the original used to tank badly, online play with up to six people, and the Artorias expansion included. The old PC version, the Prepare to Die Edition, is no longer sold and has lost its online features. So it’s an easy call. Around 42 hours.

Monkey Island and Day of the Tentacle

With the LucasArts classics, you don’t have to choose at all. The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition includes the 1990 original, and you can switch between the new and old graphics at the press of a button. Day of the Tentacle Remastered does the same, and it even has Maniac Mansion inside as a game within the game. For newcomers I’d recommend the new graphics, purists just switch over. Monkey Island takes around 8 hours.

Tip: Not sure yet which classic is right for you? Take the quiz and get a recommendation in about three minutes.

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Where it depends on what you want

Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII is the trickiest case. The remake series isn’t a remaster, it’s a retelling across three games: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade only covers the opening in Midgar, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth the big middle part, and the finale, Revelation, comes out on April 8, 2027. Parts of the story deliberately depart from the original.

In a lot of places the remake assumes you know the original, otherwise some moments fall flat. My tip: play the original first and the remake series after that. On PC there’s been a new version since February 2026 with triple speed and random battles you can switch off, which makes getting into it easier. If turn-based combat really isn’t your thing, jump straight in with the remake. The original takes around 40 hours.

Silent Hill 2

The 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2 is strong, especially the atmosphere and sound. But it’s a lot longer than the original, the combat stays basic, and the fog is more backdrop than a real gameplay element. My tip for most people is still the remake. If you want the original, stay away from the HD Collection, which is technically weak and has less fog. A better option is the 2002 PC version with the fan project Enhanced Edition, which gives the original a serious makeover. The remake takes around 17 hours.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us Part I is the remake with the best tech, released in 2022 for PS5 and 2023 for PC. Content-wise, though, it’s almost the same game as the 2014 Remastered for PS4, and for the price that’s not much that’s new. The PC version had big problems at launch but has since been patched. My tip: Part I if you play on PS5 or PC. Remastered is worth it if you want to save money or are looking for the Factions multiplayer mode, which Part I doesn’t have. Around 16 hours.

Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered from 2025 looks fantastic thanks to Unreal Engine 5 and otherwise sticks closely to the original, with all the strengths and weaknesses it had back then. The problem is the tech on PC: a year and a half after release, the remaster still doesn’t run smoothly there, stutters while traveling through the world included. So I’d go for the PS5 or Xbox Series version instead, and you can try it out first on Game Pass. If you want to mod or have a weaker PC, go with the original as the Game of the Year Edition, because the remaster has no official mod support. Around 55 hours.

Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has more editions than almost any other game. The 2016 Special Edition is all you need. The Anniversary Edition adds all Creation Club content up to 2021, but that doesn’t justify the extra cost, so better to grab it only on sale. Important for modders: on PC there are no limits, on Xbox you get a lot more freedom than on PlayStation, and on Switch there are no mods at all. I can’t recommend the Switch 2 version. Around 70 hours.

Where the new version is the problem

Warcraft III

Warcraft III is the best-known example of a botched remaster. Reforged launched in 2020 with missing features and bugs, and fans absolutely tore it apart. The real problem: Reforged replaced the original, and you can no longer buy Reign of Chaos and The Frozen Throne on their own.

Blizzard has since made improvements. You can switch to the classic graphics, and since April 2026 owners also get the old original client for offline and LAN games. My tip: buy Reforged, because there’s no other way, and play with the classic graphics. The campaigns are as good as they were back then. Around 20 hours.

GTA Vice City and San Andreas

The 2021 Definitive Edition, a collection of GTA III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, was a disaster at launch: bugs, strange character models, missing fog and missing songs. A big update in November 2024 fixed a lot and added classic lighting, but only on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series.

My tip: if you still have the originals in your library, play those. Otherwise get the Definitive Edition, but only on PC, PS5 or Xbox Series, not on Switch, PS4 or Xbox One. San Andreas takes around 45 hours.

And if the real question is: which classic?

The version question is only the second step. If you’re still figuring out whether it should be a horror classic or a long RPG, our best-of lists for horror games, RPGs and JRPGs will help. How to decide in the first place, without spending hours reading lists, is covered in What should I play next?. And if you’d rather pick by mood, take the quiz.