If you loved the HD-2D remake of Dragon Quest III and want more, Square Enix has you covered. Dragon Quest I and II are getting the same treatment. Best of all, both remakes will be packaged together as a single release.  Chronologically, the games unfold after Dragon Quest III and continue the Erdrick saga, but the remakes will feature new story elements. Additionally, expect a refined battle system, improved graphics, and other new content. 

True to its name, Square Enix is reimagining Dragon Quest VII with a gorgeous hand-crafted aesthetic. Sporting a diaroma-inspired look, this new version of the 2000 RPG features revisions to its turn-based battles and Vocation system to make them more dynamic; you can see monsters in the field now, for example. The lengthy story has also been reworked to deliver a more streamlined (but still substantial) narrative. 

It took over six years since the release of Yakuza Kiwami 2, but 2009's Yakuza 3 is finally getting remade with an unexpected bonus. Kiwami 3 comes packaged with a brand-new story expansion called Dark Ties, a prequel story starring antagonist Yoshitaka Mine. Most long-time fans agree that Yakuza 3 is the entry in most desperate need of a modernized overhaul, so we're happy that developer Ryu Ga Gotoku is finally obliging. 

This remake of 2012's Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair retains the game's original zany story but adds a brand-new scenario for fans to sink their teeth into. The game's cast of classmates returns to endure a mysterious new murder game promised to be as substantial as the existing campaign, which itself has been upgraded with visual enhancements. Monokuma has never been better, and that's likely bad news for his unwilling participants. 

Fatal Frame is a series you don't hear much about these days, but horror fans hold its second entry, Crimson Butterfly, in high esteem. We're ecstatic to see the 2003 PS2 classic get updated with improved visuals and gameplay, including tweaks to the signature camera-based action, that will make sisters Mio and Maya's harrowing adventure all the more terrifying.  The remake's best new addition? Mio and Maya can now hold hands. 

Record rebuilds Fate/Extra, the first entry in the dungeon-crawling RPG series, with updated character graphics, and a beefier narrative. In terms of gameplay, developer Type-Moon Studio states it features “a more strategic deck-building style of dramatic command battle.” We’re not sure exactly what that last bit means, but given that the original game was released for PSP, it will be nice to have an improved version of the cult title on modern hardware.

2001's Gothic is getting a faithful glow-up that looks to reintroduce the RPG to a new audience. The combat system and control scheme, a criticism of the original, has been reworked to feel modern and, most of all, playable. Developer THQ Nordic Barcelona even released a playable teaser to obtain feedback and ensure it's on the right track. As 20+ year-old game, Gothic has been a tough game to revisit on PC, making this remake all the more welcomed. Eager fans can play a free prologue demo now on Steam. 

Development has been rocky for The Sands of Time’s impending remake, to say the least. Besides the game’s reveal garnering backlash from fans due to its unimpressive graphics, it has been delayed several times: first by two months, then indefinitely, and is now coming in 2026. In hindsight, it’s wild to think we were supposed to be playing this in January 2021. In May 2022, Ubisoft announced it had moved development from its fledgling Indian studios back to Montreal, where The Sands of Time was first created. While it's unfortunate that Ubisoft Pune/Mumbai couldn’t bring the remake together, we’re excited to see if Ubisoft Montreal can reapply the same magic.

11 Bit Studios is reimagining its 2018 post-apocalyptic city-management game, moving it into Unreal Engine 5 but offering more than a visual overhaul. Frostpunk 1886 will boast new content, including an entirely new Purpose path and new mechanics and laws. It may seem a bit soon for a remake of Frostpunk, but the game will be nine years old by the time 1886 is scheduled to launch in 2027.

Despite only releasing in 2022, Gungrave G.O.R.E. is getting a remake called Blood Heat. Rebuilt entirely in Unreal Engine 5, Blood Heat serves as a redemption of sorts for the poorly received action game by bolstering it with a host of improvements. Upgrades include a revamped and more polished combat system, enhanced cinematics, 360-degree controls, improved enemy AI, and new characters. Here's hoping Gungrave's comeback sticks the landing this time. 

The reveal that arguably the best Star Wars game ever was getting a much-needed remake had fans raising their lightsabers in celebration. Unfortunately, the game’s development seemingly succumbed to the dark side after reports surfaced that progress had stalled, and work on the game has switched hands from Aspyr Media to Saber Interactive. The game went radio silent for a long period until Embracer Group sold off Saber, prompting the studio's CEO to confirm that KOTOR is "alive and well". We hope that's the case and look forward to eventually seeing the remake in action. 

In April, Remedy Entertainment pleasantly surprised the gaming world when it announced it had struck a deal with Rockstar Games to remake Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Remedy sold the IP to Rockstar in 2002, but the two are partnering to revive the gritty crime series that popularized Bullet Time. The project, which will combine both games into a single title, will be made by Remedy with Rockstar footing the bill on development and publishing. It's slated for current-gen consoles and PC.

Persona 5 may be the entry that dominated the mainstream, but the also critically acclaimed Persona 4 set the table and is getting another shot in the limelight. Unfortunately, we don't know how Atlus plans to update the 2008 title; its 2025 reveal trailer announced it as being in early development. Persona 3 Reload is likely the best reference point for what to expect, and we're looking forward to spending dozens of hours hanging with the gang (i.e., fighting demons) in Inaba one more time. 

Bloober Team surprised many by knocking its remake of Silent Hill 2 out of the park. Following that game's positive reception, it's no surprise Konami is entrusting the team to give the same treatment to the 1999 original that first instilled the fear of fog into players. We're excited to see how Bloober Team reinvents Harry Mason's captivating and terrifying search for his missing daughter. 

It might not be a new entry, but a remake of Sam Fisher’s first outing is better than nothing after years of waiting. Ubisoft Toronto sits at the helm of the project and plans to rebuild the game from scratch using the Snowdrop Engine while maintaining the classic stealth elements. Outside of recently losing its director (on good terms), it’s unclear how development is faring or when we’ll get to see this fresh spin on the franchise.

CD Projekt Red’s litany of upcoming projects includes a full remake of the first Witcher game. It’s being built in Unreal Engine 5 by developer Fool’s Theory (with supervision from CD Projekt veterans) and is said to be very early in development. The Witcher, released for PC in 2007, is not an easy game to revisit due to its age and lack of console ports. Now that Geralt and friends are mainstream draws, newer fans can finally experience the adventure that started it all. 

If you never snagged the originals (or you have fond memories of playing them), the new release of Mario's star-spanning adventures is well worth a look. Packaged as a bundle for additional savings, but available separately if you prefer, these two games were some of the most experimental and creative in the long history of Mario games. Even with some refinement for this release, the onscreen motion-enabled cursor takes some getting used to. But the updated resolution, improved UI, soundtrack mode, and storybook chapters add up to make this the definitive version of these games to play. On Switch 2, the 4K resolution has Mario looking fantastic. And the games themselves feature clever level designs that demand creative thinking, as the bulk of the games play out on 3D spheres.

Ghost of Tsushima is one of my favorite games of all time, so I was immediately thrilled when Sucker Punch announced a successor around this time last year. Now that the day has arrived, I've put about four hours into Ghost of Yōtei, and I am having an absolute blast. The elements I loved in Ghost of Tsushima – a stunningly beautiful Japanese countryside, engaging combat, and rewarding exploration – are back in spades in Ghost of Yōtei, but I'm particularly drawn to the extraordinarily personal tale of revenge the game seems to be weaving. Full of lore-filling flashbacks, checklists of targets, and, yes, hot springs, Ghost of Yōtei was one of my most anticipated games coming into 2025, and if it continues playing as well as its first hours, I could see it leaving 2025 as my favorite game of the year.

When Square Enix revealed Dragon Quest VII Reimagined during the big September Nintendo Direct last month, it got me in a Dragon Quest mood. There's always XI, but that's a massive commitment I frankly don't have the time for at the moment. I started replaying the 3DS remake of VII, but again, that's a massive commitment (something Square Enix is aware of and addressing with the streamlined Reimagined, it says), so I landed on booting up last year's Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake, and wow, am I so glad I did. 

It's the third game in the Erdrick trilogy, but chronologically, the first, and sets the stage for Square's upcoming Dragon Quest I & II: HD-2D Remake launching later this month, which makes up the rest of the trilogy and comes after the adventures in III. So technically, playing the HD-2D Remake of III has brought me back to the series' beginnings in a way. It's been built from the ground up in the HD-2D visual engine that began with the first Octopath Traveler, so it's jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and smart quality of life updates and changes, like the ability to change battle speed, make it a smooth way to play this classic that first hit the U.S. in 1992 (after the 1988 launch in Japan). Because it's a remake of a classic, it also feels nostalgic; it serves as a reminder of a time when RPGs were much simpler, yet it remains just as enjoyable to play today.

If you haven't given Dragon Quest a go in any form, this remake is a great place to start, and narratively, the first place to start. And if you're playing on Switch 2, a free patch for the Switch version makes the game even smoother and prettier than it was at its launch last year. 

While I watched the show when I was younger, I never got into the Digimon games, even the rather well-regarded Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth. But after Time Stranger impressed me at this year's Summer Game Fest 2025, I was eager to finally take the plunge. Turns out, these are really good!

Digimon Story Time Stranger contains a lot of what I love about RPGs, from build-crafting to team composition and strategy, and quite a bit of good monster taming and training too. It feels like the perfect middle-ground between Nintendo's monster trainer and the devil summoning of Shin Megami Tensei; just the right amount of challenge and difficulty, with tons of enjoyment to be found in mapping out a Digimon's evolutionary path and growth potential. Digimon fans might have found a winning banner-carrier to rope in broader audiences with Digimon Story Time Stranger.

This week, I got a Game Boy and copies of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and Super Mario Land sent to my door... except they were all made out of Legos. Jokes aside, I am extremely impressed with the Lego Game Boy. I'm a lifelong fan of Legos (one glance at my staff bio would tell you that), but even this surpassed my expectations for one of their usual sets. The Game Boy is life sized and all the buttons actually work – they don't control the screen, but you can press the buttons, move the D-Pad, and the power switch has a satisfying click on and off. Much of the interior is made of dark green pieces, which is a fun nod to the console's microchip-based interior, even though it's not visible in the final build. It also comes with two cartridges that actually click into the back of the handheld, interchangeable screens, and a cute little display stand. It's also only $59.99, which is shockingly affordable for Lego, so if you're interested in having it as a display piece, I absolutely recommend it.