5 Video Game Reboots That Are Better Than the Original

Reboots have multiple purposes, all of which help to rekindle the dying flame of an older IP. These have been used to breathe life into old worlds and characters for decades, and have even managed to warrant entirely new story arcs from the ashes. And as far as current times go, well, we aren't exactly short on reboots and rehashes. The burning question, though, is which franchises have actually redeemed their former flaws, and which have only served to line the pockets of lazy developers?

Looking back over recent years, we've seen a considerable amount of quality reboots, many of which we'd happily slap on a pedestal for celebratory purposes. That said, there are five, in particular, that we'd rank just a smidgen higher. So, here are, in our opinion, the best video game reboots to come out in the last decade.

5. Tomb Raider (2013+)

While we won't discard the fact that the original Tomb Raider saga was a contributing factor in the flourishing of the action-adventure genre, we do have to give credit where it's due. And in this case, Square Enix's 2013 reboot deserves a standing ovation, primarily because of its ability to not only capture the heart of the original series, but flesh it out with an actual origin story.

For what it's worth, we always believed that the nineties version of Tomb Raider was way ahead of its time. It was an ambitious project that dared to utilize every tool in the basket, and it was only when Square Enix brought in a shipment of such tools that the game's potential was finally realized. Both are equally as timeless, of course, but the survivor trilogy somehow managed to raise the bar and give an older heart a new reason to prosper.

4. Resident Evil

Besides the clunky mechanics that made the original Resident Evil games for what they were, there isn't a thing we can slate about the PlayStation One series, to be fair. But that's partly the reason why Capcom chose to reboot it, knowing all too well that the original timeline had a global fan base to support it. The developer's primary goal, however, wasn't to rehash it, but rebuild it from the ground up.

At the time of writing, Resident Evil 4 is due to receive the same treatment that sparked life into both Resident Evil 2 and 3. Although not direct clones of their former selves, they do bring a few familiar features to the table, only on a much grander scale. Again, we can't speak ill of the dead or anything, but there have definitely been a few things Capcom has made significantly better since returning to the nineties classics.

3. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

There will always be a place in our hearts for Crash Bandicoot. After all, it's a series that effortlessly managed to soak up countless hours of play time during its nineties debut. It's also a poster child that has retained its residency on the PlayStation forefront for well over two decades now. For this reason alone, Naughty Dog made the ultimate call to reboot the series for modern consoles, using new tech to rebuild timeless levels and bonus features.

Of course, there was a feature ND did decide to retain, and that was the difficulty level itself. From what we remember, Crash Bandicoot was never really that hard. The N. Sane Trilogy proved us wrong, and we weren't entirely sure whether to laugh or cry about it. Either way, there was no denying the fact that the newly refurbished version of Crash was a step in the right direction for Sony's brainchild.

2. Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Of all the Final Fantasy chapters Square Enix could've picked at, we're actually glad it was the seventh segment that received the TLC. Although praised as one of the greatest games from the PS1 era, its remake was an absolute bastion of pride for its successor. Unlike other remakes that resorted to laziness to hash out a cash grab, Square completely renovated the wheel, using its long arm of knowledge to merge old tricks with new ones.

The decision to split the game into multiple segments was met with mixed feedback, that much is true. But, seeing how well-balanced the first chapter turned out, we are now more than prepared to watch the journey roll out for as long as Square Enix continue to pour blood and sweat over it. And as far as essential PlayStation exclusives go, this one deserves its place adjacent to the apex, for sure.

1. Ratchet & Clank

Ratchet & Clank is a series that will never run out of playable content. Even now, as we look over a good twenty years of games, spin-offs, and movies, Insomniac Games has multiple routes to kick the franchise down. Of course, we can thank the 2016 reboot for making such pathways available to the developer, to be fair. Thanks to that, old ventures can once again be explored and given new technical enhancements and modern embellishments.

2016's Ratchet & Clank was a part-remake, part-reimagining of the beloved duo's origin story. Keeping a firm hold of the original structure that made the 2002 version for what it was, the reboot simply acted as a second coat of paint, one that possessed a number of Pixar-like theatrics and loftier level designs. Sure, its elderly heart was still present and accounted for, but it also had a few extra gadgets and gizmos to keep it fresh and invigorating. For that, we can't help but give Insomniac Games a bit ol' hearty thumbs up.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five reboots? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.