I spent a large part of my youth playing handheld video games. As obsessive as I was, I certainly wasn’t about to let the fun stop just because I was leaving the house.
So, as the popularity of video game remakes began to rise, I started seeing some of my favorite games get remade on home consoles. And it has led to some truly outstanding games over the years, running the gamut from RPGs all the way to retro platformers.
The ability for these classic games to transcend systems is always exciting. New audiences are never a bad thing, as sometimes old hardware is inaccessible or overpriced in retro markets. Giving them a chance to live again is important.
8 Pokémon Brilliant Diamond And Shining Diamond
A Full Remake By ILCA For The Nintendo Switch
For as much as I loved the majority of Nintendo IPs, one of the reasons I have consistently owned handhelds was for Pokémon. And one of my favorite generations of Pokémon has always been Diamond and Pearl, which was the benefit of a delightful remake for the Switch.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is a fantastic update of the classic DS games. These games were the introduction for so many to Pokémon, so giving them to a new generation was such a good move.
They retain all the lovely bits of humor and oddball charm of the originals. In terms of Pokémon games on Switch, this is one of the better ones you can play today.
7 Mario Vs. Donkey Kong
Mario And DK Head-To-Head
I didn’t have much experience with the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series until the Switch remake in 2024. I did play the original game on the Game Boy Advance, but their limited availability on modern hardware made it difficult to explore the series more thoroughly.
Thankfully, Nintendo saw a market for it and developed a complete remake for the Switch. It’s a series that always fascinated me, putting a strong puzzle focus where the platforming usually exists.
The remake also added new worlds, as well as the welcome return of Charles Martinet after he stepped down from the role via archival recordings. It can be rather easy, but the aesthetics and world design are absolutely on point.
6 Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain Of Memories
Darkness Within Darkness Awaits You
As irresponsible as it is to recommend a Kingdom Hearts game if you haven’t played the others, I can’t help but sing the praises of Chain of Memories. I didn’t have a chance to play it on the GBA, so when it was remade for PS2 in 2006, I jumped at the opportunity.
These days, the PS2 remake of Chain of Memories is actually easy to find. If you’ve got any of the numerous Kingdom Hearts collections available on PlayStation, Xbox or PC, you can very easily play this fantastic RPG.
Combat is similar to the other 3D games, but actually uses a card-based battling system that I really like. Re:Chain of Memories is one of the most underrated Kingdom Hearts games, and one that I quite enjoyed on my recent replay of it.
5 Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
Orange Vs. Blue
Advance Wars was a series I got into late, as my first taste of the strategy RPG genre didn’t come until several years ago. After diving into Fire Emblem: Three Houses, my love for the genre exploded.
Prompted to explore strategy RPGs further, I was over the moon when Nintendo announced a remake of the first two games for the Switch in 2021. Instead of the pixel art that defined the first games, WayForward went with a full 3D approach.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp combines the first two games into one, and is chock-full of huge-scale battles and some excellent music. Strategy RPGs are pretty frequent these days, but I don’t think you can go wrong with this outstanding updated classic on Switch.
4 Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
Gotta Rescue ‘Em All
Pokémon spin-offs happen rather frequently, as the main generations tend to launch every few years. So, as a fairly young Pokémon fan girl during the early 2000s, I was craving more of the franchise that I love.
And with Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Nintendo created a compelling side series that I was utterly obsessed with. I was doubly excited when Nintendo announced a remake of the Red Rescue Team and Blue Rescue Team games.
The game uses a lovely, almost painterly art style. It looks so unique compared to other Pokémon games, which is a miracle considering how similar they all look. I’ve not played many Roguelites, but Mystery Dungeon DX features some clever randomized underground locations.
Diving into the depths, exploring and looking for lost Pokémon, is just as fun today as it was in 2006. It’s well worth putting some time into.
3 The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
A Beautiful Recreation Of The Best Game Boy Game Ever Made
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is my favorite Game Boy game of all time. It was a constant part of my GBC library when the DX version came out, so the prospect of a full-blown remake on the Switch was something pretty special.
My biggest fear about the Link’s Awakening remake was that it would not focus on what makes the DX version so good, including the Color Dungeon. But not only did Nintendo faithfully recreate that, they also introduced some amazing new features.
The best of which is the dungeon maker, allowing you to arrange your own versions of the game’s levels as you complete floors. It’s not quite the Zelda version of Mario Maker we’ve been hoping for, but it still adds a lot of value to the package.
2 Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! And Let’s Go, Eevee!
Delightful Update Of Landmark Game Boy Release
There may not be a more important handheld RPG than Pokémon Red and Blue. The monster-taming genre would not be what it is today without it, and it’s still one of the most fabulous RPGs ever made.
And while there have been a few different versions of Red and Blue, all of them have been for other handheld consoles. It wasn’t until Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee that it got a home console remake.
But what really makes Let’s Go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee stand out is how it tries to make the Pokémon experience feel real. The Poke Ball Plus was a great way to play the game, as it really made the act of catching Pokémon feel more satisfying than it ever has.
1 Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion
A Magnificent Reunion
As the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7 continues to prove just how dominant of a force the PS1 classic has been for nearly 30 years, one piece of the mythology was left ignored until very recently.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 is a game that’s very special to me. As a card-carrying member of the Zack Fair fanclub, getting to experience his story and all the intense emotions that go along with it was a key reason to own a PSP in 2007.
A remake of this absolutely breathtaking PSP RPG was in the rumor mill for a long time, and it is a crucial piece to getting the entire Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy. And while the PSP version was great for its time, Reunion is the absolute best way to play this spectacular game today.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
