2021 will be remembered as a brilliant year for remakes, remasters, and enhanced PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 ports. Since a lot of these games tend to get overlooked for Game of the Year awards in favour of brand new titles, we thought it would be fitting to highlight our favourites.
As selected by the Push Square editorial team, these are the best PS5 and PS4 remakes, remasters, and re-releases of 2021.
Bronze Trophy: NieR Replicant
A poignant reminder of just how wonderfully strange the NieR series is, NieR Replicant is a thoughtfully reworked and remastered version of NieR. Or, more specifically, the Japanese version of NieR. It's a sombre, heartfelt story about an older brother who's desperate to protect his younger sister. A mishmash of gameplay genres and a unique atmosphere make Replicant a memorable, and somewhat haunting journey.
You can read our full NieR Replicant PS4 review here.
Silver Trophy: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
The awkwardly titled Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade does quite a lot to enhance the experience on PS5. A 60 frames-per-second mode adds welcome fluidity to combat, and a number of improved textures put an end to some of the original's most embarrassing technical blemishes. But it's the INTERmission expansion that impresses most — a several hour episode starring plucky ninja Yuffie, that features some of the game's coolest boss battles. Without a doubt, this remaster is the best way to play Remake.
You can read our full Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade PS5 review here.
Gold Trophy: Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut
Ghost of Tsushima was one of 2020's best games, and now it's even better on PS5 with Director's Cut. The DualSense's haptic feedback makes combat feel even more electric, while the locked 60 frames-per-second performance at 4K resolution allows Jin's adventure to play like an absolute dream. It's the Iki Island expansion that pushes Ghost to new heights, however. A masterfully crafted addition, Iki is a beautiful setting that hosts all kinds of fresh challenges, topped off with amazing action scenarios, great story moments, and loads of gameplay-enhancing extras.
You can read our full Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut PS5 review here.
Platinum Trophy: Mass Effect Legendary Edition
Since the dawn of the PS4, we had been asking for a remastered collection of the original Mass Effect trilogy. Thankfully, our dreams finally came true in 2021, when BioWare delivered a frankly fantastic product. Mass Effect Legendary Edition is pretty much everything we could have asked for; all three games in one package, excellently remastered and reworked so that they play better than ever. This is unquestionably the definitive Mass Effect experience — and it helps that the trilogy still holds up as one of the most memorable role-playing sagas that money can buy.
You can read our full Mass Effect Legendary Edition PS4 review here.
Honourable mentions:
What was your favourite remaster, remake, or re-release of 2021? Have your say in our poll, and then get all nostalgic in the comments section below.
Comments 33
Had to vote for yakuza like a dragon. Ghost is an amazing game but that was my game for 2020. The ps5 version was also amazing but never beat my first impressions when the originl released. Have yet to play Mass Effect or Nier Replicant. Played the original Death Stranding and FF7 Remake but have yet to get around to the rereleases. I enjoyed replaying Judgement on PS5 but I wouldnt say it went above and beyond for a rerelease. Yakuza like a Dragon however was a really nice surprise. It was sat on my backlog for a while until a new guy at work said he had started it and got a fair way through before starting the grind. Not usually one for turn based combat but I thoroughly enjoyed it and it fits with the wacky world of Yakuza. Ichiban is a fun protagonist and while I still want a Akiyama game il happy get the sequel
Voted for judgment because it’s my 7th favorite game of all time (at the moment) despite me not having played the “remaster” (AFAIK it’s just a port right?)
I haven’t played a lot of 2021 releases, having played most of them since I got UGP and an XSX but it we go multiplatform my favorite remake was brilliant diamond and my favorite remaster was jedi fallen order.
I voted for Ghost of Tsushima, simply because I felt like Iki Island is, essentially, the best DLC we’ve gotten for a game since Skyrim, plain and simple. While Mass Effect Legendary Edition is a tour de force of fantastic games, I have to give the credit to strong new content.
That said, Death Stranding Director’s Cut is the best game of the lot, but I didn’t feel like the Director’s Cut added much necessary content to the game, honestly. While it is visually impressive and the dual sense utilization is outstanding, I ended up wishing there was more to it, unfortunately.
Hey guys I think you forgot one, how are you going to do the GTA trilogy wrong like that 😌
Oh and the Mass Effect trilogy was done so perfectly I feel others should use it as a template on how to remaster PS3 era games.
Can I vote for Mass Effect twice? Ghost is probably my favorite game on PS5 but the tender love in care BioWare put into the remaster was outstanding.
Diablo 2 for me..awesome remaster
Absolutely loved Final Fantasy VII remake on PS5 but as a complete package, it has to be Mass Effect LE. Never played the originals on any platform so I can into this series as a complete newcomer.
Wow, what a ride it was. Some gameplay issues with the first (Mako, overall combat) were overshadowed by the story, characters, lore and world-building. The sequels improved upon all the first one's faults and the story remained excellent throughout. A brilliant gaming experience.
Diablo 2 didn't even get a mention??
I love Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Ghost of Tsushima is really good too, but it's not even a contest for me regardless. Mass Effect Legendary Edition was my choice without even seeing the poll. It honestly would have been my Game of the Year if I didn't feel it should go to a new game and not a collection as it was my favorite release of the year.
I voted Yonder the Cloud Catcher Chronicles PS5.
It was an enhanced version of PS4 / Switch version from year 2017 - 2018.
I like to play this game on Switch and PS4 for relaxing open world game with NO violences at all (100% Peaceful game).
Has to be Mass Effect to me. Still the most ambitious trilogy I've ever seen not just in gaming but pretty much any medium I could think of.
NieR and Yakuza are the only ones I've played, haven't played the original version so it's hard to stack up but whilst Yakuza is one of my favorite jrpgs despite my general dislike of turn based combat NieR really just is a whole different animal.
I have a tough time choosing between Ghost of Tsushima and Death Stranding but ultimately went with Death Stranding… that game.. that game is just bonkers amazing… I know it’s not for everyone but it’s the only open world game that keeps, and is keeping, me hooked. It’s so relaxing going from point A to point B and the weather system and graphics are mind blowing. My bonus points are going toward the reduced load times even though Ghost is damn near INSTANT. In fact I’ve never seen a game load as fast as Ghost does, especially when fast traveling. It’s insane.
Ghost of Tsushima is an amazing game but the PS5 version didn't add anywhere near enough to justify its place. It was also on PS4. Nier Replicant or Mass Effect deserve far more praise.
Mass Effect or Diablo 2 Resurrected for me. As much as I love ff7r, Tsushima, and Yakuza 7, getting a 60fps patch on a game released last year can't compare to the work in overhauling games that are 10+ years old.
I feel like Final Fantasy VII Intergrade would be a better package if it included the expansion. Ghost of Tsushima kinda puts it to shame.
Nier, ME Trilogy, Quake.
Definitely ff7 remake intergrade, ghost of tsushima is great and all, but the ps4 game graphics is already good and the game 30 fps frame rate is smooth, so the upgrade to 60 fps while it's nice, it isn't as good as ff7 remake intergrade upgrade (since the base ff7 remake ps4 game 30 fps is not as smooth as sony 1st party games).
Nier is good but I wish it's platinum that handles the game gameplay.
Mass effect legendary edition such a good remaster its bordering on a remake. the way the game looks and runs from an old 2007 unreal engine 3 game is fantastic tons of DLC
120 hours of awesomeness
personally i dont think adding some dlc and re-releasing a game a year later deserves so much praise
Judgment wins for me, I have never played Mass Effect and I really want to as it sounds like my kind of game but I am not sure when especially with line up for 2022 🤔
Funny enough, I recently finished Mass Effect Trilogy for the first time and I absolutely loved every second of it. I wish EA understood better how much we like these single-player experiences and would give us more, while I'm skeptical I still kinda look forward to seeing Mass Effect 4.
If you think a PS5 upgrade is just a "60 FPS" patch, I feel like you've not played them. GoT is a new experience after I switched my save file over to PS5 last night, it's not a different game but it's a different experience. The haptic & adaptive trigger implementation of the dual sense, the 3D audio, the 60 FPS, the cut scenes being real time, the reflections & shadows, the lack of loading screens, it's just.... It's very different, as someone who just began playing it on PS5 after playing up until Act Three on PS4 Pro. It's not just a 60FPS patch, if you just want a 60FPS patch then you can play the PS4 version on PS5. It's a true PS5 game now.
Mass Effect is the only one I played so I choose that
I love the Mass Effect Legendary Collection(beat all 3 games in about 2 weeks). I just hope EA let's Bioware do a remaster for Dragon Age 1, Awakening and 2 before Dragon Age 4 comes out.
I feel like people would love that and have been asking for it for years.
Mass Effect Legendary Edition by a landslide. Don't get me wrong, Ghost of Tsushima is incredible but I can easily play the PS4 version on my PS5. Without the release of the ME Legendary Edition, I wouldn't have been able to replay these great games at all without going back to PS3 or upgrading my PC significantly.
Technically I haven't played any of those but I smashed through the original Mass Effect trilogy (and all DLC available on ps3) just prior to the announcement of Legendary Edition and it was really cool. Also I played Nier a number of times on ps3. The closest to these I experienced was FFVII Remake so had to vote for that but really, that was last year. I'll probably get round to Nier and ME LE in the next year or so lol
Ridiculous you would even suggest that Tsushima falls into the category of remake or remaster. Even the directors cut moniker was a huge stretch.. It was just a pay for minor enhancements ps5 upgrade with an expansion bundled to it to justify its price.
It played great with the original ps5 patch that already improved visuals and performance.
Easily it's Yakuza: Like a Dragon for me. What a game. I don't usually care for turn-based RPGs but somehow RGG Studio nailed it and still made the combat look and, most importantly, feel like crazy, over the top Yakuza. Great story and awesome new characters as well. Absolutely loved it.
Anyone not picking Mass Effect is a bit of a joker. Ede they have their Tali in a spin or its Mordin than can handle. Its great, it wrex other trilogies and shepherds the player through the best story in gaming. Normandy I would have a less biased view but if you haven't already jacked it up I'm gonna mako you play it. Now Garrus a beer and sit down to the space opera in the sky. Okaiden?
No GTA Trilogy "Definitive Edition"!!😋😂
GoT really? Its nearly unchanged on PS5, you can get 60fps from the PS4 version by running it on PS5 and its big expansion can be played on PS4. The duel sense stuff is cool and its nice having lib sync for the japan dub but that's all the PS5 version gives you, quite frankly its pretty lazy.
D-E-M-O-N'-S S-O-U-L-S say it with me people 😂😂😂😂 technically end of last year but a big portion of people will probz not got a chance 2 play it till 2021 and if GoT directors cut can make it on list with it not being so much a re-release and more a ps5 upgrade+ expansion (which is fantastic I 😍😍GoT) then surely a souls game can get some love 😂😂😂😂
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