15 Best Nintendo Remasters of All Time 

Prime Remastered, Xenoblade Definitive Edition and Ocarina of Time 3D take the cake for me. Also Skyward Sword HD is mad underrated, way more of an improvement than people give it credit for.

25:17 antdude jumpscare

Remasters bring new life to old games. Remasters are important for younger gamers to experience older games

As a fashion player, one of the biggest reasons I adored the Xenoblade 1 remaster is that it lets you set visual character armor separate from what they're actually wearing. And a lovely one in WW that no one mentions is being able to swing freely on a rope withtout having to come to a complete stop and turn yourself. And omg, doing the Gerudo shooting range on N64 vs. 3DS is so unbelievably night and day.

I’d say that Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is by far my favorite one here. I mean, not only does the game look way more gorgeous, but comes with an amazing newly arranged soundtrack (even if you can switch to the OG at anytime), plenty of QoL improvements to streamline like the expansion, like a sidequest tracker, bonus EXP and both an easy and hard mode, and a brand new epilogue to boot. It’s by far the definitive version of XC1 and what I’d reccomend to anyone who hasn’t played the series. The more recent Paper Mario TTYD is also great for similar reasons, and with how much effort and production value is put behind it, it almost feels like a new Paper Mario game despite being baswd on an old one. And I can hope that if it proves successful, Nintendo returns to this style of gameplay due to being where the series hit its peak by far.

I'm shocked that you didn't include Return to Dreamland Deluxe. It added two new copy abilities, a huge amount of mini-games, a whole new epilogue with Magolor and a much harder true arena than before

NEStroid with backgrounds woulda gone so hard

I think Jon will talk about those extra e reader Mario levels until the day he dies.

Don't really agree with Xenoblade being relatively low on the list

You failed to mention that Twilight Princess HD added the Cave of Shadows, which is basically a second Cave of Ordeals in which you play as Wolf Link. I'd argue this is a bigger change than any change from WWHD and SSHD.

I would really like to see Good Vibes Gaming do a Top 100 Nintendo Games List. But nothing that's objectivity ranked,. but more of a discussion of figuring out which games to put on the list. With maybe each member bringing their Top 25 Nintendo Games and seeing which games overlap on each list.

It's crazy Skyward Sword is the only 3D Zelda that got 60fps so far

Man have to say John, I've been loving every video you have been putting out. From the 3DS mod videos to the lightgun one and now this. I swear it's like you are reading my mind with the on point topics you pick. Keep it up champ!

Ocarina of Time 3D is great for sure. I still want them to remaster the game in HD for a home console though (along with Majora's Mask.)

Xenoblade DE is easily one of the best. My whole rule of thumb with remasters is "does it have improvements/major changes over the original that make it a better package overall, make the old version obsolete, yet doesn't sacarfice anything the original had?" Xenoblade ticked all the boxes.

I think Xenoblade Chronicles DE is one of the best remasters ever made. It made so many improvements, the games looks so much better and everything is a lot more fun to play. The Future Connected part was rather meh, but you don't have to play it if you don't want to.

Super Mario Advance 1 is actually, by far, my favourite of the GBA Mario ports. I feel the subseries' controversial voice clips are a particularly good fit for SMB2's silly, whimsical personality, but it's the balancing tweaks that really carry it for me. It's far easier to find 1-ups and extra hearts than in any of the previous versions of the game. The Yoshi egg hunt adds a crucial new level of replay value that really incentivises searching for subspace locations in a way the previous releases lacked. They also swap out one of the samey Birdo bosses with a mecha version ("Robirdo"), and that's a fantastic tweak. From the FDS Doki Doki Panic, to the NES SMB2, to Super Mario USA, to the All-Stars version, to the Satellaview version, to SMA, Mario 2 was one of the most thoroughly revisited games Nintendo ever made, and I think they nailed it with Advance. Its vibrancy and creativity really shine, and I argue it puts it in genuine competition with 3 and World. SMBDX on the GBC took similar pains to elevate the original, but the limited screen space really holds it back. I'd love to see them revisit that content on a system that can display SMB1 comfortably.

Xenoblade DE gave us higher fidelity character models, improved textures, quality of life changes to the menu and ui, added fashion gear, added a challenge mode, remade the soundtrack to make it more crisp, and an entirely new epilogue story with 3 hours of voiced cutscenes and new music. It's a huge remaster and I think it's the best remaster on this list. There's no downgrade, unless you hate anime, which is a personal issue and not an issue with the game.

Grezzo are masters of the remaster!

I would watch a whole video of you guys showing off the most bonkers and best Miitopia Switch characters you have in your collections. :D I have such fondness for the Miitopia remaster; I made over a dozen Miis based on existing characters, like Herdier from Pokemon, Asterius from Hades, Capt. Selkie from My Hero Academia, Forthington the badminton cat from Rhythm Heaven... a wacky and impossible multi-franchise crossover! In a more authentic-looking way than the original 3DS version did.

Oh my gosh! I haven’t even watched yet, but I got really excited when I saw the topic, and it’s a Jon video! Now I’m super excited!

If you count Donkey Kong Game Boy as a remake, it should be number one.

Don't trust people who think Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland is bad.

Jon is the GVG MVP. What a great guy

I am probably the only one, but I like, and prefer, the new control in Skyward Sword. The motion controls were fine, but the sword being controlled by the right stick was the way to go for me.

Jon when you inevitably do a follow up video of a "15 best SEGA Remasters" you better include NiGHTS Into Dreams and Jet Set Radio remasters.

Maybe someday, Donkey Kong will make one of these lists. I think Returns HD will be excellent, but right now, people are already hating it before it's even out.

Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition. The motion controls are insane.

Who is Emio?

17:18 Thank you for showing me how to get to the e reader levels, I had wanted to play them but had no clue how to get to them. As of an hour ago I beat them and honestly they were better than expected

Im so happy Super Mario 3D world is up there…This game should be in top 10 best games of all time

Pikmin with traditional controls is great. The swarming mechanic was instrumental in the design of the C-stick on the GameCube controller. The biggest flaw with the Switch port was that they made swarming more cumbersome in service of a somewhat unnecessary addition of free camera control. It’s fine if people prefer the motion-enhanced versions of 1 and 2, but to my mind the GameCube originals were already fine-tuned to the GCN controller, especially the first title.

I really think Majoras Mask 3D is vastly underappreciated, I was a bit dissapointed it got waved off here even if Ocarina 3D is ultimately the better choice.

By the way, if you're into emulation, there is a ROM hack of super Mario all stars that corrects the physics in super Mario Brothers 1 and lost levels to how they were before.

The historical importance of the original is important, but I usually preserve the quality of life fixes of remasters. Great point at the end, though.

Is that the obscure and beloved character Vib-Ribbon back there?! Awesome.

Ocarina of time 3D was the first Zelda game I ever played. It has a special place in my heart.

While not as flashy, Super Mario Bros. Deluxe on the GBC is fantastic, the screencrunch unfortunately knocks it down a bit but everything else is wonderful

I think Mario 64 deserves an honorable mention ::looks it up:: …..It’s a remake? The heck is the difference?!?

Great list! I agree, OoT3D is very underrated nowadays. The original was legendary, but it doesn't scrape Top 5 Zelda games for me, but the 3DS version does. You even forgot to mention it includes a Boss Rush mode (it is shown in the video) AND MASTER QUEST!!

I missed a lot of the Game & Watch games with the GBA being my first handheld, but after recently getting back into portables, all of those games are hidden gems ESPECIALLY on the go with the proper form factor!

Heavy on the TPHD and SSHD part, I feel like people view the HD improvements as how they always envisioned the game in their heads when they played the games years ago so the visual enhancement doesn’t seem as impressive when in reality it very much so is.

Let's see how many of these are actually remakes

Love your Zelda-themed background

Whats your take on Luigis Mansion 1 for 3DS?

I preferred the XC1 definitive edition to the original. I probably would never have replayed the original, once was enough, but seeing it in the remaster I almost enjoy it as much as the other two in the series

3DS games being playable on the console would be great. Something I've been waiting for since the 2010s

Oot 3D is a game that is not in HD. It does not look like a game that is not in HD. And it does so on a system that in itself, is not in HD. That’s a good remaster.

I kinda get annoyed that when people go "I want a REAL remake of Ocarina of Time" as if the 3DS one doesn't count. Like do we really need to remake the same game twice?

Narrate my life Jon

Honestly, if we see another release of Twilight Princess on Switch or Switch 2, I really hope it gets a Prime-style geometry upgrade, because it really needs it. Honestly, even as someone who didn’t really grow up with the game (though I was able to play through most of the Wii version a few years before HD) I’ve always felt that the HD textures actually end up being pretty unflattering for most of the game. Wind Waker and Skyward sword both have the benefit of a lot of “chunkier” designs that can have their textures scaled up without feeling out of place, but for Twilight Princess it feels like upping the detail in one specific aspect of the models just ends up emphasizing how much the geometry isn’t showing that detail. If you’re playing it in pretty much any connection better than composite video I feel like the original version’s cohesion to its visuals makes it much more appealing to me overall. Also, I’ve only ever seen like one other person talk about it, but can we also talk about the input delay in certain actions? The original already has delays to things like sword swings to make it easier to charge a spin attack, so even that little bit of extra really goes a long way to make the game feel less responsive. I was even able to boot up the Wii version on the same TV and get proof it was more responsive. Honestly, not to be dramatic, but despite how much I see people like Jon sing it’s praises, I’d find it pretty hard to recommend the HD version over the original if you have the option.

I miss the 3DS remasters of Ocarina of Time and Star Fox 64. Really hoping that they'll bring these games back someday on the Switch because I'm just really salty that I sold my 3DS back in 2017 :(

I loved the video. I would love to have remastered all classics games like Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island or Zelda ALttP on Switch because the best version currently is the GBA.

Never understood the hate behind the visual updates to wind waker hd. Looks amazing.

Absolutely great list!

I'm a simple man I see jon I like

Although not Nintendo, the Sonic mobile ports are easily some of the best remasters. Crisp audio, smooth framerate, easier special stages, save slots, and widescreen just makes them the definitive version.

Hey everyone Jon here!

Shoutout to Super Mario Bros Deluxe on GB. Best version of the NES Mario Bros

I just need the Zelda remasters on Switch Nintendo, what the hell are you doing?

wwhd, prime remastered, and xcde are peak

great video jon thank you!! i agree with your hot take, even if i prefer the remastered version of a game i will always appreciate being able to go back! i will always Love the crusty look of original kingdom hearts, and also the very questionable decision of putting camera control on L2 and R2, even if i hate it at the same time

You guys have been killing it with these editorial videos lately. Keep it up!

Love seeing that Sonic Adventure 3DS theme make an appearance

My first 3ds game is Ocarina 3d, it just perfect and i still replaying it to this day But grapics wise in my perspective Majora's 3d looks more stunning, the lighting effect feels too good for a 3ds game

The circle pad feels very odd in Star Fox 64 3D. That said, it's still one of my favorite games to play in 3D. That's the game I'll show people when I tried to show them how good the 3D looked. Now, if only we could get a new version. A Switch version could even still be in 3D with Labo... We'll call it Star Fox 64 3D HD VR!

Clicked knowing full well Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition would be in this! So so good!

Happy to see some love for Ocarina of Time 3D... I love the original but the 3D version does it justice with subtle visual upgrades but retaining the visual spirit of the the og.

It pains me seeing Windwaker here. I have it on Gamecube, I have played it several times and I love it. I never got the Wii U version but right now I am craving to play that game again and the HD Version is what I want to try. But I just know that if I buy it on Wii U it will end up being released on Switch. Please Nintendo... let people play it.

Luigi’s Mansion 1 on 3DS missing is craazyyy

I really don't like the ambient occlusion in the Windwaker HD. There's a shadow bloom that sometimes happens around link when there's nothing behind him to cast a shadow on. The original I think had the second best cell shaded look (the original Jet Set Radio will remain my favourite) and the updated lighting in HD ruins it. I much prefer the GameCube version.

No Nightmare in Dream Land?

I recently bought a wii u, largely to play wind waker and twilight Princess hd and the remaster of twilight princess made remember how much I LOVE that game. The remaster is so crystal clear and beautiful. I now love twilight princess more than ocarina of time and I still want switch ports of those I also wish they'd do an HD remaster of mario galaxy 2 (the other game I wanted access to by buying a wii u). It's so, so good. Come on nintendo please!

Oot takes number 1 but Mm does make the list? As much as the mm changes are controversial I don’t think oot 3D is gaping mm 3D by that much.

It ain't just that remasters sometimes remove things that you liked, sometimes they are also buggier because by messing with the game code and changing ONE thing for the "better" they change something else for the worse. Because video game code is a feeble thing. If you change even ONE thing it can have a technical chain reaction and fuck up something seemingly unrelated elsewhere. That's also why sometimes "garbage" from when the game was in development is hidden away somewhere in the background that you would never see unless you use cheat devices to access it, because while I would personally love for a game to be completely "cleaned up" before shipping, some of these leftover assets are kept in because removing them would mess up something in the finished product.

My only problem with Super Mario Advance 4 is the added voice clips. I got so fed up with constantly hearing "Just what I needed!".

I literally got an add for the TTYD remake before you talked about it.

Every single Zelda remaster should be on switch. Kinda unacceptable they aren't tbh.

Zelda games on the WiiU and 3DS are amazing for the touchscreen inventory management. (Slightly related: it’s a shame that they took out touchscreen controls for BOTW)

You about features in Zelda remasters WWHD had camera feature added TPHD had cave of shadow and amiibo SSHD had full camera control and amiibo OOT3D also had master quest and gautlet

Respect the title change

I still want the 3Ds Remasters of Ocarina and Majora on Switch.

I can still play windwaker hd and twilight princess hd on Wii u I don't need them on switch what I want is OOT and MM 3d remastered on switch but instead we got Luigi's mansion 2

you forgot to mention the extra Kuribo shoe levels in Mario 3 GBA

Shout outs to Kirby superstar Ultra, one of if not the best remaster

I really hate how remaster become a more marketable term than remake, because most of these are remakes. Remaster started as a musical industry term for a new, higher quality, master of the original source, so it wasn't supposed to sound different at all, only better. Then movie industry started using with the same meaning, higher image quality and sound but without changing anything. Then game industry started using it correctly, for ports with higher quality versions of the textures they used and improved resolution, but now they call remasters even games that completelly changed the graphics, like OoT 3D, Crash Remastered and so much more, when they all should be called remakes If they look different, they're not a remaster, if the graphics were completely REMADE, they're REMAKES.

Didn't expect to see Domon Kasshu from Mobile Fighter G Gundam in a Mii game!

I really like these weird little videos by John the Great 🍃

ALttP on GBA was my introduction to top-down Zelda and I fell in love with the formula! Nintendo absolutely did the right thing with that remake. Don’t underestimate the value of bringing old games to a new audience.

Remaster simply means that the original source code was the basis of the game.

The traditional button controls in Skyward Sword HD were a game changer for me. However, I just wish there was an option to toggle the R button function from camera control to your sword attacks instead. Pretty much every single time I simply wanted to move the camera, I accidentally whipped my sword out by mistake. In the end, I just went back to motion controls.

Obligatory complaint about the abscence of Kirby Super Star Ultra and Return to Dream Land Deluxe (I don't think Adventure 3D is worth playing over Nightmare in Dream Land).

I personally love the Link's Awakening remake!

Excluding the fantastic Wii point controls for Pikmin(&2 ...& RE4) and the Metroid Switch dual stick controls, I tend to prefer the original hardware over remasters and ports, mainly down to feel. Particularly games from Dreamcast and N64. Most consistent example being all the Sonic Adventure director's cut and HD versions- I found them unplayable for all the bad camera, odd hit detection, invisible wall glitchy-ness that the game is known for but never had an issue with the original. I put this down to time and putting up with more back in the day but playing on the Dreamcast recently, it is still flawed but much better and more responsive feeling than the later versions.

I bought a couple of months back Super Mario Advance #4 like new on ebay because of how good that version is, thankfully the giy that sold it had the game really taken care of that like new was almost sealed. Until Mario Wonder came Super Mario Bros 3 was my favorite 2D Mario now it is on second place.

You have conflated the definitions of Remakes, Remasters, and Enhanced Ports here. Port - A game that has had its assets and code modified to run on a new platform. Enhanced Port - A port that has large changes from the original or previous releases. (such as brand new game modes or features) Remaster - An enhanced port where the majority of assets are modified or remade. Remake - A recreation of the game sharing little to no code or assets in common. Examples: Witcher 3 (Switch) - Port (just the game that exists, but made to work on the Switch) Skies of Arcadia (GCN) - Enhanced Port (original code, but large changes added) OoT3D (3DS) - Remaster (uses the original N64 code, modified by Grezzo) Another Code: Recollection (Switch) - Remake (little to no shared assets or code)

Jon are you wearing a yellow shirt that has Wario on it towards the bottom? Got the same one myself from GameStop!

Why are people forgeting kirby s return to dreamland deluxe makes no sense

Wind Waker HD actually does have higher res textures than the GC version.

I need all 3D Zelda remasters on switch asap OOT & MM immediately