Let’s begin by clarifying what we will be covering on this PS4 list. Even though it is not in the title, remakes will also be featured. Straight ports, however, will not be. For example, if a game released on Xbox One in 2018 and it came to PS4 this year, we won’t count it. 

To us a remaster is something created for this generation from the last one, or even further back. Basically if a lot of work went into it, we’re counting it so don’t be surprised if we skip around Metacritic. There is a reason. As a final note these dates are based on North American releases unless other specified so let’s get to it. 

10 Assassin's Creed III Remastered (72)

Assassin's Creed III

Assassin's Creed III launched on October 30, 2012 for the PS3 and Xbox 360. The game got a PC and Wii U port as well as support on Xbox One’s backwards compatibility program.

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Strangely enough it never got a proper remaster from last-gen system to current ones. This is surprising in that most other games in the series have been remastered. This may stem from the fact that reviews were middling in the beginning as it has one of the slowest starts, but with the DLC and graphical tweaks, it’s a better game now on PS4.  

9 Onimusha: Warlords (74)

Onimusha: Warlords released on March 13, 2001 for the PS2. This release is important because the last game that came out was Onimusha Soul, which was a Japanese exclusive browser game. The actual main last game was in 2006, Dawn of Dreams, also for PS2.

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That means the entire PS3 generation did not receive a sequel, spinoff, or even a remaster and the same was almost true for this generation. It’s strange that Capcom only decided to remaster one game instead of putting out a collection, but we will take what we can get. 

8 Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition (76)

Borderlands launched on October 20, 2009 for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Releasing a remaster this year was a good idea on Gearbox’s part for two reasons.

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One, if one does the math they can figure out that 2019 is the series’ tenth anniversary. Two, releasing it in the summer was a good way to build up hype for Borderlands 3. Does it hold up? Graphically it doesn’t seem like much was done and it too suffers from a slow start. However, once one gets into it, it’s still a great co-op experience. 

7 Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and the Lion King (78)

Rather than going through every date, we’ll just say both games came out in the 90s during their respective film releases on many different platforms. Most of those are in the collection, but there are exclusions like the SNES version of Aladdin aka the better one. While it would have been nice to see more Disney games in here and or every iteration of each, there are some cool bonuses. For example, one can have the game play itself and then take back control  after a difficult section. More remasters need that option!

6 Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (80)

Final Fantasy VIII Squall battle

Final Fantasy VIII launched on September 9, 1999 for the PS1. It came to PCs in 2000 along with being readily available as a PS1 Classic download on PSP, PS3, and PS Vita. However, no work was done to those versions meaning this game hasn’t changed in twenty years. And yes, that also means that 2019 is this game’s twentieth so it’s about time. Kind of weird for Square Enix to remaster every game except this one by skipping around. At long last it’s here though. 

5 Catherine: Full Body (81)

Catherine released on July 26, 2011 for the PS3 and Xbox 360. One could actually call this a remake. While the core gameplay did not change, except for allowing players easier ways to proceed, the story was almost completely revamped in order to include a third romantic partner, Rin. For those that played the original, seeing how the game includes her feels incredibly natural to the story Atlus originally told . It’s a super weird game, but we’re glad it came back for a second chance to those that missed it the first time. 

4 Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (83)

Crash Team Racing launched on September 30, 1999 for the PS1. Yes, this is also a twentieth anniversary celebration for a game and one that actually was very closely released next to Final Fantasy VIII. Anyway Super Mario Kart brought the cute kart racer into the playing fiend and many have tried to copy it. Many failed, but Crash Team Racing was among the best out there and playing it with completely new visuals in 2019 was like a dream come true. Now if only Activision would green light a proper sequel for the marsupial hero. 

3 Steins;Gate Elite (86)

Steins;Gate released on October 15, 2009 for the Xbox 360 in Japan. It wouldn’t reach Western shores until 2014. This game then is a remaster just in time for the tenth anniversary which includes animated visuals compared to the more stoic ones found in the original. As far as visual novels go, Steins;Gate is one of the best and craziest around. 

2 Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered (86)

Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn launched on December 9, 2010 for the DS in Japan. It would later get this game as a remake, or more like a parallel game on PS3 in 2013 for North America. This year it was remastered on PS4 and also ported to the Switch, but just as a straight PS3 port. The only thing really done to the PS4 version was a touch up on graphics so either way both will make great stocking stuffers for those that missed out the first time around. 

1 Resident Evil 2 (91)

Resident Evil 2 released on January 21, 1998 for the PS1. It would be re-released many times over, but never in any kind of remaster kind of quality. This is true even when it was brought to GameCube in 2003, which was the last physical release of it. This is the best example of a remake on the list and is easily, among other remakes and remasters, the best of 2019. It started the year out right and now it is ending it with some well deserved rewards. 

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