Gaming is currently in the era of the remake. From Resident Evil 4 and Silent Hill 2 to Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, companies have been dusting off their old IPs, remaking them in glorious graphical stylings while tweaking a few aged mechanics, and polishing them into diamonds. It is no wonder we’ve gotten so many remakes within the last few years. This style of release is exceedingly lucrative, satisfying both fans and the companies that make them. PlayStation 2 titles seemingly always get left behind, but some of the games playable on the Sony console are true standouts.
Seeing the characters from that era that we all grew up with revived in HD, back like they never left, is a feeling unlike any other. With so many releases on the horizon, it is easy to forget a few gems along the way. Certain games belonging to the consoles or whole franchises get left in the dust, sitting on a shelf when they deserve the remake treatment just as much as, say, Dead Space and Final Fantasy. From Fatal Frame to Primal, these underrated gems found on the console deserve a proper remake that exposes them to new audiences, while giving longtime fans something new to love.
1
Fatal Frame
Snap A Picture And Exorcise Ghosts
The Fatal Frame fandom is small but mighty, with a slew of survival horror fans looking for something new in the genre. The franchise, which began in 2001, is all about defeating vengeful ghosts by exorcising them via a camera. This PS2 game follows Miku Hinasaki as she traverses the haunted and exceedingly spooky Himuro Mansion. Equipped with her wits and an antique camera called the Camera Obscura, Miku must capture photos of spirits that follow her, getting close-up shots via Viewfinder Mode that take those ghosts out in first person.
This piece of tech uses a slew of film, with each new cartridge dealing more impactful damage that players can switch out at will. The camera can also be used to solve puzzles, revealing hidden clues not visible to the naked eye. This is a wholly unique combat style unlike anything I have ever seen before or since. Strangely, it was decided that the second game in the franchise, Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly, would receive a remake instead of the PS2 original. The 2003 classic was re-imagined in March 2026 and was praised for its beautiful visuals and atmospheric audio design, thus proving that the world is ready for the 2001 game to be remade as well.
2
Resident Evil Outbreak
The Most Ambitious Resident Evil Game Capcom Has Made Thus Far
Capcom is on a roll with Resident Evil remakes as of late, from Resident Evil 2 to Resident Evil 4. There truly is no stopping this franchise. The company’s remakes have done exceedingly well every time, down to the remake of Resident Evil 1. According to market analysis lead Rhys Elliott in a breakdown on Substack, Resident Evil 4 is currently the top-selling and most successful remake of the current console generation, generating $560M in gross revenue for Capcom so far across three platforms.
With a Resident Evil CODE: Veronica remake on the way and so much to celebrate about RE remakes, why is there no love for Resident Evil Outbreak? The game, which was released in 2004 in the United States, is very different from others in this successful franchise, which could explain its lack of recognition. The title was designed to be the first online co-op in the franchise, and introduced a slew of new mechanics that could come off as a little clunky. I’m looking at you, Virus Gauge.
Despite the creative leap that could fall flat with some, the game is a favorite of many, and it clearly has an air of importance in the franchise, so much so that a character from the game appears in Resident Evil 9. Maybe the return of journalist Alyssa Ashcroft in the 2026 title is the closest fans of Resident Evil Outbreak will get to a full-blown remake.
The game focuses on eight regular citizens, a very unique perspective. Players will choose one of the eight to play as, surviving the Racoon City Incident without any Leon S. Kennedy or Claire Redfield plot armor. I am still holding out hope that we will see the game get some of the recognition in the coming years as Capcom continues to churn out successful remakes.
3
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Basically GTA With Simpsons Characters
Racing or driving games like The Simpsons: Hit & Run were all the rage back in 2003. The market was absolutely saturated with the racing genre, from Need for Speed: Underground to Mario Kart: Double Dash. The Simpsons got in on the fun, releasing a fun jaunt that meshes all the comedy of the show with an action-packed adventure. The game, which was written by the show’s writers, allows players to pilot the usual suspects—Homer, Bart, Marge, Lisa, and Apu—in over 56 fun missions.
I have extremely fond memories of playing this game with my siblings, taking turns tackling missions in Homer’s pink sedan, trying hard not to rage quit when missions took their toll. What makes this game unique is its open-world concept, similar to Grand Theft Auto. Players can freely explore on foot or by other modes of transportation, taking in all the wacky sights and sounds of Springfield ripped straight out of the hit show.
As you’d expect, the plot of this game is pretty nonsensical. The Simpsons family, along with Apu, are tasked with exploring a bizarre conspiracy involving mysterious surveillance cameras and black vans cropping up all over town. There’s also a new mind-controlling “Buzz Cola” in circulation, made to drive the residents of Springfield insane. I can totally see this game living a new life on a handheld console like the Nintendo Switch 2.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
4
Primal
Buffy The Vampire Slayer Meets Lollipop Chainsaw
There’s nothing cooler than a badass female protagonist taking the reins. Primal is a 2003 action-adventure that got me extremely hyped up as a kid because the protagonist was actually someone I could, on some level, relate to. The title follows an average girl, Jennifer Tate, and her boyfriend, Lewis. The pair is attacked outside a sick gothic nightclub, leaving Jennifer hospitalized.
When she comes to, Jennifer realizes her boyfriend is missing and thus begins a wild ride, where Jennifer’s soul is snatched by a stone gargoyle named Scree, who helps her find Lewis in the dark world of Oblivion. This title is for those looking for a female-led game that is excellently gothic and moody. The gameplay is atmospheric and puzzle-heavy, with combat sprinkled in between. Upon its release, many believed the game would mirror the fast-paced gameplay of Devil May Cry, but this jaunt is much slower and more methodical, something that I happen to love.
It reminds me a lot of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with its tone and strong female lead. If you were an emo kid like me, this game was your jam, and it still really holds up despite the decade or so that has gone by since its release. Primal is an underrated gem that I would love to see remade with the tech available today.
5
Shadow Hearts
A Moody JRPG With A Story & Combat Like No Other
Another dark and moody title comes in the form of Shadow Hearts, the beginning of an underrated franchise. As someone who isn’t really big on JRPGs, this game surprised me greatly, because it was way up my alley with horror and supernatural elements that made this title a standout from the jump. Players get to know the main character, Yuri Hyuga, who learns of his significance and powers as a Harmonixer, a being who can fuse his soul with demons and monsters.
Shadow Hearts‘ atmosphere is fantastic, and the enemy designs are amazing as well. I found myself getting lost in it all, which is very unlike me, since turn-based RPGs usually lose my interest very quickly because they are massive time investments I just don’t have the heart to commit to. The setting is also fantastical, taking place in a dark, supernatural version of Earth around 1913–1914, ahead of World War 1.
I was always invested in Shadow Hearts, primarily because of the unique setting. Even the combat, which I usually dislike in turn-based RPGs, was engaging. The damage dealt depends on where you hit in areas of the Judgment Ring, offering a twist to the often formulaic turn-based combat style. Since the game is unlike anything I have played in the RPG world since, it deserves a remake so that it can be enjoyed by other RPG skeptics just like me.
6
Vampire Night
Arcade Style Shoot-Em-Up Meets Vampires
Not to be confused with the anime, Wow Entertainment and Namco gave us Vampire Night back in 2001, an on-rails shooting game similar to House of the Dead, a campy style I am very fond of. That sort of mindless gameplay of shooting down hordes is something I long for now that games have become extremely complex. The plot is pretty simple. Players must take down vampires, targeting the creature’s weak points while saving villagers. There are six levels in total, all imbued with gothic themes that make my former emo heart sing.
If players are seeking an authentic experience, they can tap into Arcade Mode, a personal favorite of mine that guides them linearly through each level as they progress. This mode always takes me back to the days of heading to arcades with my family, equipped with colorful plastic guns that connected to a giant arcade machine. Going up against my sister, I’d try to dispatch more enemies than her, and we’d both end up dying. Classic.
There is also a Special Mode that adds RPG elements, making the game much more involved if that’s your thing. Players are able to earn silver by shooting objects and completing missions. That silver is used to buy snazzy weapon upgrades or power-ups to aid in progression. In short, I miss when games were simple. A remake that stayed true to Vampire Night‘s format might not be for everyone, but it would definitely make a lot of old-school horror fans happy.
7
Chulip
Basically A Kissing RPG
Chulip is a weird one, but it is tons of fun. You play as a young boy dreaming of kissing a girl under a magical tree, as all young boys do. When he wakes up from his dream, the boy realizes that the girl he’s been pining after in dreamland is actually real, and lives right next door. After confessing his love to the girl and getting brutally rejected, the boy decides to better himself by talking to townsfolk and growing in standing with the people around him.
Thus, a wild ride ensues where players must problem-solve and learn the schedules of the boy’s fellow townsfolk to kiss them. Yes, kiss them. Kissing NPCs earns their trust and unlocks new areas of the village the boy can visit to kiss more folks. Along with kissing a bunch of people, players need to procure a romantic letter-writing set, so the boy can eventually write to his crush.
The strategy element of learning the townsfolk’s daily routines over a repeating 24-hour period is kind of fun. It’s a strange concept for a game, but it is kind of sweet in a way, because you’re inadvertently teaching a young boy about the trials and tribulations of love. While this isn’t a conventional title by any means, I can totally see something like this being remade for the Nintendo Switch 2, bringing something wonderful and wild to the console.
8
Extermination
The Thing-esque Game With Tons Of Suspense
Extermination is another third-person survival horror title that reminds me of one of my favorite horror films growing up: The Thing. Set on Christmas Eve in 2005, the story follows U.S. Marine Sergeant Dennis Riley and his squad called “Team Red Light.” The squad is sent to investigate a distress signal pinged at a facility located in Antarctica. Sound familiar? Upon arrival, the team finds that the facility has been overrun by parasites that mutate the humans living there into freakish monsters.
The game features your typical survival horror tropes, a la Resident Evil, with a limited number of saves via battery packs, the risk of infection, and a slew of weapons that can be upgraded to better take down enemies. The gameplay is intense and action-packed, and the base in Antarctica is deeply eerie. Around every corner, I felt tense and afraid, praying something or someone wouldn’t jump out at me when I least expected it. Extermination was an ambitious title that sadly faded into the background of an oversaturated survival horror market, competing with survival horror juggernauts like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. In the right hands, a remake could turn this cult classic into a big-name IP.
