Let’s walk through the differences between video games ports, remasters, remakes, and reboots. We’ll see when each is used and discuss examples to give you a clear grasp on this.

What Is a Video Game Port?

Porting is the act of taking a video game that was developed for one platform and later bringing it to another system with few, if any, changes.

A port can refer to a console-only game later releasing on PC, or an initially PC-exclusive title later coming to consoles. Horizon Zero Dawn, for example, was a PS4 exclusive when it released in early 2017, but was later ported to PC in August 2020. Aside from the enhanced graphical fidelity playing on PC can provide, there are no real differences between these versions.

Game ports also happen from generation to generation. For instance, Nintendo has ported many Wii U exclusives, such as Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze and Bayonetta 2, to the Nintendo Switch. These are sometimes considered “enhanced ports” because they add small features, such as being able to play as Funky Kong in Tropical Freeze. But they’re fundamentally the same game.

Games that release on multiple platforms at the same time aren’t really the same as ports. For example, when a Call of Duty title releases on both PlayStation and Xbox, you wouldn’t say “the PlayStation 5 port” since the game was made with all systems in mind from the get-go. Usually, “version” is a more suitable word here.

Porting games can be straightforward, in some cases. But other times, it can come with challenges in adapting the mechanics from the old platform to the new. If the old game used unique gimmicks from a prior system, like the PS Vita’s rear touchpad, developers have to make that work on the new system.

Some game ports are notoriously bad, for these and other reasons.

Video Game Remasters Explained

Remastering a video game involves taking an older title and cleaning it up to meet modern standards. Usually, remasters release at least one console generation later, in order to take advantage of newer hardware.

Read more: Remastered Video Games Worth Playing Again

Burnout Paradise Remastered is one example. Burnout Paradise was originally released in 2008, while its remaster came out in 2018. The remaster bundles in all the DLC from the original release, as well as running as 60FPS and providing better visuals. It’s essentially a more technically sound version of the same game.

The Last Of Us Remastered also fits this description, though the remaster launched much closer to the original in this case. The game originally came out for PS3 in June 2013, while the remaster launched a year later in July 2014. It packaged in the DLC and made some small changes to take advantage of the PS4’s functionality, such as the controller’s light bar changing colors to show your health and the ability to hear some audio through the controller’s speaker.

Remasters are a great way to make the best games of a past generation available to players who missed out on them. They almost always include all the DLC that was previously sold separately, and might even package multiple games in one (such as Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection). However, they’ve become quite common since the 2010s, leading to a feeling of remaster exhaustion from some players.

Examining Video Game Remakes

A video game remake refers to a game that rebuilds an original title from the ground up with all-new assets, sounds, and more. In addition to the new graphics, remakes offer a chance to tweak overarching gameplay issues that plagued the original.

Read more: The Best Video Game Remakes Everyone Should Play

While you might have trouble telling a port or a remaster from the original game at a glance, you’ll be able to spot a remake immediately. Remakes contain the same core game, but don’t share assets with the original title. This often makes them worth experiencing anew, even for those familiar with the original.

The Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a great example. The developers recreated each of the three original Crash games with fresh graphics, a slightly updated soundtrack, and tweaked controls. It also contains gameplay changes, such as making the save system consistent across games and adding time trials to the first two titles.

Nintendo has done a lot of remakes with its various series. Most generations of Pokémon have gotten a remake—for example, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire for Nintendo 3DS are remakes of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire for the Game Boy Advance. Most of these bring enhancements added in later titles, plus the usual graphical updates.

And while remasters are an important part of video game preservation and are often the definitive way to play the game, not all remasters are great. Some of them change too much and hamper the experience. The 2018 remake of Secret of Mana was widely panned as inferior thanks to its ugly graphics, changed soundtrack, and failure to fix issues with the original.

What Are Video Game Reboots?

A reboot refers to a new game in an existing series that restarts the continuity of the franchise. Often, reboots use the name of the series but little else, and provide a great starting point for newcomers since they don’t directly reference past games.

Doom (2016) is a great example. Prior to its release, the last mainline Doom game was Doom 3 in 2004. The 2016 title was a chance to reimagine what Doom gameplay could look like in modern times, and even spawned the sequel Doom Eternal in 2020. However, Doom 2016 is a not a port, remaster, or remake since it’s a completely original game. It only shares its name and ideas with earlier titles.

Tomb Raider (2013) and God of War (2018) are other examples of game reboots. They both offer a unique look at their main characters not seen in earlier installments, while also tweaking the style of gameplay somewhat.

Reboots aren’t really in the same family as the above terms since they refer to an all-new game, but as a related term, it’s still important to know.

Is It a Port, Remaster, or Remake?

You should now be equipped to know which category of re-release a game falls into. Below is a summary in case you’re not sure:

Is the game being brought to a different platform, with little or no changes, after previously being released on another system? If so, it’s a port. Is this a game for an older system that’s been cleaned up to run and look slightly better on a newer platform? It’s a remaster in this case. Is the game completely rebuilt with a new look, and perhaps significant gameplay additions or changes? These are remakes.

Sometimes games have one of these words in their title (like Final Fantasy VII Remake), making it easy to know. However, these aren’t always accurate. As one example, DuckTales: Remastered is really a remake, since it’s a completely new version compared to the NES original.

Enjoy Your Favorite Games Anew

Video games re-releases are common, as they’re an easy way for companies to make more money by bringing their games to a wider audience. Ports allow you to play the game on your platform of choice, while remakes and remasters bring new life into older titles that might not have aged well.

Generally, the newest version of a game is the best way to play it, but this isn’t always the case. You should always look into reviews from fans of the game to know if a new release is the definitive version, or if it changed too much from the original experience.

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