I've been vocal about the excessive number of remakes and remasters as one of the worst trends in gaming. It's hard not to call out numerous video game remasters that ended up being exploitative and little more than cash grabs. Some remastered titles like The Last of Us Part II Remastered offered little over the original (released less than 4 years ago), and others such as Crysis Remastered and Dark Souls Remastered (on PC) felt redundant.

However, for every unnecessary remake/remaster, there's a Resident Evil 4 Remake, Dead Space Remake, Metroid Prime Remastered, or Final Fantasy VII Remake. We might not like publishers and studios banking on their laurels instead of innovating on new IPs, but video game remakes and remasters fulfill three crucial purposes that are essential for everyone involved.

3 They make old classics more accessible to new players

And to fans of the originals

There's no doubt that remakes and remasters tap into the nostalgia gamers feel for past titles, banking on consumers' familiarity with the product. However, it's also important to note that a large section of existing gamers never got the chance to play countless hits from the '90s or 2000s. Whether those titles are no longer available to buy or feel too clunky due to outdated controls and gameplay, a remake can instantly make them more accessible to a new audience.

It's also worth noting that game preservation, by itself, is a huge benefit of remakes. Landmark titles that would otherwise have been lost to time can be enhanced with visual and technical changes to extend their lives. Even if you already played the original Silent Hill 2, System Shock, or Half-Life, their remakes are bound to deliver hours of pure joy for the kid in you.

Purists might argue that the originals should never be touched. While they would rather play them in the original form (bugs and awkwardness included), modern re-imaginings of older games can remain faithful while overhauling them for the present. Games like Black Mesa, The Last of Us Part I, and Spyro Reignited Trilogy are proof that this is indeed possible.

2 They breathe new life into old franchises

A Splinter Cell or Deus Ex remake is all I need

You'd be lying if you didn't wish for a sequel to your old favorite at least a few times every year. I'm still hopeful that we'll get a sequel to 2013's Splinter Cell: Blacklist or 2016's Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. The fate of these franchises has been in limbo, to say the least. But if Ubisoft and Embracer Group, respectively, decide that at least a remake is worth their time, then things might look different for the future.

A remake of a game from a defunct franchise can instantly bring much-needed attention to the IP, which can easily lead to true sequels or spin-offs if the publishers see a real opportunity. This is why we should give remakes and remasters the time of day instead of dismissing them outright, even before they've gotten a chance to prove themselves.

I still wish for the resurgence of the Prototype and Castlevania series — maybe a remake of the 2009's Prototype and 1997's Castlevania: Symphony of the Night will be the catalysts these franchises need to get back to their heyday. Even remasters of games that aren't decades old can do wonders for reigniting gamers' interest in the series, which is what happened with Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

1 They can keep developers and publishers afloat

A struggling industry is bad for everyone

The video game industry has been in turmoil for years now, dealing with constant layoffs, studio closures, and a slew of terrible video game releases. It's no wonder that this generation has seen a steep rise in the number of remakes and remasters, as companies rely on sure bets over risky ones to help improve the bottom line. Gamers might label it as stagnation or lack of innovation, but there's a silver lining to it — the success of remakes and remasters can fuel the development of new IPs.

Video game remasters, and even remakes, entail a far lower development cost compared to building a new franchise from the ground up. Konami's steady supply of Resident Evil remakes is a testament to the same. If publishers are able to stay faithful to the originals while providing enough value to old and new gamers alike, remakes and remasters can partially fund the huge development costs of creating new IPs.

So, as consumers, supporting deserving remakes and remasters can actually help solve the lack of innovation that we keep complaining about. Of course, it will always differ from publisher to publisher, but there are enough companies that want to take bets on new ideas, provided they can establish a steady stream of additional revenue from quality remakes or remasters.

Re-imagining old games is good for everyone

As gamers, we might be quick to dismiss every single remake or remaster, but they bring a lot of positives to the industry as a whole. Apart from aiding game preservation and enhancing accessibility for newer audiences, they can bring defunct franchises back from the dead, and even keep developers afloat so they can afford to work on new and riskier ideas.

You don't need to force yourself to like a bad remake or an unnecessary remaster, but make sure to appreciate and support the ones that stand out from the rest. Even today, countless classic titles are in desperate need of remakes, and I'm sure you'd love for many of them to be revived in new and inventive ways.