Remakes and remasters have started dominating mainstream gaming, given how expensive video game development has become. It's more feasible for developers to breathe new life into a title that everyone already loves, and this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Some of the best open-world video game remakes players can get their hands on are quite impressive. Players will love exploring these sandboxes with a fresh coat of paint, letting existing fans channel their nostalgia while a new batch of players falls in love with titles that needed an uplift.

Ocarina of Time is one of the most legendary video games ever made. The open-world genre may technically not have existed at that point, but this revolutionary title had such a major impact that it single-handedly helped establish the sandbox genre in the eyes of many. It may not be an open-world game based on the genre's modern definition, but the fact that legendary open-world titles like Grand Theft Auto 3, Shadow of the Colossus, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt were inspired by its open-ended design makes Ocarina of Time's importance to the genre clear as day.

The 3D remake of this title on the 3DS is hailed as one of the greatest video game remakes of all time. The core gameplay was solid and barely needed a touch-up, but the remake focused on other problem areas. Inventory management became a thing of the past, and the Water Temple was significantly less frustrating, allowing players to enjoy the best version of this title for themselves.

The Mafia games are known for boasting incredible stories set in an open world, and the first game is no exception. Players control Tommy Angelo, a taxi driver roped into a life of crime that was lucrative until it wasn't, forcing him to testify and live a new life under witness protection.

The Definitive Edition makes the game look miles better than the original title. The story is as top-notch as always, and the open world is fun to explore, even if it may not have too many things to do.

While the original Final Fantasy 7 wasn't an open-world game, the second title in the Remake trilogy decided to opt for this approach. This was understandable, given how the heroes were finally moving out of Midgar.

The game needed to convey the sense of wonder and adventure that fans experienced in the original after stepping into the World Map, and many people agree that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth achieved this in spades. It's a labor of love that does justice to the original game's classic moments while adding new content to help flesh out the world.

Shadow of the Colossus is one of the best PS2 video games of all time, and more fans deserve to enjoy this classic. So, they were glad to see that Bluepoint Games knocked it out of the park with a remake that makes the title look better than ever before.

The serene exploration as players control Wander and take down massive, beautiful colossi makes it clear that what they're doing may not be the right thing. Wander is willing to give up everything for the sake of love, and new fans will love getting into this amazing open-world title without having to find a PS2 and a dated copy of this game.

The Yakuza series blew up after Yakuza 0 served as the perfect entry point for new fans. This mandated the need for RGG Studio to remake the first two games in their new engine, and the results were splendid.

Yakuza Kiwami is an excellent remake that modernizes the title without losing out on the story that made the first game so enjoyable. Some additions may irk fans, but the overall package is excellent and a must-play for fans who want to get into the Yakuza series, bit by bit.

While this may qualify as a remaster, there are many changes in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition that help it live up to this moniker. The art style was improved to match later entries, QoL features were implemented, and the stellar music was remastered.

The best addition to this Definitive Edition is Future Connected, an epilogue that focuses on Melia. All of these changes are so notable that this game encroaches on remake territory in the eyes of many, which is justified given how many other titles label themselves as remakes while putting in way less effort than Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition.

Despite its name, The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion's remaster is yet another title that many fans feel is closer to a remake than a traditional remaster. The sheer amount of work put into modernizing the visual assets should make this abundantly clear.

Leveling is also rebalanced to make it significantly less broken than the original game, and many quality of life (QoL) features are added to make gameplay smoother than ever. The fact that this title feels so modern while retaining a lot of the special Oblivion jank makes this an honorary remake that is a blast to play for Elder Scrolls fans.