Resident Evil 2

While so many remakes of classic games go the faithful route, even if the original's mechanics are now dated, this version of a classic horror action game thankfully takes a more modern approach. In Resident Evil 2, you play as your choice of two characters who find themselves trapped in a police station during a zombie outbreak. This is scarier than it might sound, since not all of the lights work, but surprisingly, the floors really make the creepy sounds of the undead echo in weird ways. A remake of a classic 1998 survival horror game, this version of Resident Evil 2 boasts more intuitive controls, updated sound and visuals, and some major changes to what happens and where the puzzle solutions and keys are located. It's also a lot bloodier than the original, though mostly because graphics are more detailed than they were 20 years ago. Similarly, there are more zombies to contend with, courtesy of a new mechanic that has them crawling through open windows unless you use wooden planks to board up these openings.

But not everything has been modernized. As in the original (but not more recent installments of this franchise), your ammo and healing items are in short supply, and you can't carry a lot of stuff anyway. This means you have to think on your feet as to whether you want to fight or take flight, and it also adds to the tense vibe. Which is why, even with the modern controls and presentation, this is a return to form, because you're really trying to survive the horror. And while fans hoping for a more faithful remake won't be happy about the changes, those who'd prefer modern controls will find this version of Resident Evil 2 to be as compelling as the original was back in the day.