Great gaming reboots: what's old is new again

Entertainment in its many shapes and forms often follows cyclical trends. Once something gets bumped from being the latest hotness and hits the old news pile, it seems like it's only a matter of time before it inevitably resurfaces in the "cool again" category. We've seen this happening lots in the film industry in recent years, but it has always been prevalent in the gaming world.

Digging back into the past to dust off and reboot old fan-favorite franchises is a time honored tradition in PC gaming. As more studios find inventive ways to freshen up and re-imagine their older hits, this trend is giving many new generations of players a way to explore the classics with a fresh coat of paint. Here's at handful of great recent gaming reboots as well as a few upcoming goodies to keep your eyes peeled for.

Recent reboots worth revisiting

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Blending turn-based squad combat, strategic base management, and a sweet sci-fi setting, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a beautiful re-imagining of the classic DOS strategy game XCOM: UFO Defense. A masterpiece full of big guns, psionic powers, and squad member perma-death makes this quest to thwarting the invading alien scum an unforgettable affair.

Day of the Tentacle: Remastered

The glory days of adventure gaming on PC are back, and this updated revival of the beloved point-and-click puzzle classic is hilarious and challenging. Day of the Tentacle: Remastered's modern flourishes are spot-on — from the developer commentary to the option to swap between the original pixel art update graphics. It's well worth revisiting on PC.

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Edmund McMillen's decision to craft expanded content and give a massive pixel-art retro overhaul to his original indie hit only further cemented the hold The Binding of Isaac has on its massive, fervent fan-base. This rogue-like dungeon crawler shooter is equal parts morbid, gross, and utterly enthralling. It was a must-play when it launched and Rebirth just layers on the grisly awesomeness.

Upcoming reboots to watch out for

System Shock Remastered

Fresh off the back of a successful $1.1+ Million Kickstarter campaign, Nightdive Studios' upcoming re-imagining of the original System Shock Remastered looks absolutely stunning. Set in the bowels of a doomed space station, this first-person shooter RPG promises lots of spooky cyberpunk thrills and eerie atmosphere. Just try to keep your insides on the inside.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition

Three words: volumetric God rays. Bethesda is giving Skyrim a massive visual engine update this fall that will dramatically improve the look and atmosphere of the gripping first-person fantasy RPG. Goodies like new water shaders, dynamic depth of field, snow effects, and more details woven through out the landscape are enough to make us hungry for more adventure.

Unreal Tournament

Epic Game's iconic multiplayer arena shooter is getting a tasty overhaul full of intense sci-fi pew-pew and gorgeous HD graphics. What we've seen so far looks incredibly slick and action-packed. The best part? You can download a pre-alpha version of the game for free on Epic's website.

Want to make sure your PC is tuned-up to tackle the next wave of ultra-polished HD remakes and beyond? We recommend the at least an ROG Strix GTX 1060 or RX 480 to ensure fast speeds and amazing graphics performance. Or if you're ready to scrap your old rig for something new and shiny, The ROG GT51 is a gaming rig behemoth that'll chew through any games you throw at it.

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By Nathan Meunier