A reissue (often informally referred to as a remake) is a term that refers to any newer version of a previously released video game. There are five distinct types of reissues: remakes, ports, enhanced ports, re-releases, and retools.
Categories[]
- Remake: A re-released game built from scratch usually long after the original game, on a new system, with updated graphics to fit with the new engine capacities, and additions brought to plot and gameplay (all these conditions may not be met in every case). An example of this would be Super Mario RPG on the Nintendo Switch
- Port: A game released on a different platform than the original game, with some minor changes such as new controls or new graphics to fit the new system. Usually, they are very close to the original game and share the same name. Compilations are considered as ports because they consist of at least two ported titles. A game released on the Nintendo Entertainment System after its original release on Famicom is not a port because the two consoles are considered identical. The Virtual Console service consists of games ported from older consoles. An example of this are the games on Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
- Enhanced port: A game released on a later platform than the original game, bringing more changes than a standard port, but is not built from scratch. An example of this is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
- Re-release: A game released on the same platform as the original game, with only superficial or inconsequential changes. It may have a different name than the original game.
- Retool: A retool, also called a sprite-swapped game, is a game made after applying a graphical overhaul on a previously released game, with or without minor gameplay differences as well. It is generally released on the same platform as the original game. An example of this is the games on Super Mario All-Stars.
- Demake: A game released on a less powerful console than where the original game was released, usually requiring some features to be removed. An example of this is Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS
Reissues[]
Remakes[]
| Reissue | Reissue console | Original | Original console | Notable changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kaettekita Mario Bros. (1988) |
Nintendo Entertainment System |  Mario Bros. (1983) |
Arcade | The game adds a Nagatanien World which gives the player some advantages after receiving a Game Over. |
 Donkey Kong (Game Boy) (1994) |
Game Boy |  Donkey Kong (1981) |
Arcade | The game adds nine new Worlds to travel across akin to a traditional Super Mario game. |
 Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (1999) |
Game Boy Color |   Super Mario Bros. (1985) and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986) |
NES | In addition to better quality graphics, the game merges SMB and SMBTLL into one game and also includes a challenge mode as well as a Toy Box as a neat bonus. |
 Super Mario 64 DS (2004) |
Nintendo DS |  Super Mario 64 (1996) |
Nintendo 64 | In addition to modernized and cleaner graphics, the game adds Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario as playable characters, adds 30 new Stars, 5 new courses, expands on the story, adds a multiplayer mode, as well as minigames. Additionally, a map is also added on the bottom screen showing a full overview of the course, your current location, and the location of any visible Power Stars. |
 Diddy Kong Racing DS (2007) |
Nintendo DS |  Diddy Kong Racing (1997) |
Nintendo 64 | The game adds Online support as well as adding the ability to create your own racetracks and customize your own character voices. |
 Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions (2017) |
Nintendo 3DS |  Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga (2003) |
Game Boy Advance | The game adds a new side story called Minion Quest: The Search for Bowser, some more changes to the game include polished graphics, several new items being added around the game, music recorders (which allow you to listen to the music from both the game and the original), and elements from recent previous games in the Mario & Luigi series also being implemented, additionally, the bottom screen makes use of both an action command shortcut as well as a map which can be interchanged at any time by the player. |
 Luigi's Mansion (Nintendo 3DS) (2018) |
Nintendo 3DS |  Luigi's Mansion (2001) |
Nintendo GameCube | The game adds a map on the bottom screen, the Gallery has also received a UI overhaul along with a Boss Rush mode being added. A multiplayer mode is also added with the second player controlling Gooigi. |
 Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey (2018-19) |
Nintendo 3DS |  Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story (2009) |
Nintendo DS | The game adds a new side story called Bowser Jr.'s Journey (which also adds slight background changes to the original story to better interconnect with the new one), in addition to the polished graphics, several new items have been added and several tweaks have been made to the game including Bowser receiving his own BP-restoring items in the form of Cheese. New Beans have also been added and the Dark Star as well as Dark Fawful have been given their own battle themes. The game also has a music library which allows you to listen to music from both this game as well as the original. |
Ports[]
| Reissue | Reissue console | Original | Original console | Notable changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Super Mario All-Stars 25th Anniversary Edition (2010) |
Wii |  Super Mario All-Stars (1993) |
SNES | Game comes bundled with a soundtrack containing many different songs from the Mario franchise. |
 Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS (2016) |
Nintendo 3DS |  Super Mario Maker (2015) |
Wii U | Costume Mario has been removed from the game and replaced with the Weird Mushroom, additionally worldwide level sharing has been removed as well in favor of sharing levels locally. Additionally, objects such as Checkpoint Flags, Spike Pillars, and Keys are available without shaking Flagpoles, Thwomps, and Arrow Signs respectively. Also, the Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World styles (along with all other unlockables) are now available from the start. |
 Poochy & Yoshi's Woolly World (2017) |
Nintendo 3DS |  Yoshi's Woolly World (2015) |
Wii U | The game adds Poochy Pups which make finding hidden items easier in Mellow Mode, the game also adds several new levels focusing exclusively on Poochy. |
 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (Nintendo Switch) (2018) |
Nintendo Switch |  Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014) |
Wii U | The game adds Funky Mode which gives the Kongs three hearts each as well as adding Funky Kong as a playable character. Funky Kong has infinite flutters and can harmlessly walk along spiky surfaces with his surfboard. |
 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo 3DS) (2018) |
Nintendo 3DS |  Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2014) |
Wii U | The game adds new levels based on Super Mario Odyssey, these new levels replace the original bonus levels which were based on Super Mario 3D World. |
 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo Switch) (2018) |
Nintendo Switch | Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2014) |
Wii U | The game adds new levels based on Super Mario Odyssey, these new levels replace the original bonus levels which were based on Super Mario 3D World. Some new levels were also added as DLC. |
 Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (2021) |
Nintendo Switch |  Super Mario 3D World (2013) |
Wii U | The game adds a new side story called Bowser's Fury which takes place in an all new world, the Super Mario 3D World side of the game remains identical with no changes apart from the camera from Super Mario Odyssey being implimented. |
Enhanced Ports[]
| Reissue | Reissue console | Original | Original console | Notable changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Super Mario Advance (2001) |
Game Boy Advance |  Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988-89) |
NES | The game receives some new and upgraded graphics along with some other tweaks and additions, additionally the Mario Bros. arcade game has been added as a side mode. |
 Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2 (2001-02) |
Game Boy Advance |  Super Mario World (1990-92) |
SNES | The game includes several new features and additions as well as adding the Mario Bros. arcade game as a side mode. Additionally, Luigi is given his own appearance rather than being a mere palette swap for Mario. |
 Yoshi's Island: Super Mario Advance 3 (2002) |
Game Boy Advance |  Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island (1995) |
SNES | The game includes 6 new levels which are unlocked after beating the game, polished graphics, and some additional tweaks. Once again the Mario Bros. arcade game has been added as a side mode. |
 Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 (2003) |
Game Boy Advance |  Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988-91) |
NES | The game includes new levels which are unlocked after beating the game along with new and improved graphics, detailed level backgrounds, and as always, the Mario Bros. arcade game has been added as a side mode. |
 Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (2013) |
Nintendo 3DS |  Donkey Kong Country Returns (2010) |
Wii | The game includes several graphical touchups removing any overly dark or shiny elements as well as adding 8 new levels and even including a beginner-friendly new mode which provides the Kongs addition health, new items in the shop, the prices of all shop items being dropped, and providing three slots to equip items in a level. |
 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017) |
Nintendo Switch |  Mario Kart 8 (2014) |
Wii U | The game includes several new items such as the Boo and the Feather (the latter is exclusive to battle mode) as well as new characters which include King Boo, Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, the Inklings, and Gold Mario. The Battle Mode has also been revamped taking place on actual arenas again (alongside including four additional battle modes). Almost everything in the game is also unlocked from the start and the only unlockables in the game are Vehicle parts and Gold Mario. Starting with early 2022, DLC has been added as well including several new tracks, and even new characters. |
 New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (2019) |
Nintendo Switch |   New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) and New Super Luigi U (2013) |
Wii U | The game merges New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U into one game, the game also adds Toadette as a playable character along with a new item, the Super Crown which turns Toadette into Peachette. Unlike past games, any character can be selected in single player mode, (pressing ZL or ZR while on Yellow Toad's slot will reveal Blue Toad making him selectable as well). Nabbit also has new voice clips, in addition to several graphical and design touchups, the NSMBU side of the game has had its UI colors changed from blue to red. |
Rereleases[]
| Reissue | Reissue console | Original | Original console | Notable changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mario's FUNdamentals (1998) |
Windows iMac |  Mario's Game Gallery (1995) |
Windows iMac | Apart from the name change and box art change, the game comes with absolutely no changes whatsoever. |
Compilations[]
| Reissue | Reissue console | Original | Original console | Notable changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Super Mario All-Stars (1993) |
SNES | Super Mario Bros. (1985), Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels (1986), Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988-89), and Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988-91) |
NES (all four) | The games all receive upgraded and polished graphics to better fit the SNES, additionally each level is given a proper background and some of the enemies appearances have been tweaked, in the Super Mario Bros. 3 sector, all the Mushroom Kings have been transformed into different entities rather than the basic animals/enemies they were morphed into in the original game. |
 Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020) |
Nintendo Switch |   Super Mario 64 (1996), Super Mario Sunshine (2002), and Super Mario Galaxy (2007) |
Nintendo 64 (Super Mario 64) Nintendo GameCube (Super Mario Sunshine) Wii (Super Mario Galaxy) |
The game is a compilation of the three major groundbreakers in 3D Mario, each game comes in 1080p with upscaled graphics and brand new controls to better fit the Nintendo Switch, the game also comes with a music library containing music from all three games. The games themselves however come with little to no changes other than graphic optimisation. Super Mario 64 DS, Super Mario Galaxy 2, and Super Mario 3D Land were not included in the compilation. |
New Play Control![]
| Reissue | Reissue console | Original | Original console | Notable changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2008) |
Wii |  Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2004) |
Nintendo GameCube | The game now has six save files and also has an actual health meter and life count, DK's moveset has also been modified slightly and the controls have been updated to better suit the Wii, some of the bosses (and a couple levels) have also been moved to different kingdoms and the Kingdom categorization has also been modified. The game also includes a more fleshed out storyline. |
 New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis (2009) |
Wii |  Mario Power Tennis (2004) |
Nintendo GameCube | The game's controls have been modified to better fit the Wii almost matching those of Wii Sports Tennis. Other than that, the game does not include much other changes at all. |
Trivia[]
- As of 2023, Mario's FUNdamentals is the only Mario game to be in the Rerelease category.