Modern Remakes and Remasters
Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition
Developer: Éric Chahi / DotEmu — Released: 2011 (iOS), 2013 (PC, Mac, Android, consoles)
The 20th Anniversary Edition is the most sympathetic remaster of any Delphine title. Éric Chahi himself worked with DotEmu to produce new hand-drawn backgrounds in a style consistent with the original's stark polygon aesthetic, while carefully preserving the original animation and gameplay completely unchanged.
The key feature is the visual toggle: at any point during play, a single button press switches between the 1991 polygon original and the 2011 painted backgrounds. This approach — preserving rather than replacing the original — was widely praised by critics and serves as a model for how remasters of canonical games should be handled.
The remastered soundtrack by Jean-François Freitas was also updated for the anniversary edition, though the original audio remains accessible. The game's score continues to impress: minimal, atmospheric, perfectly judged. See Music for track information.
Verdict: Essential. The definitive version for new players and the correct way to revisit the game. Available on Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android. See Play for purchase links.
Flashback (2013) - Vector Cell / Ubisoft
Developer: Vector Cell — Publisher: Ubisoft — Released: 2013 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
The 2013 Flashback remake, developed by Vector Cell (a studio founded by Paul Cuisset) and published by Ubisoft, attempted a full visual overhaul: 3D environments, updated character models, and a revamped control scheme. The result was controversial.
The core problem was that the original Flashback's quality resided precisely in the quality it sacrificed: the fluid, pixel-precise movement of Conrad B. Hart, the satisfying weight of each animation frame, the clarity of the 2D silhouette reading against detailed backgrounds. The 2013 version replaced this with 3D graphics that, while technically impressive for a small team, lacked the physicality that made the original beloved.
Critics were divided; the Metacritic score settled around 50-60 depending on platform. Fans of the original were largely disappointed. The game does contain all the narrative beats of the original and serves as an accessible introduction to the story for players who cannot access the 1992 version — but it is not a replacement.
Verdict: For completionists and those curious about Cuisset's revisitation. Not recommended as a substitute for the original.
Flashback: 25th Anniversary (2018) - Microids
Developer/Publisher: Microids — Released: 2018 (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC)
The 25th Anniversary remaster took a different approach from the 2013 remake. Microids updated the original 2D Flashback with HD graphics — new character sprites, backgrounds, and particle effects in a style broadly consistent with the original's aesthetic — while retaining the 2D perspective and core movement system.
Crucially, the original 1992 game is included unlockable within the package, meaning players who prefer the original can access it legally from within the same purchase. This approach was considerably better received than the 2013 remake's wholesale replacement.
Critical reception was mixed but more positive than 2013: reviewers acknowledged the affection for the source material while noting that the updated graphics, though competent, lacked the charm of the pixel originals. The gameplay improvements — modernised controls, checkpoint saves — were more positively received.
Verdict: Recommended for players who want a legal, modern-platform version of Flashback with a quality-of-life updated presentation. The classic mode inclusion makes it genuinely good value. See Play for purchase options.
On Remasters and Originals
The three modern versions of Delphine's landmark titles illustrate a recurring challenge in game preservation: how to make canonical works accessible to new audiences without erasing what made them significant.
The 20th Anniversary Another World succeeds because it treats the original as a text to be preserved rather than a starting point to be improved. The 2013 Flashback remake fails for the opposite reason. The 25th Anniversary Flashback occupies a useful middle ground.
For the original experience, emulation remains the most faithful option. See Resources for emulation guidance, and Flagship for analysis of the originals.