When you look back at the games from your childhood, you hold them in higher regard than you may some newer titles. Over the last decade, remakes and remasters have typically been positively received because they have allowed players to revisit some of their favorites with improved graphics and gameplay. We previewed the GEX Trilogy before and it reminded me of why I loved the original GEX games. Does the GEX remaster live up to our fond memories? Find out in our GEX Trilogy review!
GEX Trilogy
Developer: Limited Run Games, Crystal Dynamics
Publisher: Limited Run Games
Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, Switch, PS5
Release Date: June 16th, 2025
Players: 1
Price: $29.99
The Gex Trilogy contains all three games with GEX, GEX Enter the Gecko, and GEX 3 Deep Cover Gecko. These three titles have been digitally enhanced and received some quality of life upgrades. The GEX Trilogy brings native 16:9 Widescreen, a rewind and save feature, 360-degree analog controls, optional CRT filters, screen size changes, and borders.
Now, looking at these different upgrades and enhancements, you’d expect to be able to play the platformer you once knew and loved in an exciting new way. On one hand, these improvements have helped the game, and on the other hand, it makes you question why they didn’t go the route of fully remaking the game.
The GEX Trilogy holds true to the game’s original design, but with the change of 360 camera direction, the levels feel a bit different. Although the game has 360 movement, the game’s camera angles and movement tracker can still be quite a headache to deal with.
Within each game’s settings, you can adjust whether you want the game to have full control, minimal control, or no control over the camera view. Despite turning the camera controls down to user-controlled, I still had issues where the game would still attempt to pull the focus and would block me from rotating the camera.
Visually, the game is a bit of an improvement compared to where it was when it was released in the 90s. However, you can get these same visual improvements from downloading a mod or using a digital upscaler. Yes, an upscale device would be more expensive at first, but it would work with other products and titles as well.
The game does have an old CRT filter that makes the game look how you remember, but it doesn’t change the game’s graphics in an impactful way. It’s nostalgic, but provides very little in the grand scheme of things.
The GEX Trilogy does feature a new updated hub that is a direct reference to Persona. In the game’s main hub, you can pick between any of the three games, check out the jukebox featuring the songs from the different games, modify settings, and check out extras.
The extras menu includes artwork from the different GEX games, box art, concept art, and new art designed for promotional content. Players can also watch the original trailers, the re-release trailers, GEX voice actor Dana Gould interviews, and concept videos.
After you have selected one of the three games, you are able to load one of the three saves. Once in, you can access the system menu and change the screen size (16:9, 4:3, or full screen), add the CRT filter, reset to the start of the game, load a save, or save the game where you are.
Yes, you can save the game mid-level and resume it at any point of time. If you come across something difficult in a level or accidentally mess up, you can rewind to a previous point. This makes platforming mess-ups that used to be time killers in the past more survivable.
After playing the GEX Trilogy at PAX East 2025, I was excited to dive into the GEX Trilogy at home. Now that the game is out and I can play it whenever I want, the rose-tinted glasses have slid slightly off.
Yes, it is nice to relive something from my childhood and experience it once again. At the end of the day, this re-release feels more like it was done to keep the IP rights by Square Enix than a game created to bring fans and unfamiliar faces to the franchise.
Yes, I can tell those who worked on the game were passionate about it, but it feels more like it was just done for nostalgia’s sake. The voice lines are dated and have lost a lot of their charm.
For players who were not born in the 80s, 90s, or early 2000s, most of the jokes will fly over their heads or even fall flat. Even with knowing some of the references the game was making, some had me rolling my eyes.
If you are a fan of the franchise, then $30 isn’t a bad price to be able to relive a moment from the 90s with GEX Trilogy. However, if you are new to the franchise and want to experience what others feel nostalgic about, it is better to wait until it goes on sale or is free.
Yes, GEX is one of the first platformers that introduced a fully voiced protagonist, but beyond that, the franchise is fairly average. This re-release of the GEX Trilogy could have been so much more, but instead it just banks on nostalgia over being an entry point for new gamers.
GEX Trilogy was reviewed on PC using a code provided by Limited Run Games. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here. The GEX Trilogy is now available on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PS5.
