Twenty-four years after it first landed on the GameCube, Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered is out today on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S. Published by Atari and developed by Pipeworks — the same studio behind the original — it brings one of the most beloved kaiju brawlers back with updated visuals and a reworked progression system. Whether it justifies returning to 2002's combat model is another question.
What's New
The remaster keeps the original's 12-monster roster intact. Four monsters are playable from the start — Godzilla, Gigan, Megalon, and Anguirus — and the rest unlock through play. One notable change from the 2002 version: Mechagodzilla 2 has been replaced by the original Mechagodzilla, which feels like the more iconic choice.
The biggest quality-of-life improvement is the unlock system. In the original, progression was linear and specific. Here, players can unlock monsters, locations, and gallery items in any order, which removes a lot of the grind that frustrated players in 2002.
Visually, Atari describes it as enhanced without getting specific. Early screenshots show higher-resolution environments and smoother monster models, but the art direction stays true to the GameCube era's chunky, satisfying aesthetic. It's not a remake — it's a remaster, and it looks like one.
Platform Notes
The game is available on Steam for PC players. Xbox Series X|S and PC versions are digital-only; physical editions are available for PS5 and Switch 2. Sources conflict slightly on platform availability by region, so check your local store before purchasing.
What the Reviews Say
Critics are split. GameSpot gave it a 7, calling it a faithful if flawed remaster that delivers on its nostalgia promise without reinventing anything. TechRaptor scored it a 6.0, focusing on its casual-friendly combat that doesn't offer much depth. Nintendo Life was warmer, describing it as a satisfyingly faithful update — though the Switch 2's additional power doesn't seem to unlock anything meaningfully different from other versions.
The throughline: if you loved the original, this is a clean and playable version of it. If you're coming in fresh expecting a deep fighter, you'll find something that leans more into spectacle than mechanics.
Who This Is For
Destroy All Monsters Melee was never the most technically demanding fighting game — it was always about the fantasy of being Godzilla, stomping a city, and body-slamming Mothra into a skyscraper. That loop holds up. The new unlock system genuinely makes the early hours less tedious, and the visual upgrade is enough to make it feel at home on current hardware.
For kaiju fans who remember the GameCube era, this is an easy recommendation. For everyone else, it's a perfectly decent arena brawler that plays best with a friend on the couch.