Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Remake of the original Spyro trilogy, best-selling in series.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a 2018 compilation of three remade platformers, developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision. It covers the original Spyro trilogy—Spyro the Dragon (1998), Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (1999), and Spyro: Year of the Dragon (2000)—all first created by Insomniac Games. The collection hit PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2018, with Nintendo Switch and Windows versions following in September 2019. Critics gave it positive reviews, and as of 2022 it had sold around 10 million copies, making it the series' best-selling title.
Each game is a 3D platformer where players control Spyro, a young purple dragon, who must restore peace across different worlds by defeating enemies. His dragonfly sidekick Sparx shows his health and can absorb a few hits. Key collectibles include gems (used as currency) and dragon eggs, both needed to progress. The remakes stick closely to the originals, keeping each level's size and layout. New features were added across the trilogy: skill points were introduced to the first game, and a side-to-side roll was added to the second and third. Players can choose between two control schemes—one mimicking the original trilogy, and a modern setup that puts camera controls on the right stick and Spyro's fire breath on the right trigger.
Talks about reviving Spyro started as early as 2014. In July of that year, former Sony Computer Entertainment chairman Andrew House said his team was considering bringing the character back, believing longtime fans would want to revisit him. Later in 2014, Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price also said a new Spyro game was possible. In 2017, Vicarious Visions, following their work on Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, acknowledged the high demand for a classic Spyro revival. The remakes were first hinted at in April 2018, when media outlets received a purple egg from someone using the alias "Falcon McBob." The Reignited Trilogy was officially revealed on April 5, 2018. Unlike the N. Sane Trilogy, development was a joint effort between Toys for Bob and Insomniac Games. Early on, Toys for Bob showed their concept sketches of Spyro to the original team, with Ted Price giving strong input. Art director Josh Nadelberg said a key goal was to "get Spyro right," which meant stress-testing the character model to explore his emotional range.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Spyro Reignited Trilogy
- Developer
- Toys for BobThe original games were developed by Insomniac Games. Sanzaru Games led the development of the Spyro: Year of the Dragon remake. The Windows port was handled by Iron Galaxy.
- Publisher
- Activision
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Series
- Spyro
- Director
- Dan Neil
- Designer
- Toby Schadt · Ray West
- Programmer
- Brent Hostrawser
- Artist
- Amber Long · Josh Nadelberg
- Composer
- Stewart CopelandArranged by Stephan Vankov
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4 · Xbox One · Nintendo Switch · Windows
- Released
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One · November 13, 2018 · Switch, Windows · September 3, 2019
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Discussions about reviving Spyro the Dragon began as early as 2014, with Sony and Insomniac Games executives noting fan interest. In 2017, Vicarious Visions acknowledged high demand following their Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. The existence of Spyro remakes was teased in April 2018 when media outlets received a package with a purple egg from an alias 'Falcon McBob'. The Reignited Trilogy was officially revealed on April 5, 2018. Development was a collaborative effort between Toys for Bob and Insomniac Games, with Toys for Bob bringing concept sketches to the original team and receiving strong input from Insomniac CEO Ted Price. Art director Josh Nadelberg stated a key goal was to 'get Spyro right', involving rigorous stress tests on the character model. Because Insomniac could not provide source code or original assets, Toys for Bob used an in-house emulation tool called 'Spyro-scope' to analyze level geometry and enemy pathfinding. Sanzaru Games assisted with alternate gameplay styles in Year of the Dragon. The game uses Unreal Engine 4.
Reader's Guide
Spyro Reignited Trilogy is significant as a faithful remake of the original three Spyro games, which were landmark 3D platformers from the late 1990s and early 2000s. The compilation unified gameplay features across all titles, adding skill points to the first game and a side-to-side roll move to the second and third. It offered two control schemes: one based on the original trilogy and a modern setup. The game's audio featured a new theme by original composer Stewart Copeland, with original compositions arranged by Toys for Bob's Stephan Vankov; players could freely choose between the original and arranged soundtracks. Voice actor Tom Kenny reprised his role as Spyro for the first time in sixteen years, re-recording all lines including those from the first game originally voiced by Carlos Alazraqui. The collection received generally favorable reviews, praised for upgraded visuals, attention to detail, and faithfulness, but criticized for long loading times, glitches, and frame-rate issues. Its commercial success—over 11 million units sold by June 2026—made it the best-selling game in the Spyro series, demonstrating enduring demand for classic platformer remakes.
Did You Know?
- Tom Kenny voiced Spyro in all three original games, including the first Spyro the Dragon.
- The initial physical release for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One contained all three games on disc; the download requirement was only for the Nintendo Switch version.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spyro Reignited Trilogy?
It is a 2018 collection of three fully rebuilt 3D platformers, reimagined by Toys for Bob on Unreal Engine 4, covering the original Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon. Activision published the package, which first appeared on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One before expanding to Nintendo Switch and PC the following year.
What powers does Spyro have in the trilogy?
As a small purple dragon, Spyro can fly, breathe fire, and perform head-butts to break obstacles and defeat enemies. Across the three games he also gains access to elemental attacks such as ice and lightning, depending on the title.
Why is Spyro Reignited Trilogy considered important?
It modernized the beloved 1998–2000 originals with upgraded visuals, refined controls, and quality-of-life tweaks while preserving the core gameplay. As of 2022 it had moved roughly 10 million copies, making it the best-selling title in the Spyro line.
What platforms can I play Spyro Reignited Trilogy on?
The collection launched on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2018, and later arrived on Nintendo Switch and Windows PC in September 2019.
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