•Crack-pore, residual stress, dimensional error occur in laser based remanufacturing.•Successive laser remelting can mitigate these partly and improve fatigue strength.•Techniques to predict, monitor, control laser based deposition have been reviewed.•Hybrid additive manufacturing can give dimensional stability and surface finish.•Artificial intelligence can significantly assist laser based remanufacturing. Increased focus on reduction of impact on the environment has put the aspect of remanufacturing in the spotlight, and remanufacturing of high-value engineering components is gradually becoming a mainstream practice. Out of different alternatives, laser-based deposition has been the central choice for remanufacturing, thanks to its accuracy, and precision. However, considering the complex process physics involved in laser-based remanufacturing processes, it is essential to establish the reliability of the process so that certifiable remanufactured parts can be produced. This work provides a comprehensive analysis of the issues encountered during laser-based remanufacturing, and the different approaches to address them. Apart from covering the state-of-the-art of remanufacturing by laser-based deposition, this article also discusses tools like deep learning, and digital twin which are still in their early phases in terms of applications in the remanufacturing domain.