After dominating the gaming industry, franchises like Mario and The Last of Us have also made a name for themselves in film and TV. One can argue many other games deserve a film or TV show too, especially now since even more franchises like God of War, Horizon, and Dead Cells are heading to the big and small screens.
In that context, here are some of the top picks for games that deserve a movie or TV show adaptation next.
Games That Deserve A Film Or TV Show
It’s hard not to acknowledge at least a hundred video games deserve a film or TV adaptation. Not all of them will make it into this list but a few honorable mentions include Metal Gear, Sifu, A Plague Tale, Yakuza, and Disco Elysium.
If we missed any of the games you’d like to see added to the pile, feel at home to leave a comment. Having said that, let’s get into the actual list, in no particular order of course.
5. The Evil Within
When you think about a horror video game, it’s always Resident Evil this and Resident Evil that. Sure, it’s an iconic franchise that set a standard for the survival-horror genre, however, if people are willing to look past it, there are plenty of other stellar franchises that are arguably even better. The Evil Within 1 and 2 are probably the best examples, although funny enough, they are also directed by Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil.
Tango Gameworks’ The Evil Within follows detective Sebastian Castellanos as he investigates a mass murder in a hospital. Hours later, the entire world is engulfed in an unnatural viral outbreak. The Evil Within is an unbelievably dark and gritty tale. The only moment you’re given any relief from the terror is when you’re in gameplay scenarios, but take them out and serve the cutscenes up as a film or TV adaptation, and what results will surely shock you to your core.
Related: All Resident Evil Games, Ranked Worst To Best
4. Bloodborne
It’s not going to be easy turning Bloodborne into a TV show, but if it ever does happen, it will be a legendary moment in history.
There isn’t any video game that nails an eerie atmosphere better than Bloodborne. Each and every part of Yharnam is distinct and tells a different story, which almost always has a sinister angle about it. Bloodborne’s many NPCs and their respective storylines are some of the best ever in gaming too.
FromSoftware’s games in general don’t have more than a few cutscenes and barely any NPC interactions. Fans are only able to gather bits of the different storylines from texts or the little dialog available, and it’s a shame because all FromSoftware Soulslikes are nothing short of masterpieces in that regard. Having said that, a movie or TV show about Bloodborne, or even Dark Souls for that matter, would be nothing short of spectacular.
3. Hades
To be honest, Hades looks more like an animated TV show than it does like an actual game. And how could it not, just look at the terrific art style.
The Greek gods and Zagreus himself are the coolest characters ever. They are so cool that most people would be okay listening to them chit-chatting all day rather than fighting.
Hades ticks all the boxes for a video game that should be adapted ASAP. Mentioning it is simply a no-brainer when discussing games that deserve a movie or TV show.
Related: 5 Video Games That Deserve A Remake
2. The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls has been around forever. Skyrim, Oblivion, Morrowind, and the other mainline installments have legendary status as games that redefined the RPG genre. You wouldn’t be wrong if you said it was because of the gameplay or story, but if you take it from me, I’d say it’s the world-building and the NPCs that have made The Elder Scrolls into the biggest and best-selling franchises in gaming.
You meet hundreds of uncanny, goofy, charming, heroic, and menacing characters in the games. Then there’s magic, medieval weapons, dragons, dragon shouts, vampires, werewolves, and hundreds of different clans and abilities for you to explore.
There’s so much untapped potential in The Elder Scrolls universe. A hundred movies or a TV show twenty seasons long wouldn’t be able to do justice to the world depicted in the games. That said, it’s clear that The Elder Scrolls deserves a film or TV adaptation. There are rumors that Netflix is working on a TV show based on the games, but nothing has been made official yet, so here’s hoping.
1. Alan Wake
Sam Lake and the creative team at Remedy are practically screaming to bring Alan Wake to other multimedia formats. Alan Wake 2 was straight up already a movie if you think about it.
Alan Wake 2 had a mixed reality approach, parts of the cutscenes included in-game cinematics while others were live-action. It was a different style compared to Alan Wake 1 which was an action-horror game. The second installment instead had more focus on storytelling and felt as if you were watching a TV show and playing a game at the same time.
An actual movie or TV show adaptation of Alan Wake would be the greatest thing to ever have happened in the thriller genre, and it’s not like the franchise doesn’t deserve it either. Where many video games have withered away during this past decade, Alan Wake has retained an ever-loyal fan following. A following that would unquestionably jump at the thought of an Alan Wake film or TV series.
Related: 5 Best Games Like Alan Wake 2
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that The Last of Us Multiplayer image leaks online.
