There are a few video games yet to receive a movie or TV adaptation that would be perfect fits.
Video games have taken over movie theaters. In April, A Minecraft Movie Made $301 MILLION During Its Opening Weekend, making it the biggest opening day ever for a video game movie. Meanwhile, a second Mario movie is coming, after the first one was so successful, and the Sonic movie franchise is still going strong, with a fourth movie coming in 2027.
As for TV, Arcane became the most expensive animated television series ever made, while The Last of Us, The Witcher, and Fallout are all successful adaptations as well. And there are plenty of new projects in the works, as The Legend of Zelda, Elden Ring, Ghost of Tsushima, Bioshock, and Helldivers 2 are all set to be on the big screen.
With so many adaptations already done or coming soon, this list was challenging, but there is still plenty of meat left on the bone.
8 Video Games That Deserve a Movie or TV Adaptation
8. Fortnite
Speaking purely from a box office perspective, a Fortnite live-action movie would do gangbusters and be a massive financial success. If you look at Minecraft as a benchmark, a Fortnite adaptation would do similar numbers, if not more.
And, it would be very easy for a director to get their hands on this IP and do whatever they want with it. Fortnite started as a simple battle royale, but has since evolved and extended into every genre imaginable. A movie could go in any direction without any questions being asked, and regardless of the actual quality, it would still undoubtedly be a hit for kids around the world.
7. Destiny
On the surface, Destiny has a relatively simple plot. Guardians are reanimated corpses, tasked with defending the last city on Earth. The group of soldiers travels to different planets to destroy threats to humanity. That simplicity opens the door for a live-action television show to go in any direction the creative group behind it wants.
Yet, there is also so much depth, as the story has taken several drastic twists and turns since Destiny initially launched in 2014. The combination of lore and open-ended nature of the narrative leaves the door open for the show to be easy to watch for newcomers, while there is still room for nods to long-time fans as well.
6. Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing follows the story of a human who lives in a village inhabited by animals. There is no objective, as you can choose to spend your time however you want. Activities include bug-catching, collecting fossils, fishing, and more. A lot of the enjoyment comes from the humorous interactions and relationships you build with the villagers and the story and lore you develop yourself.
Similar to what Pokémon Concierge accomplished, an Animal Crossing show could be a warm and friendly slice-of-life show that follows the animal inhabitants of the island. And the best part is, each episode could be its own contained story, showcasing one villager and their relationship with the main protagonist.
5. Apex Legends
Apex Legends is begging for a live-action movie or television adaptation. Between official videos, motion comics, and short stories, Respawn invested time and effort into creating an interconnected universe in Apex Legends.
You could easily make an entire movie franchise or long-running television series that covers the Apex Games, which is a bloodsport where Legends all compete for money, fame, and glory. The series could also cover the surrounding Outlands and the post-war landscape following the Frontier War, which transpired during Titanfall and Titanfall 2.
4. Overwatch
Similar to Apex Legends, Overwatch is teeming with untapped narrative potential. Blizzard created comics and short films, and there were plans for an animated series to be developed by Netflix. However, the project was cancelled due to a lawsuit, as Netflix had hired Activision’s CFO.
Activision Blizzard also fully intended to release a highly anticipated PvE game mode, but that was ultimately scrapped as well. Overwatch has 43 characters, all with a backstory worth exploring, so there’s plenty to dive into, should Blizzard ever try again.
3. Grand Theft Auto
Whether it be a live-action television, movie, or animated show, the possibilities are endless for the Grand Theft Auto IP. There is a total of seven standalone titles, each featuring a memorable cast of characters, setting, and storyline.
San Andreas, Vice City, and even GTA 4 are all due for remakes, and doing so in a film or television adaptation saves Rockstar the hassle, and it would give a talented director or show runner an excellent opportunity to put their own spin on the iconic franchise.
2. Red Dead Redemption
Just like Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar has another IP that’s perfect for television and movies. Red Dead Redemption 1 and 2 both offer Campaigns highlighted by a flawed protagonist you can’t help rooting for, surprising twists, believable villains, and glimpses into what life as a cowboy was like in early America.
A Red Dead Redemption television show has Taylor Sheridan’s name written all over it. The critically acclaimed producer and director created Yellowstone, along with its prequels 1883 and 1923. Sheridan has a proven track record of making westerns, and he could easily do the same with Red Dead Redemption, either continuing the story, doing another prequel, or following a different character.
1. Elder Scrolls
Game of Thrones comparisons get thrown around too often, but it is warranted for what can be accomplished with an Elder Scrolls television show. Between the stories of all five games, there are 100s of hours worth of content to explore, dissect, and create something new out of.
The Elder Scrolls 3, 4, and 5, in particular, all won Game of the Year awards from multiple outlets, and those stories still have untapped potential in what can be drawn out of them. Bethesda recently remade Elder Scrolls 4, serving us a reminder of how special these games are with a fresh coat of paint.
Putting that same story on the big screen with a massive budget, special effects, and an all-star cast would be a home run for any studio that gets the IP rights. It also helps that the series is in high demand at the moment. The Elder Scrolls 4 remake performed well, and fans have been waiting for the next game in the series since the initial announcement in 2018.
Which game would you like to see most as a television show or movie? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Forums.
In other gaming news, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is heavily involved in Nascar 25 development, and a Battlefield 6 open beta was spotted in a leak.
