18 Video Games That Should Be Adapted Into TV Shows ASAP, Like "The Last Of Us" Was
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The Last of Us may have truly broken the Hollywood curse of video game adaptations. Normally, a TV show or movie adapted from a video game is a critical (and sometimes financial) flop, but TLOU is beloved by critics and fans alike, and has already been renewed by HBO for a second season.
HBO
When you consider the recent success of projects like the Sonic the Hedgehog movies (and yes, I'm cautiously optimistic about the new Mario movie as well), it feels like we're entering a new era where video game adaptations are actually good, and not just cash grabs.
Paramount
So, now that it's been proven that it can be done, which other video games should get the adaptation treatment? Here are some ideas that Hollywood can have for free:
1.God of War
Santa Monica Studios
What it's about: Kratos — a Spartan general — makes a deal with Ares — the god of war — to defeat his enemies in battle. But after a tragic twist of fate, Kratos becomes enraged at Ares and vows to kill the god of war, even if he has to fight through the entire pantheon of gods to do it. In the 2018 sequel/reboot, Kratos is living in exile in Midgard when an encounter with a Norse god puts his — and his son's — life at risk.
Why it would work: To me, this is hands-down the most promising video game story in terms of a potential TV adaptation, and Hollywood knows it: Sony is currently working with Amazon on a live-action series. What'll be interesting is how the story is approached: IMO, you can't have the "new" God of War (the 2018 version set in Norse mythology, that is) without the proper backdrop of the "old" God of War (which was set in Greek mythology and was — generally — a little cringe in its forced edginess). However, the 2018 God of War has the far superior story and the much easier path to adaptation.
2.The Legend of Zelda
What it's about: At this point, you've probably heard about Link and Zelda, but basically any LoZ game boils down to this: The kingdom is under threat from the evil Ganon, and Link must go on a quest to defeat him.
Why it would work: There were rumors of a live-action series a while back that set the internet on fire, but alas, they were just rumors. Hopefully, we'll someday get a series that makes up for the old LoZ animated TV show, which was... not good. By now, the lore and characters have been so fleshed out and re-imagined in so many ways that a writer would have many options to pull from for a series or movie.
3.Destiny
What it's about: In the far future, humanity has been visited by the Traveler — an alien being that grants incredible gifts. One of those gifts is the Light, which gives chosen individuals superhuman powers and practical immortality. But there are several factions of alien species determined to either take the Traveler for themselves, or destroy it outright.
Why it would work: This would be tricky, since the Destiny series of games are a bit inaccessible as far as the lore goes. But that's just because there's SO MUCH lore! And it's really good! The world-building is great in these games, and so are the characters, so as long as you can present it all in a way that's accessible, it could be amazing. My guess is you'd just have to introduce only one evil alien faction at a time, since there are more than five of them.
4.BioShock
2K Games
What it's about: In the 1940s, a businessman by the name of Andrew Ryan builds an impossible city at the bottom of the ocean called Rapture. Due to wealth disparities and infighting over special tonics that grant superhuman powers, Rapture's society collapses, and the city becomes a dangerous wasteland. You play as Jack, a ship passenger in 1960 who happens upon the city and must find his way back out.
Why it would work: This art-deco-steampunk-retrofuturistic story has one of the best video game plot twists of all time, not to mention incredible world-building. So, it's a no-brainer for an adaptation — which is why there's currently a movie in the works at Netflix. Hopefully, it's done well, but TBH I would've made it as a series instead of a movie.
5.Mass Effect
Bioware
What it's about: In the far future, humanity has made huge technological leaps and spread across the galaxy. But the arrival of the Reapers — a machine race that eradicates organic life — means that the alliance of humans and aliens must find a way to survive.
Why it would work: This franchise has some of the best-reviewed games of all time and is super story-driven, so it makes sense that there were plans for an adaptation as early as 2010. However, the project got stuck in development hell and never went forward. There may be a new attempt at a series coming soon from Amazon, though.
6.Horizon Zero Dawn
Sony
What it's about: Aloy, a young hunter from a tribe that eschews technology, sets out to explore and discover secrets about the past in a world that is overrun by sentient machines.
Why it would work: Here's another one with twists and turns, excellent world-building, and a compelling protagonist. There's plenty of existing story to turn into a live-action series, especially considering the fact that a sequel to this game came out just last year.
7.Assassin's Creed
Ubisoft
What it's about: A revolutionary machine called the Animus allows individuals to virtually experience the memories of their ancestors through their own DNA. By viewing the memories of one man, Desmond Miles, we learn about a secret conflict spanning thousands of years between two organizations: the Knights Templar, who aim for order and control, and the Order of Assassins, who fight for freedom and liberation. But the discovery of artifacts with incredible powers lifts the veil on human civilization and shows where we really came from.
Why it would work: Yes, this one was already turned into a movie, and no, it was not very good. But I think with another attempt, AC could be made into a really excellent series with the potential for plenty of seasons. The key is to find the right balance between the historical fiction element and the modern-day scenes, and to have fun with the whole concept.
8.The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bethesda
What it's about: Set in the northern part of the land of Tamriel, this story (the fifth in the Elder Scrolls series) follows a newcomer to the land who turns out to be the Dragonborn, a warrior prophesied to save the world from the destruction of the great dragon Alduin. Meanwhile, a civil war is raging between the indigenous Nords and the occupying Imperials, in which the Dragonborn must choose a side.
Why it would work: Listen, Skyrim has been re-ported to, like, 80 different consoles, it's been remastered, like, five times, and lord knows how many community-made mods there are. People have poured so many hours into this game, and for good reason. It's amazing. Now, it might be that it actually wouldn't make a good series or movie, because what's really tantalizing about it is the sort of immersive role-playing you can do with an open world and a character creator. BUT, if you wanna talk about the closest thing out there to Game of Thrones... this is probably it. It's political, it's violent, it's shocking, and if you add in allllll the other Elder Scrolls games, you've got a lot of history to work with.
9.Portal
Valve
What it's about: A test subject, Chell, wakes up in a lab and is greeted by a sentient supercomputer, who gives Chell a device that creates portals. Using the device, Chell begins completing a series of tests, but eventually discovers that there's a sinister intent behind the "research."
Why it would work: GLaDOS is one of the all-time great video game villains. That ought to be enough to turn this project into at least a movie, even though the protagonist never speaks and the game itself is pretty short. If it works, call Stephen Merchant and get a sequel film ready.
10.Doki Doki Literature Club!
What it's about: This game starts out as a simple dating sim where you chat with four girls from your school's new literature club... but eventually reveals itself to be something very, very different.
Why it would work: Without giving away too much of the plot for those who haven't played this one, wouldn't it be cool to see this as a TV series? Honestly, I'm not sure how it would work, but if you could do some of the fourth-wall-breaking stuff in a way that plays with TV conventions rather than video game conventions, it could be really groundbreaking.
11.Control
What it's about: The story centers on a shadowy government agency that captures and contains Altered Items, which are ordinary objects that have been imbued with otherworldly powers either beneficial or destructive. For example, there's a vending machine that can dispense whatever a nearby person needs to make them happy. There's also a refrigerator that requires someone to watch it at all times, or else it kills people. If you're familiar with the SCP Foundation, then you know the drill.
Why it would work: You wanna talk about world-building? You wanna talk lore? Short of the Souls games, Control is one of the only games where I religiously read every single piece of collectible lore that I picked up, because they're so entertaining. It would make an incredible series in the vein of The X-Files.
12.Kingdom Hearts
Square Enix
What it's about: Sora, a young kid with dreams of exploring, is taken from his home island in a catastrophe related to a force known as the Darkness. From there, he meets Donald and Goofy, who serve on King Mickey's court. Mickey has gone missing, so the trio sets off to other Disney worlds and meets the characters there to find the missing king, and Sora's missing friends.
Why it would work: Yes, I know that Once Upon a Time more or less already did the "all the Disney characters in one place" thing, but I think Kingdom Hearts could still make an amazing series for kids, assuming they take out some of the more confusing plot points (read: basically everything after the first game).
13.Devil May Cry
Capcom
What it's about: Dante is a half-man, half-demon who runs a demon-hunting business. Over the course of the series of games, Dante meets other like-minded individuals and generally goes around beating the crap out of big demons invading the human world.
Why it would work: All the Devil May Cry games are a little cheesy and a little cringe, but I would watch the heck out of a series where Dante and the gang hunt down demons á la Supernatural. All it needs is a little tonal shift!
14.Metal Gear Solid
Konami
What it's about: Each game in the series centers around a super-soldier with the codename Snake who must stealthily infiltrate a military base, usually to stop some kind of super-weapon from being unleashed.
Why it would work: Much like Kingdom Hearts, you'd probably have to simplify some of the more Hideo Kojima-esque elements of the series, or else it'd probably just be hella confusing. But making a series of movies in the style of The Raid or Dredd where Snake is infiltrating a single location? Could be awesome.
15.Fallout
What it's about: Each game in the series takes place in a post-apocalyptic world after a nuclear disaster, in which the protagonist emerges from an underground bunker called a Vault and must survive in the lawless wasteland of the surface.
Why it would work: Hey, if a post-apocalyptic series about a fungal pandemic is a hit, then how about a post-apocalyptic series about a nuclear wasteland? Fallout's story is on more of a sweeping scale than The Last of Us, which I think is successful because it's so contained, but there's still a lot to mine from here. Luckily, there's a Fallout series in the works at Amazon, which will hopefully come out soon.
16.Red Dead Redemption (1 and 2)
Rockstar Games
What it's about: Both games in the RDR series follow outlaws living in the western United States near the beginning of the 20th century as they fight to survive in the wilderness and deal with the complications of their outlaw lives.
Why it would work: The thing about adapting RDR is you would essentially just end up with a regular Western film/series. But it would be a ~really good~ Western film/series, because the story in RDR — particularly the second installment — is as good as any cowboy movie out there.
17.Psychonauts
Double Fine
What it's about: Raz, a psychic, sneaks into a camp for kids with psychic abilities. While there, he discovers a plot that puts the kids at the camp in danger, and must protect the gang by entering the subconscious minds of those around him, healing their fears and trauma in the meantime.
Why it would work: This is one of those games where you're actually excited for every cutscene that comes up, because they're really that funny and entertaining. Imagine if Henry Selick (who directed The Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline, to name a couple) took on a stop-motion version of this game. It'd be incredible. Sadly, Tim Schafer — who directed the Psychonauts games — has voiced his disdain for Hollywood adaptations, so this might never happen.
18.Hades
What it's about: Zagreus, the son of Hades (the god of the underworld) and Persephone (the goddess of spring), rebels against his father and attempts to break out of the underworld to go visit his mother. Along the way, he receives help from his aunts, uncles, and cousins in the pantheon of Greek gods, and faces off against famous figures from Greek mythology.
Why it would work: Maybe I'm just a sucker for Greek mythology, but I think this would make a hell of a good series. You get to meet all these slightly modernized versions of Greek gods and heroes, you get the Groundhog Day-esque element with Zagreus dying over and over again (if you're as bad at this game as I am, that is), you get some deeply emotional family dynamics... it's all there!
