Film adaptations of video games have become a new gold rush for Hollywood. We have already seen such successful projects as The Last of Us or Fallout series, which allows us to attract a new audience to this universe (or return the old one). Of course, sometimes adaptations turn out to be not very good, to put it mildly, like the Borderlands film. However, it is becoming clear to everyone that in the coming years we will see many more film adaptations of video games. After all, modern games are famous for their cinematic nature, and the rich lore and gradually developing plot creates a new art form, so why not make a film, TV series or cartoon based on it? That's why film adaptations of such games as Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, and BioShock are already officially in development. However, the gg editorial team decided to fantasise and name 10 games that are worthy of being noticed by film producers, but whose adaptations have not yet been officially confirmed.
Life is Strange
Life is Strange is an interactive cinema adventure game in which the player takes on the role of Max Caulfield, a schoolgirl photographer who discovers the ability to control time and rewind events.
Life is Strange could be a series that would have a strong emotional impact on the viewer due to the themes of friendship, loss, bullying, depression, sexual orientation and moral choices in adolescence. And unlike other series about "hard teenage life", it would also have an element of the supernatural, such as time management.
Developer: DONTNOD
Genre: Interactive film
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4/5, iOS, Android
Release date: 30 January 2015
Website of the game: square-enix
Dishonored.
Dishonored is a stealth action game where the main character is Corvo Attano, a former bodyguard of the Empress, unjustly accused of her murder, and it all takes place in a steampunk-inspired world.
For a film, Dishonored has an atmospheric world, combining elements of steampunk, magic, and the Victorian era. The city of Dunwall, with its gloomy architecture, mysterious mechanisms, and mystical powers, is a solid foundation for an atmospheric film. Add to this a story about betrayal, revenge, and the moral choices of the protagonist that will have consequences in the future, and you'll want to go to the cinema to see this.
Developer: Arkane
Genre: Stealth Action
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3/4/5
Release date: 12 October 2012
Website of the game: bethesda
Observer.
Observer is a cyberpunk adventure where the player becomes detective Daniel Lazarsky, working as an "observer" in a desolate world of the future. Using technology that allows him to penetrate the minds of others, Lazarsky explores the dark secrets of the human mind.
The game is set in 2084 in a gloomy, futuristic Krakow, where the world is immersed in technocratic chaos, corporate control and virtual reality. The game's cyberpunk setting, with its distinctive style, atmosphere, and technological decay, is perfect for adaptation to the big screen. And the story of an observer detective who has the ability to enter the minds of other people and experience their fears and memories provides an opportunity to create an intense film or series that will explore the theme of human consciousness, perception of reality and ethical aspects of technology.
Developer: Bloober Team
Genre: Adventure
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4/5
Release date: 16 August 2017
Game site: observersystemredux
S.T.A.L.K.E.R..
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a series of shooters that takes the player to the post-apocalyptic Chernobyl Zone, where anomalies, mutants and dangerous factions are an integral part of this dangerous and exciting life.
The HBO series Chernobyl has shown that people are always interested in learning about the exclusion zone. In the world of S.T.A.L.K.E.R., dangers lurk at every turn, and the atmosphere of constant threat and tension is enhanced by abandoned buildings, radiation and a bleak landscape where mutants and anomalies can be seen. Given the cult status of the series, the adaptation would attract many fans of post-apocalyptic adventures where the hero is constantly "playing" with death.
Developer: GSC
Genre: Shooter
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4/5
Release date: 2007-2024
Game site: stalker2
Mafia.
The Mafia series is a crime drama that tells the story of the rise and fall of mafia families in different eras. Players are immersed in the atmosphere of gangster stories, watching characters balancing between loyalty, betrayal, and the cruel laws of the criminal world.
An adaptation of Mafia could bring to the big screen a mafia drama that tells the story of clan wars, the criminal underworld, and the characters trying to survive in all this chaos and not stumble (although haven't they already?). A film or series could also recreate the atmosphere of retro America, from the 1930s to the 1960s. By depicting the architecture, transport, fashion and music, the audience could "go" on a tour of those times.
Developer: Hangar 13
Genre: Action
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4/5
Release date: 2002-2020
Website of the game: hangar13games
Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is a series of atmospheric horror platformers where players control small characters trying to survive in a creepy, distorted world full of strange monsters and dangers.
An animated adaptation would be a good fit for Little Nightmares, as the series is distinguished by its artistic style, which combines fairy tale elements with a dark, oppressive atmosphere. The mixture of nightmarish and magical style with gloomy, surreal locations and creepy characters is perfect for the animated format. Also, all the games in the series are quite short, so in an adaptation, each episode of the animated series could focus on a certain part of the game world and reveal individual episodes from the characters' lives, which would significantly expand the Little Nightmares universe.
Developer: Tarsier Studios
Genre: Platformer
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4/5
Release date: 2017-2025
Website of the game: bandainamcoent
Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human is an interactive cinema game that explores the issues of artificial intelligence, ethics, and humanity. The story is set in a future Detroit where androids are beginning to realise themselves as living beings and strive to achieve independence from their leather bags.
In a world where ethical issues and artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly important, the story of Detroit: Become Human is very relevant and could be adapted into a TV series. The adaptation would again address the issue of artificial intelligence, showing how androids go through significant transformations, reflecting society and its attitude towards AI.
Developer: Quantic Dream
Genre: Interactive film
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/5
Release date: 25 May 2018
Game site: quanticdream
Comix Zone
Comix Zone is an action platformer where the player controls comic book artist Sketch Turner, who finds himself inside his own comic book. And it is the unique style of the game, when absolutely everything happens inside a comic book that has come to life, that attracted the attention of many people at the time.
The game could be made into an interesting animated adaptation that would give the audience the effect of watching a comic book that has taken on a life of its own. Also, an animated adaptation could attract both those who grew up with the game and a new audience interested in retro aesthetics. And let's not forget that it should include many epic battles, comic characters, and exciting events.
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action
Platforms: PC, Mega Drive/Genesis, Game Boy Advance,
Release date: 2 August 1995
Game site: steampowered
Red Dead Redemption.
Red Dead Redemption is a series of epic adventures set in the American Wild West. The games offer an open world where players are immersed in the life of those times. The series is best known for its deep storyline, colourful characters, and incredibly detailed world.
Red Dead Redemption embodies the classic spirit of the western with its vast open spaces, tense duels, and a sense of lawlessness. At the same time, the games in the series raise issues such as betrayal, justice and survival in a complex world. RDR explores how changes in society affect people's destinies and focuses on human nature.
Developer: Rockstar
Genre: Action Adventure
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series
Release date: 2010-2018
Game site: rockstargames
The Wolf Among Us
The Wolf Among Us is an interactive detective thriller based on the Fables comics. Players control Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of a fantasy world where fairy-tale characters live in modern New York.
Conceptually, the series, where classic fairy tale characters live in our modern world, but with a darker and more mature approach, looks quite interesting (no wonder people loved the game so much). The game successfully conveys the atmosphere of a noir detective with gloomy streets, mysterious investigations, and complex relationships between characters. This aesthetic is suitable for a TV adaptation that could preserve or even enhance this style.
Developer: Telltale
Genre: Interactive film
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series, Xbox One
Release date: 11 October 2013
Game site: telltale
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Our game editor has been playing games since he was 4 years old and can't imagine himself without it. He has played 100+ games on PlayStation, but still considers The Last of Us Part II to be the best in the industry. In January 2022, he joined the gg team. He studies at the Faculty of Journalism at Kyiv International University.
