10 video games that would make great TV shows

There are a ton of video games TV shows on the way, From The Last of Us to Fallout to Halo. What other great games should make the jump?

Video games adaptations don’t have the best reputation. Plenty have made the leap to the big screen, but the results are often dismal, from Mortal Kombat: Annihilation to Doom to anything made by Uwe Boll.

Things are improving, with movies like Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog getting warmer receptions, but the stink remains. Still, as a generation of filmmakers raised on games come of age, it seems like only a matter of time before we get some truly excellent adaptations, and some of the most promising seem to be on their way to TV.

We already have a test case of sorts in The Witcher, which is based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s books but which wouldn’t have happened without the Witcher video games being as big as they are, something the showrunner happily admits. After that, the flood gates open. HBO is adapting Naughty Dog’s post-apocalyptic masterpiece The Last of Us, and Showtime is developing a series based on Halo. Netflix is getting an anime-style take of Cyberpunk 2077, the next game from Witcher developer CD Projekt Red. Disco Elysium, yet another critically acclaimed RPG, is currently being developed for the small screen as well.

Arguably the biggest game-to-TV announcement happened just this past week, as we got word that Amazon is making a show based on Fallout.

It begs the question: what’s next? What other games could feasibly make the leap to the small screen, getting shiny adult renditions on top tier networks?

1. Horizon Zero Dawn

Released in 2017 by developer Guerilla Games, Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the breakout hits of the last five years. It’s easy to see why: a young warrior sets out on a quest for vengeance and justice, making her way through a post-apocalyptic world where nature has reclaimed the land, people have returned to tribal societies, and robotic dinosaurs rule the wilds. Add to that a story that has some serious science fiction twists, and it’s a perfect recipe for a killer show.

Aloy is an Outcast from her tribe, shunned for a mysterious reason that she’s never been quite able to get a straight answer about. Her tribe, the Nora, revere pre-collapse technology, which means they either worship or fear it, but never wholly embrace it. Aloy is kind of like the atheist in the room; she has an almost supernatural affinity for tech, and is fearless about saying so.

In one memorable scene, the Nora explain to her why they worship a door with a computer programmed voice as a representation of “the Goddess.” Aloy’s response? “It’s just a door.”

These sorts of interactions are plentiful, and add to the seamlessness of its world.

A  big part of what would make Horizon Zero Dawn work well as a show is the unique setting and world. The robotic animals are breathtaking and threatening by turns, forces of nature that people hunt for parts…or end up being hunted by, when they’re on their own in the wild. The tribes — from Aloy’s own Nora to the Shadow Carja (who have no qualms about relying on old world technology) to the Inuit-inspired Banuk of the far north — are all well-developed and memorable.

Really, the hardest part about pulling off a show based on Horizon Zero Dawn would be figuring out how to pace the story, since there’s only one game released to date. But with the recent announcement of a sequel on the way, it seems like the perfect opportunity for more adventures with Aloy.

2. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

Enslaved isn’t the best-known game on this list. Released in 2010, it never had the massive success of titles like Horizon Zero Dawn or The Witcher. But it tells a story that’s aged incredibly well, thanks in no small part to the fantastic performance capture animation for its three main characters: Monkey, Trip and Pigsy.

In the game, Monkey is played by Andy Serkis, so it makes sense that his performance is amazing. Enslaved was way ahead of its time in terms of using facial expressions in games to add nuance to the storytelling.

Like Horizon, Enslaved is set in a robotic post-apocalypse where nature has reclaimed much of the world. But unlike Horizon, there are almost no people to be found in this world. They’re rounded up by robots, who put inoculating collars on them and take them away to some mysterious location where they will be, you guessed it, enslaved.

I can say with 100% confidence that Enslaved would make a great TV show, although my reasoning might surprise you. You see, Enslaved is a reimagining of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, which might just take the cake for “most adapted story ever.” Even if you’re not familiar with it, you’ve probably seen some takes on the classic tale of a monk who goes on a quest with the Monkey King and a cadre of other companions. Dragonball is one example that springs to mind. So is the TV show Monkey, and Netflix’s The New Legends of Monkey. We have plenty of examples of Journey to the West working onscreen, so much so that it’s hard to keep track of them.

But there aren’t any versions of the story quite like Enslaved, which takes the classic ideals of bringing knowledge to the people and blows them up onto a sci-fi setting. There are huge robots battles and powerful, quiet character moments both. And since Enslaved has a small cast, those budget dollars could be used on some top notch CG. Just saying…

3. Starcraft

It’s hard to pick just one Blizzard game to turn into a TV show, but for my money, the one that would be the most exciting and engrossing is Starcraft. These strategy games have everything a Game of Thrones fan could want: complex politics, epic battles, doomed romances, and personal stories of triumph and tragedy. They also have an element of gritty realism that’s less present in some of Blizzard’s other titles, like Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.

In the distant future, humanity has reached into the stars and set up colonies across the galaxy. As in The Expanse, the humans of Starcraft (called Terrans) bring all their baggage with them into space, and have some serious political and ideological divides. But when a race of virulent alien creatures known as the Zerg begins ransacking planets, humanity is put on the ropes and forced to make soul-crushing decisions in order to survive. Things are complicated even further when another alien race appears and begins nuking the Zerg-infested human colonies in an attempt to contain the spread of the vicious creatures.

The closest thing I can compare the two alien races of Starcraft to is the iconic Xenomorph of Ridley Scott’s Alien and the Predator…if the Predator belonged to a deeply spiritual and well-developed culture. So picture Aliens, Predators, and humans wrapped up in a Game of Thrones-style plot and you’ll have an idea of what Starcraft is all about.

As if I needed to say anything more than that, Starcraft also has some of the most memorable characters in gaming, none moreso than Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades. In the second Starcraft game, Kerrigan was voiced by Tricia Helfer of Battlestar Galactica fame. Casting her in the same role in a Starcraft show would be a fan’s dream come true.

As if I needed to say anything more than that, it also has some of the best characters ever to grace video games — none moreso than Kerrigan, the Queen of Blades. Kerrigan begins her journey as a human operative with psionic powers, who is then betrayed and left behind to be captured by the Zerg. She gets assimilated into their grotesque army, and ultimately ends up rising to the top to rule it and become one of humanity’s most fearsome foes. As well as, possibly, the key to saving it.

It’s a deep role, and one that would be powerful to see realized on screen. In the second Starcraft game, Kerrigan was voiced by Tricia Helfer of Battlestar Galactica fame. Casting her in the same role in a Starcraft show would be a fan’s dream come true.

I mean, come on — this one comes with at least one dream casting built right in! What more could you want?

4. Assassin’s Creed

Yes, I know all about the predictably bad Assassin’s Creed movie that came out two years ago…but just hear me out.

Assassin’s Creed tells the story of an age-old struggle between the Templars, who believe people need to be controlled in order to be safe, and the Assassins, who…well, assassinate bad people so that the world can go on changing. In the games, the tale is often told with a framing story, where a modern-day protagonist uses a machine called an Animus to access the memories of their Assassin (or Templar) ancestors.

The trappings invariably change from game to game, but the overall plot is always more or less the same. Over the course of this ridiculously large series, we see Assassins and Templars vie for their ideals in ancient Egypt, Rome, the Caribbean, the American Revolution, Industrial England, China, India…the list goes on.

Now, imagine if an Assassin’s Creed show was done on a network like HBO as an anthology series. Perhaps the framing story protagonist who goes into the Animus stays the same, but each season sees them stepping into a different time period. Imagine if, unlike the movie — which made up new characters — the show used some of the game franchise’s most memorable figures, like Ezio de Auditore Firenze and Edward Kenway.

I’m just saying. It would be awesome.

5. Mass Effect

When it comes to story-based games, it’s hard to find a better series than Bioware’s Mass Effect. The original trilogy injected a shot of adrenaline into choice-based gaming, revolutionizing it by having the decisions you make in one title carry over to the next. And while that decision-making couldn’t carry over to a show (unless it’s one of those crazy interactive Netflix thingies), the morally gray decisions are perfect for TV.

Mass Effect is a space opera in the best way. Commander Shepherd is the first human “spectre,” a special forces agent that takes on impossible tasks. When another spectre goes rogue, Shepherd is sent to track them down. Along the way, he ends up befriending a broad and varied cast of characters that range from lovable aliens to psyonically enhanced humans to robots. He (or she) eventually uncovers a galaxy-wide threat called the Reapers…and the rest is history.

Mass Effect could work like a Star Trek show with the plot of The Expanse. The interplay between all the different alien species is fascinating, and clashes of culture and customs are common occurrences in this complex galaxy. But the Mass Effect games also have some huge action set-pieces and thrilling plot twists, including the second game’s famous “suicide mission,” which is still one of the best sequences in any video game ever. Fight me.

Of all the games on this list, Mass Effect might even be one of the easiest to adapt, plot-wise. The story in these games is already on par with anything made for television. All a studio would have to do is not mess it up.

6. Dishonored

Like Blizzard, Bethesda Softworks has a few amazing series that could easily translate to television. The proof is in the pudding already, since Bethesda is the company responsible for reviving Fallout (though not creating it — that accolade goes to Obsidian Games). And while it might seem like we should be talking about The Elder Scrolls, Bethesda’s open-world fantasy epic…I actually think Dishonored would translate better to the small screen.

On the surface, Dishonored’s plot is pretty simple: the Empress of a steampunk island nation is killed by assassins with supernatural powers, and her bodyguard/lover, Corvo Attano, is framed for the deed. Swearing to get revenge for the woman he loved and to clear his name, Corvo escapes prison and sets out on a quest for vengeance that would make even the Count of Monte Cristo pale.

One of the coolest things about Dishonored is the sliding scale for how brutal the player can be. It’s possible to go the entire game without killing a single person outright, preserving Corvo’s moral fiber and the Empire’s stability. Or you can go on a bloody killing spree, and send everything spiraling into chaos.

A TV show could explore crushing moral dilemmas of the kind we see on series like The Walking Dead. How does Corvo feel about killing his own countrymen, and how does it change him? It could make for some really juicy television. And like The Last of Us, Corvo’s daughter Emily is a huge factor. She watches how Corvo deals with his enemies, and the choices he makes ultimately shape who she becomes as a person as well. Tell me that wouldn’t be gut-wrenching to watch!

It would only get better as the series introduced Daud, the assassin who killed the Empress, who goes on his own difficult journey toward retribution.

7. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

It wouldn’t be surprising if you’ve never heard of Kingdoms of Amalur. Despite being an incredible game, mainstream success was never quite in the cards for this action-RPG romp. But over the years it’s gradually grown a passionate cult following. The demand for this game has stayed steady enough since its release eight years ago that it’s actually even getting a remastered release this September.

Released in 2012, Amalur was the product of a collaboration between author R.A. Salvatore, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion creator Ken Rolston. The result is a game set in an expansive world where Fae folk called the Sidhe are split into two factions, one that wants peace and one that wants war. Gnomes toil away in their desert metropolis, battles rage outside an imposing swamp fortress, and one hero changes the face of destiny.

Kingdoms of Amalur has a stylish, unique world that could translate really well to film. There are lots of very cool creatures, sure, but most of the humanoid races would be relatively easy to portray on screen.

Amalur begins with the main character’s death. When they’re brought back to life by a gnomish machine, they stumble from the catacombs and come across a Fateweaver — kind of a cross between a warrior and a tarot reader. The Fateweaver tells the hero that they have no destiny — that they are, in essence, a blank slate…and able to change the destiny of those they come into contact with.

Obviously, that’s a very gamey-game mechanic sort of a thing, but it’s not like Hollywood hasn’t figured out ways put a twist on the whole “Chosen One” thing before. The cool thing about Amalur’s take on it is that the main character actually has a surprising amount of baggage once you get into the thick of the plot.

Kingdoms of Amalur might be the kind of high fantasy show that would work well on a streaming platform. It could also benefit from a bit of camp, even as some of its heavier plot moments punch viewers right in the feels.

8. Bioshock

If you want a little more dystopian flair in your TV, than Bioshock might be the ticket. This series by 2k Games have received a ton of critical and fan acclaim since the first game hit in 2007,, combining deeply complex sci-fi story elements with lots of moral ambiguity and social commentary. There’s an eerie atmosphere to Bioshock, the first two games of which take place in an underwater city called Rapture that has descended into a technology-fueled madness as people vie for control of ADAM, a substance that can grant people supernatural powers.

Bioshock is a great series with a great plot; the question isn’t whether it would work as a show. The question is where to start.

The first two games, which happen one after the other, detail what happens to the city of Rapture when a man named Jack arrives there in 1960. The sole survivor of a plane crash in the Atlantic, Jack manages to get into the underwater city, and the uncovers all sorts of messed up stuff about it and its founder, Anthony Ryan. There’s a strong element of horror as he goes through the city, seeing all the ways that the struggle for power, both political and supernatural, has twisted the populace.

But then we get to Bioshock: Infinite. The third game in the franchise is actually set in the early 1900s, on the floating city of Columbia. Social commentary is the name of the game here, as Columbia has some disconcertingly timely themes about white supremacy and corruption. To my eye, Bioshock: Infinite would make a really killer show given the current political climate.

And those deeply complex sci-fi elements I mentioned? They link Infinite with the games set in Rapture down the line, so there’s no reason the show couldn’t start with Infinite and work its way up to the original game and beyond.

9. Gears of War

Jumping back to the post-apocalyptic end of the aisle, no discussion of games ripe for adaptation would be complete without Gears of War . Developed by Epic Games, Gears was one of the Xbox 360’s flagship titles back in 2006, and its many sequels have carried on that tradition. When it first out, Gears was an incredibly influential game — so much so that Naughty Dog actually delayed Uncharted so that it could tweak some of the gameplay mechanics in the Xbox game’s image.

But would it make a good TV show?

Gears of War is set on a fictional Earth-like planet called Sera. By the time the first game’s story starts, a huge civil war has been fought between two human factions over a newly discovered energy source called Imulsion.

But the story really starts afterward, when a species of alien creatures called the Locusts emerge from beneath Sera’s surface and invade the human cities. A quarter of the human population is wiped out in the first 26 hours, and humans resort to using their new Imulsion tech to do a scorched earth campaign, the only thing that will stop the Locusts and buy them a reprieve.

The original trilogy, which in my opinion would be where to look for material, follows veteran soldier Marcus Fenix as he goes on several borderline-suicidal missions to preserve the human race and push back the Locust Horde. A big part of these games revolve around the bonds between Marcus and his squadmates. These folk explore dangerous areas like the wasteland of Sera and the hives of the Locusts, but at least they don’t have to do it alone.

A Gears of War movie has been in development hell for over a decade, with no signs that it’s any closer to being made. So it’s time that Fenix and his comrades jumped ship and made for the small screen.

10. Knights of the Old Republic

If ever there was ever a Star Wars game that deserved a second look, it’s Knights of the Old Republic. Generally regarded as one of the best video games of all time, Knights is set 4,000 years before the formation of the Galactic Empire, in a time when a Sith armada has launched an invasion on the peace-loving planets of the Republic.

In the game, you make up an avatar character to call your own and travel the galaxy making tough decisions that bring both your character and the galaxy as a whole closer to the Light or Dark side. There’s a huge stable of side characters and companions that you get to know throughout the journey, from Wookies to droids to Mandalorians. The potential for stories to be told in the setting is virtually limitless. It’s Star Wars, but without the limitations of including the Skywalkers or any of the canon movie characters, which was part of what led developer BioWare to create a game set in the Old Republic in the first place.

To me, this would be a no-brainer for Disney to add to its ever-growing stable of Star Wars shows. Knights had an enormous fanbase, is set in a time period that we haven’t yet seen in TV or movies, and would give them the freedom to create a lot of their own characters and plotlines within the wider world of the Old Republic.

There’s a chance that this one is already in development, although official word has yet to come through. But it’s enough to cross our fingers that we’ll be able to take a journey to the Old Republic someday soon!

We’ve just scratched the surface of video gaming here. What other games might make great TV shows?

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