TV shows have been getting bigger and more creative every year, even more so when it comes to video game adaptations. Just look at how the first season of The Last of Us brought the story of the game to life so well, or how Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout created a solid original story that perfectly fits in with the themes and lore of the video games.
It doesn't just have to be live-action either, as Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and Arcane are not just great animated video game adaptations; they're great animated projects, period.
There are still so many great video games out there, especially in the sci-fi genre, with stories, worlds, and characters that deserve the television treatment. These adaptations could really expand on the lore and storytelling of the video games, and perhaps even surpass them. Here are 12 sci-fi video games that, if adapted, could turn into incredible TV shows.
12. Prey (2017)
Arkane’s underrated cult classic, Prey, might honestly be one of the easiest games to picture as a TV show. The game takes place in a huge space station overrun by the shapeshifting aliens named Typhon. Imagine something with the same uncertain tone, but stretched into a long and gripping series, maybe something akin to Alien: Earth.
The suspense of never knowing who’s actually human and who’s a shapeshifting alien could keep audiences hooked week after week; it would be claustrophobic and intense. A show like this could really capture that feeling of isolation when you’re stranded on a space station, while also exploring the mysteries behind the Typhon and going deeper than the game could.
11. Deus Ex
For years, Deus Ex has been compared to Blade Runner, and it’s easy to see the inspirations. A TV adaptation would fit perfectly alongside the cyberpunk revival we’re seeing with projects like the upcoming Blade Runner 2099.
The Deus Ex lore that’s filled with conspiracy, technology, corporations, and human augmentation makes for some great storylines. It could even follow the newer games' augmented protagonist, Adam Jensen. The show's structure could mimic the game's non-linear narrative, with multiple factions vying for control. The episodic format makes a lot of sense with political intrigue and personal stories taking place amidst technology’s impact on humanity.
10. Returnal
Returnal is one of the most unique first-party PlayStation games. It’s eerie and incredibly atmospheric, and a TV show based on it could bring that looping and time-bending storyline to life in a way that feels like Edge of Tomorrow but on an alien planet with almost no humans, leaning a lot more into the cosmic horror aspect.
The mystery behind Selene’s struggles and the planet of Atropos could be stretched across multiple episodes, slowly revealing what’s real and what’s not. It would feel very psychological and surreal. This feels like a pretty natural fit for a streaming service that wants a mind-bending hit, and it’ll give it a chance to really further explore the game’s lore in a way that even the game couldn’t, given its specific structure and design.
9. SOMA
Sci-fi horror doesn’t get much better than 2015’s SOMA. The game is already terrifying, easily one of the scariest video games out there, with themes about what it means to be human, along with survival in an underwater facility. The game’s story follows the protagonist, who, after a brain scan, awakens in a desolate underwater research facility centuries in the future, with his consciousness transferred into a robot body.
In the game, robots start thinking they’re human, and the few people left are barely clinging to survival. A TV series could easily tap into the same dark vibe. Imagine watching people slowly realize their humanity is being stripped away, along with the shocking twists that made the game so unforgettable.
8. Half-Life
Fans have wanted a third Half-Life game for decades, and Half-Life: Alyx almost filled that void. While the third mainline game might never come out, a TV series could make up for it. The world of Black Mesa, the G-Man, and the Combine invasion contains enough lore to keep a show running for multiple seasons.
The games have naturally been very gameplay-driven, but the story of this world also has so much potential to broaden. A TV show would be able to fully realize the game's world, and really expand the storytelling capabilities of one of gaming’s most legendary franchises while opening it up to people who have never played the games before.
7. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Yes, there are plenty of Star Wars TV shows already. But none of them have explored the Old Republic era (yet), which is one of the richest parts of the universe. A Knights of the Old Republic adaptation could either directly follow the games or create a brand new story in that time period.
This era stretched from around 25,000 BBY to 1000 BBY, with a lot of conflict between the Jedi, Sith, and Mandalorians, and many, many massive wars. The power dynamics of this time period, if adapted to live-action, would make it feel different from any other Star Wars movie or TV show, and could really feel as grand and epic as Game of Thrones in space.
6. The Outer Worlds
Some games scream “TV show” just because of how many wild characters and stories they can pack in, and The Outer Worlds is exactly that. Obsidian’s RPG is genuinely funny and pretty colorful, which would make it stand out from most other sci-fi shows that usually lean toward a darker tone.
With giant, non-self-aware corporations running everything, the quirky characters and absurd humor could be as charming as a TV show as it was in the game. Since The Outer Worlds 2 is set for release later on in 2025, expanding this world through a series could build even more love for the franchise, like how CD Projekt Red did with Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. Plus, the satirical commentary on capitalism will keep it very relevant for a long time.
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5. Metro 2033
The Metro game series is based on the novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, but a TV adaptation could bring its atmospheric, post-apocalyptic Moscow tunnels to life in greater detail. Imagine something with the intensity of Chernobyl but mixed with supernatural horror and survival drama.
Both the books and the games take us underground into Moscow’s subway system after nuclear war has devastated the world. The dark tunnels and fragile human settlements are perfect material for a gripping survival show, and it could also explore the ideological conflicts, which the games only touch lightly on. Each settlement in the extensive metro system has its own culture and politics, which could give the show a lot of narrative depth. At its core, though, it’s about survival, hope, and what people are willing to do when the world is dying on the surface.
4. Perfect Dark
Xbox’s Perfect Dark reboot might have been canceled after several years in development, but the world of the game in which protagonist Joanna Dark lives is perfect for a spy-thriller TV show.
A mix of espionage, corporate corruption, and near-future sci-fi tech would make it feel pretty unique, even more so with its retro-futuristic setting. The show could also greatly expand her character, giving her more depth than the games ever managed to. With so many spy thrillers already being popular, adding a sci-fi element would make this one stand out from the rest.
3. Dishonored
Sure, Dishonored leans more toward alternate fiction than science fiction, but it still deserves a mention thanks to its dark and compelling sci-fi elements. The alternate Victorian setting with steampunk tech and supernatural powers already created a very unique gaming world, and adapting the game’s story to a TV show makes perfect sense, given how cinematic and visually striking it can look, not to mention the great cast of compelling characters that complement its story.
A series could explore the political drama in much greater detail, and also expand a bit more on the islands surrounding Dunwall, such as Tyvia and Morley, including their rulers and other key players. Fans of gothic storytelling would eat it up.
2. Killzone
Sony has been adapting gaming franchises into TV and movies, so why not Killzone? The war between the Helghast and the ISA has all the makings of a dramatic, large-scale war series. A show could focus on the brutality of war while also showing the good of both sides. There are a lot of moral grey areas in this conflict, which is what makes it so interesting.
The Helghast themselves are fascinating villains. A series could humanize them by showing things from their perspective. The sci-fi military drama angle is something that’s slightly missing from today’s TV landscape, and Killzone could be the one to fill it.
1. Titanfall 2
Titanfall 2 is one of the most beloved and underrated shooters ever, but EA seems unwilling to give it a sequel. A TV show, though, could further explore what made it so special. The bond between a pilot and their mech (Titan) could form the emotional core, with huge battles as the backdrop.
The game managed to accomplish a lot of this within its short five-to six-hour runtime, but a series could do so much more. Fans have wanted more from this universe for years, and a well-done adaptation could finally give them what they’ve been waiting for. The lore of the games (Apex Legends included) is surprisingly deep and quite compelling, with a lot of different factions on multiple planets vying for control, two of the biggest being the IMC and the Frontier Militia.