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It’s no secret that video game adaptations used to be the laughing stock of the TV and cinematic world. Not only were they half-baked cash-ins that scuppered the potential of their source material, but they largely completely misunderstood what made a good adaptation work. Fast forward to nowadays, however, and we now have a slew of video gamer movies and TV shows that aren’t just passable fare, but actually go toe-to-toe with their big budget brethren.
Sure, while not every modern video game is a perfect conversion to the big and small screen, the quality has definitely seen a huge uptick in recent times. Rome wasn’t built in a day, after all, right? So, if you’re on the hunt for the best of the best video gamer movies and TV shows out there, we have the perfect listicle for you. Let’s pull the trigger, shall we?
12. Uncharted
Uncharted was stuck in development hell for so many years, the studio had to swap out Mark Wahlberg’s portrayal of Nathan Drake and wedge him in as the older and wiser father-figure, Sully. As a result, young up-and-coming Spider-Man star Tom Holland took the reins and the rest as they say is history. Incredibly, that’s just the tip of the ol’ iceberg, however, as behind the scenes, the pic was notoriously difficult for Sony to get off the ground.
Not only did seven directors walk away from the project, but the movie that finally came to be was actually a Young James Bond pitch that was reworked into the box office smash hit we have today. Luckily, it’s a jolly fun romp, with Wahlberg and Holland’s endearing chemistry at the heart of the pic really selling it. Add in a bunch of ridiculously over-the-top action sequences that feel ripped straight out of Naughty Dog’s phenomenal PlayStation exclusives, as well as a welcome performance from big-bad Antonio Banderas, and you’re left with a genuine gem of a video gamer movie that’s a whole lot of fun for all the family.
11. Mortal Kombat
But, wait? Isn’t 1995’s Mortal Kombat a complete washout? Wrong. In fact, Paul W S Anderson’s first foray into video gamer movies is one of the few pics from yesteryear that is authentically still a good time today. Sure, his later efforts may’ve been a little lacklustre (we’re looking at you Resident Evil!), but Mortal Kombat still holds up surprisingly well. Not convinced? Here we go…
With legitimately impressive action sequences that still stand the test of time, a techno score that’ll leave you reaching for the glowsticks, and Highlander alum Christopher Lambert hamming it up and devouring the scenery in every scene, there’s a whole lot to love here. Yes, it may be a product of its time, but in our eyes, the first Mortal Kombat is a bonafide kung-fu classic that feels like a bolt of Raiden’s lightning captured in a bottle. Just ignore the increasingly awful sequels. You’ll thank us later.
10. Pokemon Detective Pikachu
On paper, the live-action Detective Pikachu video gamer movie just shouldn’t really work. Freak car accidents, a mysterious purple gas, an idyllic city where Pokemon and humans co-exist together harmoniously, and the icing on the cake: a Ryan Reynolds-voiced amnesiac Pikachu? It all sounds like a hodgepodge of disparate ideas and the result of some government-sanctioned experiment to create a mutant camel-shaped monstrosity of a Pokemon with pointy humps jutting out at 90-degree angles. In execution, however? It miraculously sticks the landing.
Tonally, everything just works surprisingly well. The dialogue is snappy, Ryan Reynolds’ casting is a stroke of genius, and the Pokemon easter eggs come thick and fast. While unschooled parents who’ve never touched a Pokemon game in their life may walk away with more questions than answers (is Pikachu really Tim’s dad?), there’s plenty here to satiate hardened fans of Nintendo’s beloved IP.
9. Sonic the Hedgehog
Speaking of films that don’t really work on paper, 2020’s live-action Sonic the Hedgehog pic has entered the chat. Directed by greenhorn Jeff Fowler, who has less credits to his name than Dr. Robotnik has friends, the film is largely a fish hedgehog out of water tale that sees everybody’s favorite blue blur eking out a solitary existence on earth, before striking up a close friendship with local sheriff Tom (portrayed by James Marsden). Oh, and did I mention that Tom lives in a town called Green Hill. You know? Like Green Hill Zone from the games!
Anyway, amusing hijinks ensue as the duo pinball back and forth between portals in a bid to find Sonic’s lost rings. Really, the major draw is the pair’s chummy rapport throughout the flick leading to plenty of amusing scenarios (there’s even a ham-fisted bar fight thrown in for good measure!). Meanwhile, Jim Carrey’s turn as the evil villain Dr. Robotnik is also worth a shoutout as he twirls his moustache like the cartoonish bad-guy that he is and menacingly chews scenery with every appearance. Seriously, Carrey may be the linchpin that holds the entire project together.
8. Twisted Metal
Sony seems to be firing on all cylinders when it comes to its video gamer movie adaptations, as this is not only the second PlayStation IP to make the list, but there’s even more to come from the Japanese publisher down below. Yes, season one of Michael Jonathan Smith’s TV show has been an unmitigated success thanks to its satirically over-the-top post-apocalyptic violence that skewers any expectations that this is yet another half-hearted attempt at fan service.
Centering on an amnesiac “Milkman” named Anthony Mackie (John Doe) who is tasked with delivering packages from one dilapidated, ramshackle city to another, while bumping into some familiar faces from the iconic video game series of yore, the show serves as a reminder of what a cool dystopian universe the game’s creators — David Jaffe and Scott Campbell — cooked up many moons ago. Plus, I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shoutout to the supremely memorable Sweet Tooth, physically portrayed by wrestler Samoa Joe and voiced by none other than comedy legend Will Arnett.
7. Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie
Steven E. de Souza’s live-action Street Fighter — starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Kylie Minogue — is possibly the biggest disappointment I’ve ever experienced in cinema. And that’s coming from someone who pre-booked tickets to watch one of the world’s first screenings of Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. Thankfully, not long after witnessing that awful Street Fighter cash-grab, I was lucky enough to catch Gisaburō Sugii’s animated 1994 feature over a friend’s house.
In essence, Street Fighter: The Animated Movie totally understands the games and feels so authentic, it’s like you’re peering through the looking glass into Capcom’s iconic universe. The opening face-off between Ryu and Sagat is a standout, though the real climax sees Chun-Li taking on Vega in a bloody and brutal confrontation in the latter half of the movie. Come for the authentic kung-fu battles, and stay for the expertly-crafted lore that fleshes out each legendary character in a meaningful and clever way.
6. Silent Hill
Christophe Gans’ filmic take on Konami’s venerable horror series is another impressively authentic outing that runs the gamut between skin-flayingly gory and spine-chillingly creepy as Rose de Silva (Radha Mitchell) heads to the titular lakeside town in a bid to find her daughter Sharon (Jodelle Ferland). Not only does this haunted town horror mystery look the part, with excellent cinematography and some pristine physical sets, but it also sounds on point, too, thanks to Akira Yamaoka’s original video game score punctuating the adventure.
In a nutshell, 2006’s Silent Hill movie is at its best when the French filmmaker keeps his spooky cards close to his chest as he revels in the mythos’s narrative ambiguity and just the sheer weirdness of it all. Unfortunately, the movie’s dialogue and characterization can be a little uneven, particularly in the latter half, but it’s the actual foggy town at the heart of it all that remains one of the strongest and most enigmatic “characters.” Here’s hoping the upcoming threequel Return to Silent Hill — which will also be written and directed by Gans — is more like the OG film, and less like M. J. Bassett’s woeful Silent Hill: Revelation. Fingers firmly crossed!
5. The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Frankly, I was this close to putting 1993’s Bob Hoskins-led box office flop on this list as I unironically have a soft spot for that film, but I digress. Nostalgia aside, however, it’s fair to say that Universal Pictures and the talented artists over at Illumination have undoubtedly crafted a superior family-friendly romp here. Ditching the dark and gritty live-action format of its critically derided predecessor, the 2023 animated pic is as bright and jolly as a Mushroom World rave, replete with classic Nintendo themes remixed for modern ears.
Of course, Chris Pratt’s rendition of the beloved mustachioed plumber was a source of apprehension for many. Thankfully, it was no where near as bad as we thought it would be. In fact, Pratt’s Mario voice is actually — dare I say it — pretty damn good, for the most part. Meanwhile, Tenacious D frontman Jack Black steals the show as Mario and Luigi’s arch nemesis, Bowser, gifting us an ear worm for the ages (you’ll know it when you hear it!). Plus, Anya Taylor-Joy knocks it out of the park as everybody’s first-ever crush, Princess Peach. Surprisingly great fun!
4. Arcane: League of Legends
Now, we’re beginning to inch our way into the cream of the crop. Indeed, animation studio Fortiche and streaming giant Netflix’s collaborative effort with League of Legends‘ deeply thoughtful and smartly written nine-episode TV series is an absolute joy to behold. From phenomenal world-building to nuanced characters, this steampunk adventure is equally stylish as it is thought-provoking.
Boasting excellent cinematography and some incredible animation, this sci-fi yarn focuses on classism and the vast divide between the haves and the have-nots. Sure, while its elitist themes and social commentary aren’t exactly hugely unique per se, its creative execution is buoyed by strong writing and impeccable voice-acting. Furthermore, you don’t need to have played Riot Games’ MOBA to enjoy it, which is a big plus in my book. Don’t sleep on this one!
3. Castlevania
From the outset, Netflix’s impressive four-season TV series based on Konami’s esteemed 2D side-scrolling action franchise is a strictly adult affair. In fact, this skull-ripping, blood-curdling tale is as heavy metal as blasting Metallica guitar riffs while engulfed in a skyful of winged demons a ‘la Eddie Munson in Stranger Things‘ epic Season 4 finale.
While its inspiration features a pretty threadbare narrative, the Castlevania show aims to ameliorate that by giving fans a glimpse into the origin story of everybody’s favorite blood-sucker, Dracula. Throw in some crisp animation, a fascinating backstory for Alucard, and a surprisingly cool setup that actually makes you root for the bad guys — well, sort of — and you’re left with one of the finest animated video game adaptations ever. No small feat, indeed!
2. Fallout
I’ll be straight with you: even though I’d watched some of the trailers leading up to the show’s release, I was ready to hate the Fallout series as I was convinced that Amazon Prime wasn’t gonna stick the landing. Well, here I am with Deathclaw egg splattered all over my face as the TV adaptation of Bethesda’s genre-defining action-RPG is absolutely brilliant.
While the Ghoul (portrayed by Walton Goggins) steals the show as the goody-two-shoes turned cold-and-calculated irradiated bounty hunter, Lucy (Ella Purnell) delivers a wonderfully endearing turn as the doe-eyed vault-dweller who must embark on an adventure to unravel her father’s mysterious disappearance. Meanwhile, rounding out the trio of central characters is the lonely outsider Maximus (Aaron Moten) who is busy learning the ropes as a squire for the Brotherhood of Steel.
With phenomenal sets that make you feel right at home in the video game, as well as the haunting 1940s’ tunes that are synonymous with the Fallout world, and writing that feels genuinely deep and thoughtful, the Fallout show is an absolute blast and a high watermark for video gamer movie adaptations. In short: it’s totally rad, man.
1. The Last of Us
And so here we are, the crème de la crème. That’s right, Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann’s incredible adaptation of Naughty Dog’s masterpiece, The Last of Us takes the top spot!
See, it’s not just the nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat horror or the beautifully bleak post-apocalyptic world that makes this adaptation so vital, but it’s the characters, the storytelling and their relationships with each other that turns a rather trite concept on paper into a remarkable character study of the human condition.
At its core, The Last of Us — much like the source material it’s based upon — is a very deep, immensely thoughtful narrative that highlights the harrowing psychological impact that loss, pain and despair can have upon the human spirit. On top of this, combine impressive turns from Joel’s Perdo Pascal and Ellie’s Bella Ramsey, who have legitimately brilliant chemistry, and you’re left with an award-winning show that remains the pinnacle of what video game stories can achieve.
