7 Video Games That Deserve Movie Adaptations
Admittedly, Hollywood has a pretty poor track record when it comes to adapting games into movies, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t keep trying! There are plenty of video games that feature never-before-seen worlds, powerful themes, compelling characters, and thrilling action that we deserve to see on the big screen.
If these games are adapted properly — and yes, I know, that’s a big “if” — gamers get more of what they love in a new medium, and others, who didn’t play the games, have the opportunity to experience these same worlds and perhaps even become gamers themselves!
Here’s my list of seven video games that deserve movie adaptations:
Red Dead Redemption I & II
Westerns have certainly fallen in popularity in recent years but the story of Red Dead Redemption is simply too good not to be adapted. Both games offer stunning vistas, an interesting cast of characters, and some truly memorable and touching moments.
While I don’t think the film could go wrong with Red Dead Redemption II’s Arthur Morgan as the protagonist, it’s John Marston and his story in the original Red Dead Redemption that I think would make for the most compelling movie.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Bethesda has gone on record as saying that there will likely never be an Elder Scrolls movie (unless Peter Jackson is involved), but that doesn’t mean we can’t dream! The lore and the vast mythology of the Elder Scrolls universe would make for a daunting task for any screenwriter to undertake, but, if done right, it could be as big of a hit as Lord of the Rings.
If an Elder Scrolls film really is off the table, perhaps a series or miniseries would work instead. After all, Game of Thrones has proven just how big of an audience there is for adult-oriented fantasy.
Metro: Exodus
The Metro games, adapted from the book series by Dmitry Glukhovsky, feature a truly unique and often horrifying journey through post-apocalyptic Russia with a likeable cast of characters and more radioactive mutants than you have bullets to deal with. The film could focus on Metro: 2033 or Metro: Last Light, the first and second in the series respectively, but I would actually prefer the film tell the story of Metro: Exodus, the third and most recent game, which I think is the best yet!
The powerful resilience of protagonist Artyom and the other survivors we follow can be seen in the weapons they use, often cobbled together with the materials they have at hand, and the never-ending quest to scavenge supplies as they travel through the radiation-infested wasteland. It was recently confirmed that a Metro 2033 movie is indeed getting made, entirely in Russia with Russian companies pledging “unprecedented” investment in its production.
Bioshock
There hardly exists a universe riper for adaptation than that of the one in Bioshock. The aesthetics, the atmosphere (how cool is an underwater city?), the characters, and the basic premise of the game have all the makings for an eerie, visually-stunning, and action-packed adventure. Gore Verbinski was once attached to direct a Bioshock movie, but the film was ultimately scrapped after Verbinski’s vision proved incongruous with what Universal Pictures had in mind.
The variety and creative construction of enemies in Bioshock, like the lumbering Big Daddies, the creepy Little Sisters, and the grotesque Splicers, would all make worthy adversaries for protagonist Jack to overcome. And, if the first movie’s a hit there are two other games in the series to adapt into sequels!
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn constructs a unique world, blending futurism with near-primitive elements like bows and arrows and spears to fantastic effect. While artificially intelligent beings have been featured in films as the antagonists for decades, Horizon Zero Dawn puts its own unique spin on the idea and builds out its own compelling villains in Hades, an AI, and Helis, the secondary human antagonist Hades manipulates.
The game isn’t as dark or gritty as some of the other titles on this list and feels like it could occupy a space in the movie landscape similar to The Hunger Games franchise. Incidentally, I’m not the only one that thinks this, as a Horizon Zero Dawn film is in very early development with Jennifer Lawrence reportedly being eyed for the main role of Aloy. Don’t get your hopes up just yet though because, as we saw with Bioshock, just because a movie is in development, doesn’t mean it can’t be cancelled!
A Way Out
Probably the least well known of all the games on this list, A Way Out is a co-op only game that tells the story of Vincent and Leo, two inmates incarcerated in prison who decide to work together to find — you guessed it — a way out. Set in 1972, A Way Out builds out an interesting story world and features two likeable, empathetic protagonists to follow.
The game features a handful of thrilling set pieces that would translate excellently to film, but also makes sure to insert quieter moments of character development and emotion. Without spoiling anything, the dual-protagonists approach is used to fantastic effect in the game’s climax.
Wolfenstein: The New Order
A movie set in an alternate timeline where the Nazis won the war and our protagonist, William “B.J.” Blaskowicz, uses cool-looking retro sci-fi weapons to fight back as part of The Resistance – why the heck haven’t we gotten this movie yet? Sure, The Man in the High Castle television series is set in an alternate history where Nazis won the war, but it doesn’t have the same bonkers tone the Wolfenstein games have.
Brutally violent and over-the-top in more ways than one, a Wolfenstein movie just seems like it would be a ton of fun to watch. There are a variety of wacky characters and the game doesn’t shy away from killing them off (often in brutal fashion), meaning this would definitely not be a movie for your little brother. Besides, who doesn’t love a movie about defeating Nazis?
