These video games are begging for an adaptation
Could these be the next The Last of Us?
Morgan Truder
Video game adaptations have finally started proving they can work. Arcane, The Last of Us and Fallout have shown there’s more to translating pixels into TV and film than just fan service.
While the successes are getting bigger and more ambitious, there are still plenty of iconic games that haven’t even been touched by Hollywood (or streaming platforms), and the thought of seeing them brought to life is tantalising.
From sprawling RPGs to cult-classic franchises, some games practically scream for adaptation, whether it’s because of their rich storytelling, unforgettable characters or entire worlds begging to be explored on screen.
For every Arcane there are a dozen flops, but the potential for greatness is there, and we’re here to highlight the games we’d pay serious attention to if someone finally decided to make the jump.
9. Animal Crossing
One of the most peaceful games ever made, Animal Crossing is a beautiful adventure and one that would lend itself well to a big-screen adaptation. There was a 2006 anime that never made it to UK shores, but we can see this one being in the same vein as Where The Wild Things Are, with the animatronic human-like animals inhabiting a dream-like Island and having lots of fun in the process. Think The Wicker Man without the nasty ritual-killing ending, obviously.
8. Disco Elysium
One of the newer titles on this list, Disco Elysium is a stunning-looking game and, done properly, would look superb as a movie. Its oil painting style graphics could be re-interpreted by someone such as Robert Rodriguez and a lot of fun could be had with Harrier Du Bois, a detective who wakes up in a strange fishing town with no recollection of why he is there.
7. Metroid
John Woo was in contention to make a Metroid movie, the classic Nintendo game, but nothing eventually came from it. But what a film it would be.
Think Mandalorian with far more action, the story about female bounty hunter Samus Aran who is out to do battle with the all-encompassing Metroid is perfect folly for the big screen.
6. Monkey Island
Steven Spielberg was well up for making a movie of this LucasArts gem but nothing came of it. We would still love to see Guybrush and LeChuck battling it out on the big screen, though, both in wits and in action - even if Pirates Of The Caribbean copied a lot of the game’s style.
As for the stars: surely Timothée Chalamet would be a shoo-in for Guybrush and maybe David Tennant as Ghost Pirate LeChuck?
5. Splinter Cell
There is a TV show of Splinter Cell, but we really want to see a big-screen adaptation. Tom Hardy was attached to one, but nothing came of it. It’s a perfect story for Hollywood, though, focusing on Sam Fisher, the stealthy Black Ops agent who uncovers a nuclear plot. Personally, let’s get Jon Bernthal, The Punisher himself, in to make this a dark and moody affair.
4. Shadow Of The Colossus
We would pay good money to see Shadow Of The Colossus adapted by Guillermo Del Toro. He’s already made a Kaiju movie in Pacific Rim but Colossus would allow him to marry big monsters with the fantasy worlds he is so brilliant at creating.
Also, the story of a boy fighting massive creatures to save a girl fits well into his storytelling sensibility, too.
3. Half-Life
JJ Abrams was meant to be taking us into the world of the Black Mesa facility and all the nefarious things that happen there but an adaptation just didn’t happen.
There needs to be one, though, and our dream cast is a spit of the main character. Even though he is more than double the age of the character in the game, we think Bryan Cranston would be ace as Dr. Gordon Freeman.
2. The Elder Scrolls
Its future-focused bedfellow, Fallou,t is being made into a TV show, but it would be fantastic to see a live-action movie set in the glorious fantasy expanse of Tamriel. This could easily be as epic as Game of Thrones, and there are hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of gameplay throughout the five or so games to mine to make the film.
1. Red Dead Redemption 2
If there’s one video game begging for a TV or film adaptation, it’s Red Dead Redemption 2. Rockstar’s sprawling Wild West epic isn’t just a game; it’s a masterpiece of storytelling, world-building, and character work. Following Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang across the dying days of the American frontier, it balances tense heists, personal drama, and quiet moments of reflection in a way that’s cinematic from the first frame.
Imagine this translated to the screen with an HBO-level budget, a stellar cast, and the same attention to detail that makes the game so immersive. The sweeping landscapes, intimate character moments, and morally complex storylines are tailor-made for live-action storytelling. We all fell in love with Arthur Morgan years ago, and it's time everyone else does too.
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