12 Video Games That Deserve Movie or TV Adaptations

Despite mixed critical receptions, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie stormed past the $1 billion threshold at the global box office. It marks the second time in recent years a Super Mario feature has achieved this monumental milestone, cementing video game adaptations alongside juggernauts like Sonic the Hedgehog as Hollywood’s most lucrative new frontier.

The small screen is experiencing a similar renaissance, with prestige, multi-season epics like The Last of Us and Fallout captivating streaming audiences worldwide (the latter having recently commenced production on its third season). It is undeniably a golden era for translating beloved interactive experiences into cinematic and episodic art, especially given gaming’s vast narrative backlog. Here are 12 iconic titles that are long overdue for the Hollywood treatment.

12
Diablo

Image: Blizzard Entertainment

With whispers of Diablo 4 heading to the Nintendo Switch 2, Blizzard’s legendary franchise shows no signs of slowing down. Its timeless themes of cosmic dread and eternal struggle feel as potent today as ever. The franchise brims with striking, gothic iconography that would translate seamlessly to a high-budget cinematic epic—whether leaning into its grim, historical roots or embracing a modern apocalyptic aesthetic. Coupled with a fellowship of doomed heroes embarking on a desperate crusade against ultimate darkness, the property possesses all the ingredients for a spellbinding dark fantasy.

11
Lunar: Silver Star Story

Image: Working Designs

During the original PlayStation era, publisher Working Designs elevated Lunar: The Silver Star into a cinematic triumph through sweeping animated sequences and inspired voice work, culminating in Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete. Meticulous localization transformed it into a landmark of the Japanese RPG genre. A feature film could expand this rich mythology even further. Whether brought to life through breathtaking hand-drawn animation or lavish live-action spectacle, the narrative foundation is already pristine: a timeless tale woven with threads of heroism, sacrifice, and heartbreaking betrayal.

10
Astral Chain

PlatinumGames/Nintendo

Astral Chain remains a masterclass in atmosphere, leaving players desperately yearning for a follow-up. Even if a sequel never materializes, its high-concept narrative is ripe for Hollywood adaptation. Set in a neon-drenched, near-future metropolis reminiscent of a cybernetic Tokyo, it naturally evokes the striking visual grammar that science-fiction thrillers rely on. By staying true to its core premise—protagonists bound to biomechanical weapons fighting a desperate rear-guard action for humanity’s survival—an adaptation would deliver pure adrenaline.

9
Deja Vu

Image: ICOM Simulations/Kemco

While Denzel Washington’s unrelated movie of the same name occupies bargain bins, ICOM Simulations’ pioneering point-and-click noir masterpiece remains criminally unadapted. Deja Vu—crafted by the minds behind the cult-favorite Shadowgate—follows an amnesiac detective who awakens in a grimy restroom stall with total memory loss, forced to clear his name as corrupt cops and underworld syndicates close in. A taut, 90-minute neo-noir film could distill this treacherous atmosphere into a modern classic, proving you don’t need Humphrey Bogart to deliver exceptional hard-boiled mystery.

8
Hotline Miami

Dennaton Games/Devolver Digital

Few games possess a visual and auditory signature as distinct as Hotline Miami. A faithful adaptation would undoubtedly be drenched in visceral violence, yet the intoxicating blend of neon lighting, animal masks, and throbbing synthwave is custom-built for modern cinematic audiences. Visionary auteurs like Edgar Wright could inject kinetic, dark comedy into the carnage, while masters of action like Park Chan-wook or Gareth Evans could lean into the brutality to create an unforgettable two-hour sensory overload.

7
Bloodborne

Image: From Software/Sony

If H.P. Lovecraft had ever designed a video game, the result would undoubtedly mirror Bloodborne. Conversely, if he directed a horror film today, it would likely look remarkably similar to FromSoftware’s masterpiece. Bringing this gothic nightmare to the silver screen demands the unmatched craftsmanship of a director like Guillermo del Toro, who possesses the exact dark sensibility required to unearth the eldritch horrors of Yharnam and bring its twisted denizens to terrifying life.

6
Mass Effect

Image: BioWare

Paramount’s Halo series came and went without capturing the cultural zeitgeist it should have commanded. While we can endlessly debate where that adaptation stumbled, a far more exciting prospect lies in a potential Mass Effect television series. The sheer depth of BioWare’s lore provides ample material for multi-season space operas, following Commander Shepard and a diverse crew as they confront existential galactic threats. An episodic format would allow audiences to forge deep emotional bonds with the crew while exploring expansive sci-fi world-building on a grand scale.

5
Perfect Dark

Image: The Initiative, Crystal Dynamics/Xbox Game Studios

Joanna Dark never quite found the mainstream superstardom she deserved. Following her debut in 2000’s Nintendo 64 classic Perfect Dark and 2005’s Perfect Dark Zero, her long-awaited comeback was cut short when Microsoft reportedly canceled the franchise’s reboot. A high-concept feature film could resurrect the character, offering a stylish espionage thriller. A director like Luc Besson could easily helm a sleek, action-packed spy adventure that gives Britain’s other iconic secret agent a run for their money.

4
Undertale

Image: Toby Fox

Years after its indie-darling debut, Undertale remains a wondrous creation that continues to captivate fresh generations of players. It presents a delightfully whimsical, subtly melancholic, and surprisingly profound subterranean universe that could thrive as either a live-action fantasy film or a stylish animated feature. Driven by an unforgettable cast of multifaceted characters and an endearing young lead, the creative avenues for adaptation are practically limitless.

3
Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem

Image: Silicon Knights/Nintendo

More than two decades after its GameCube debut, gamers still vividly remember Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem—particularly its groundbreaking sanity mechanics that shattered the fourth wall to mess with players’ heads. That psychological horror aesthetic would translate brilliantly to the screen under the stewardship of an imaginative filmmaker. A cinematic or episodic treatment could effortlessly weave together multiple historical eras, following a lineage of brave protagonists fighting ancient evil while unraveling their own sanity. It has all the makings of a psychological thriller masterpiece.

 

Source: Polygon