The history of Hollywood adapting video games in movies and TV shows has been a little spotty, to say the least, but in recent years, I think the tide has been turning. With shows like The Last of Us and Fallout, video game fans have developed a little hope to see their favorite adapted into a great piece of art and while there will still be wasted efforts like Netflix’s The Witcher and Paramount+’s Halo, they are still only two shows. So, in keeping with that spirit of hope we created a list of the 10 best TV shows that were adapted from video games, they can be original stories in the world of video games but they have to be connected to the original IP.
Knuckles (Paramount+ & Prime Video Add-On)
Knuckles is a comedy-adventure series created by John Whittington and Toby Ascher. Based on the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series developed by Sega, the Paramount+ series also serves as a spin-off to the popular Sonic the Hedgehog films. Set after the events of the second film, the series follows the story of Knuckles the Echidna, who is struggling to get adjusted to his new life and to do something fulfilling he takes on deputy Sheriff Wade Whipple as his apprentice and trains him to win the bowling tournament in Reno, Nevada. But their journey is interrupted by former agents of Dr. Robotnik who seek to take Knuckles’ powers. Knuckles stars Idris Elba and Adam Pally in the main roles with Julian Barratt, Christopher Lloyd, Rory McCann, Scott Mescudi, Ellie Taylor, Stockard Channing, Cary Elwes, and Alice Tregonning starring in supporting roles.
Gangs of London (AMC+ & Prime Video Add-On)
Gangs of London is an action crime thriller series created by Gareth Evans and Matt Flannery. Based on a 2006 video game of the same name and the fourth installment in The Getaway franchise developed by London Studio, the AMC+ series is set in crime-ridden London city as the patriarch of one of the most powerful crime families in London is assassinated by international gangs look to take over but will his son let that happen. Gangs of London stars Joe Cole, Colm Meaney, Lucian Msamati, Sope Dirisu, Michelle Fairley, Brian Vernel, Valene Kane, Paapa Essiedu, Pippa Bennet-Warner, Asif Raza Mir, Orli Shuka, Narges Rashidi, and Mark Lewis Jones.
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood (Netflix)
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood is an adult animated fantasy series created by Ashley Edward Miller. Based on a 2013 MOBA game titled DOTA 2 developed by Valve, the Netflix series is set in the world of magic and mysticism and it follows the story of Davion, a Dragon Knight who hunts and kills dragons to make the world a safer place but things go awry when a dragon named Slyrak merges his soul with Davion. DOTA: Dragon’s Blood’s voice cast includes Yuri Lowenthal, Lara Pulver, Tony Todd, Troy Baker, Freya Tingley, Josh Keaton, Kari Wahlgren, and Stephanie Jacobsen.
Twisted Metal (Peacock)
Twisted Metal is a post-apocalyptical action comedy series created by Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Michael Jonathan Smith. Based on a video game franchise of the same name developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the Peacock series is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where cities are walled up to protect its citizens from all the criminals and psychos living outside and the only way to deliver anything from to city to city is through a milkman. We follow the story of John Doe, a talkative milkman who is tasked with delivering a mysterious package through the most dangerous part of the United States and if he is successful he will have a chance to live behind the walls where he has never been allowed in before. Twisted Metal stars Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz in the lead role with Joe Seanoa, Thomas Haden Church, Richard Cabral, Jared Bankens, Neve Campbell, Mike Mitchell, Tahj Vaughans, and Jamie Neumann starring in supporting roles.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Netflix)
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is an cyberpunk animated series created by Rafał Jaki and Mike Pondsmith. Based on the 2020 RPG game titled Cyberpunk 2077 developed by CD Projekt Red, the Netflix animated series follows the story of David Martinez, a street kid living in a city obsessed with technology and body modification. When he loses everything in a drive-by shooting he chooses to venture on the wrong side of the law by becoming an edgerunner, a high-tech black-market mercenary also known as “cyberpunk”. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ voice cast includes Zach Aguilar, Emi Lo, William C. Stephens, Marie Westbrook, Ian James Corlett, Stephanie Wong, Matthew Mercer, Alex Cazares, Giancarlo Esposito, Alec Newman, Borge Etienne, and Gloria Garayua starring in supporting roles.
Castlevania (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
Castlevania is an adult animated dark medieval fantasy series created by Warren Ellis. Based on a Japanese video game series of the same name developed by Konami, the Netflix series is truly an epic series with complex characters, striking visuals, and a thrilling story. We follow the story of Trevor Belmont, the last surviving member of the disgraced Belmont clan as he fights with everything he has to save Eastern Europe from the wrath of Vlad Dracula Tepes. Trevor is helped by Dracula’s son Adrian “Alucard” Tepes and Sypha Belnades a Speaker magician. Castlevania’s voice cast includes Richard Armitage, James Callis, Alejandro Reynoso, and Graham McTavish in the main roles with Matt Frewer, Emily Swallow, Tony Amendola, and Theo James starring in supporting roles.
Castlevania: Nocturne (Netflix)
Castlevania: Nocturne is an adult animated dark fantasy series created by Clive Bradley. Nocturne serves as a sequel series to Netflix’s Castlevania series and it is based on a video game series of the same name developed by Konami. Castlevania: Nocturne is set nearly 300 years after the first Castlevania series during the French Revolution and it follows the story of Richter Belmont, a young Vampire hunter, and his adoptive sister Maria Renard as they make new allies to stop a godlike Vampire Messiah from destroying the world. Castlevania: Nocturne’s voice cast includes Edward Blumel, Thuso Mbedu, Pixie Davies, Richard Dormer, Sydney James Harcourt, Nastassja Kinski, Zach McClarnon, Aaron Neil, Sophie Skelton, Franka Potente, and Iain Glen starring in supporting roles.
Arcane (Netflix)
Arcane: League of Legends is an animated steampunk action-adventure television series created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee. The Netflix series is based on the characters from the Riot Games’ popular video game of the same name and it is also set in the universe of the game. While Arcane is great and one of the best series adapted from a video game ever. But why do we have to wait three years for a second season? Arcane follows the story of sisters Violet “Vi” and Powder/Jinx as they get embroiled in the conflict between the utopian city of Piltover and the seedy, oppressed underbelly of Zaun. Arcane’s voice cast includes Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Kevin Alejandro, Katie Leung, Jason Spisak, Molly Harris, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Toks Olagundoye, Harry Lloyd, JB Blanc, Miles Brown, Mick Wingert, and Reed Shannon starring in supporting roles.
Fallout (Prime Video)
Fallout is the surprise hit of the year as many fans thought that the world of the games wouldn’t translate well in a TV series, but I think the fans of the games are happy to be proven wrong as Fallout truly is one of the best series adapted from a video game. Based on a role-playing video game franchise of the same name, the Prime Video series isn’t a straight adaptation but an original story that exists simultaneously with the games in the world of Fallout. Created by Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, the post-apocalyptic action dark comedy series is set in a world that was decimated by nuclear bombs 219 years ago. To survive people began living in underground bunkers due to radiation, bandits, and ghouls. We follow the story of Lucy, a brave young woman whose bunker was attacked and her father was taken, to find her father Lucy must venture out of the bunker and deal with the harsh realities of the world outside. Fallout stars Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, and Aaron Moten in the main roles with Kyle MacLachlan, Xelia Mendes-Jones, Sarita Choudhury, and Moisés Arias starring in supporting roles.
The Last of Us (Max & Prime Video Add-On)
The Last of Us has to be one of the most immersive and emotionally damaging series in this list. Created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the HBO series is based on a popular video game franchise of the same name developed by Naughty Dog. The Last Of Us is set in a post-apocalyptic world and it follows the story of a smuggler named Joel who is tasked with transporting a teenage girl out of the quarantine zone and across the United States. The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the lead role with Nico Parker, John Hannah, Merle Dandridge, Christopher Heyerdahl, Brendan Fletcher, Anna Torv, Gabriel Luna, Christine Hakim, Nick Offerman, Melanie Lynskey, and Murray Bartlett starring in supporting roles.
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