The first season of HBO’s The Last of Us has defied expectations to become a masterclass on how to make a video game adaptation for TV.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s duo has managed to capture the hearts of global audiences with over 8.2 million viewers for the season finale. If you’re one of them, we’re sure you must have an itch to watch another equally great video game adaptation until Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann finish the second season.
5 video game adaptations for film and TV series – Arcane: League of Legends, The Witcher, and more
Adapting a popular video game to film or television has always been tricky business, especially if it’s live-action. It is hard to capture the essence of the game and turn it into drama, something that very few adaptations have achieved.
And the pressure is more when the game has a cult fan-following that is hard to satisfy. While The Last of Us has become the gold standard for this, let’s take a look at five commendable film and TV adaptations of popular video games.
1) Arcane: League of Legends
In the world of multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games, League of Legends barely needs any introduction. The 2021 Netflix animated series Arcane: League of Legends is based on this popular game.
The show is set in the city of Piltover and its underground, Zaun. It follows the story of two sisters, Vi and Jinx, as they navigate the power struggles within the city.
League of Legends fans have praised Arcane for its faithfulness to the game. Even if you are unfamiliar with the MOBA game and just enjoy animated shows with complex characters and world-building, you might enjoy Arcane.
2) The Witcher
Henry Cavill might be leaving the show but that doesn’t take away the success of The Witcher’s initial seasons on Netflix. Before The Last of Us came around, this was the TV show that managed to generate massive hype around a video game adaptation.
It follows the story of Geralt of Rivia, a solitary monster hunter who navigates a world with beasts and supernatural beings.
While the video game itself was based on the six-book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, the Netflix series is a thrilling and captivating journey on its own. This is definitely a great pick for a TV adaptation of a video game if you enjoyed The Last of Us.
3) Werewolves Within
Just found out WEREWOLVES WITHIN is coming to Showtime on February 5th! Highly recommend this funny, scary, bloody werewolf movie based on the game of the same name. It's fun and witty and features a great comedic cast that includes Sam Richardson and Milana Vayntrub. pic.twitter.com/CjLHn4mDw8
— MichHELL HOUSE LLC Swope (@RedheadfromMars) January 25, 2022
Ubisoft’s VR multiplayer social deduction video game has an equally brilliant adaptation as a horror comedy film. Werewolves Within blends both genres effectively with some clever and engaging characters played by Sam Richardson and Milana Vanytrub.
The film is about a community of people trapped indoors after a snowstorm and a local ranger has to find out if there is a werewolf among them.
4) Castlevania
The Konami game’s Netflix anime adaptation revolves around the Belmont vampire hunter family who battle against Dracula. Castlevania has a striking animation style with a dark and moody aesthetic.
The show also doesn’t shy away from mature themes, including violence, sexuality, and religion, making it a standout example of adult animation. If you enjoyed the gritty vibe of The Last of Us and appreciate great animation, this video game adaptation is definitely worth your time.
5) Halo: The Series
Based on the iconic sci-fi game, the show follows the war between the United Nations Space Command and an alliance of advanced alien races. The transmedia style is similar to how Marvel adapted its comics into the MCU movies. While the show has been criticized for not being a faithful adaptation of the video game, it’s surely worth checking out.
Which film or TV adaptation of a video game are you going to watch after The Last of Us?
RELATED NEWS: The Last of Us Season 2: Latest Updates, Release Date Speculations, and Confirmed Cast Members
You can also share any questions you have about video game adaptations like The Last of Us. Until then, stay with us here at Spiel Times for more content.
