Summary
- More quality video game adaptations now exist, particularly in animated shows.
- Some showrunners' fandom of the games leads to accurate and visually appealing adaptations.
- Series like Castlevania and Arcane display storytelling evolution and fresh direction.
There was a time when almost any adaptation of a video game was a guaranteed failure. However, as times have evolved, more quality adaptations have emerged, particularly in the realm of animated TV shows. From longstanding video game franchises to recent hits, these adaptations have successfully bridged the gap between gaming enthusiasts and general audiences.
12 Best TV Shows and Movies Based On Video Games
Screen adaptations of video games were once deemed certain failures, but not anymore.
It is beneficial that some showrunners and animation studios are fans of the games they are adapting, enabling them to portray the stories accurately without alienating the players. At the same time, they showcase their skills in translating a game’s visuals, stories, and characters into their distinctive styles.
10 Pokemon Horizons: The Series
New Characters And Stories In The Pokemon World
Pokémon Horizons
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 14, 2023
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 1
Getting rid of Ash Ketchum and starting a brand-new Pokemon series could have resulted in disaster, but Pokemon Horizons: The Series has already impressed many with its new direction. It follows the adventures of Liko and Roy, traveling across the land to uncover Pokemon mysteries.
It would seem that Pokémon Horizons remedies the storytelling issues fans had with the original series, as it does not follow the same formula as the original series. There are more stories with actual character development, and while it’s not complex, fans appreciate that more effort is being put into Pokemon. It makes for the ideal show for the whole family to enjoy.
9 DOTA: Dragon’s Blood
Studio Mir Continues To Be A Master Of Animation
DOTA: Dragon's Blood
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget endWHERE TO WATCH
- Finale Year
- 2022
- Seasons
- 3
Due to being a MOBA, the massively successful DOTA franchise doesn’t have much of a story or lore, yet Netflix and Studio Mir delivered a story set within that universe with DOTA: Dragon’s Blood. It features demons, magic, dragons, and all the things that are common in high fantasy stories, with a knight going on an adventure to save the world.
DOTA: Dragon’s Blood may not be a reinvention of the wheel, but it is praised for executing familiar story beats and concepts with the elegance and grace that Studio Mir is known for in their work. Additionally, the series features multiple talented voice actors, including Yuri Lowenthal, Troy Baker, the late great Tony Todd, Kari Wahlgren, and Josh Keaton, who make their characters feel more alive with their performances.
8 The Cuphead Show!
A Cartoon Series Based On A Cartoon Game
The Cuphead Show!
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 3
Considering Cuphead was inspired by classic cartoons from the 1930s, it only makes sense that it would have its own TV series, The Cuphead Show!, which features Cuphead and Mugman going on wild misadventures. It often involves Cuphead causing trouble, with Mugman having to save him or becoming the victim of Cuphead’s shenanigans.
Cuphead: The Best Weapons In The Base Game & Delicious Last Course DLC, Ranked
The Delicious Last Course expansion adds plenty of new offensive options to the game, some of which rank among the best weapons in Cuphead.
The entire series serves as a love letter to classic animated franchises like Looney Tunes, Popeye the Sailor Man, and Disney cartoons. The characters in The Cuphead Show! Are charming and beautifully animated, and the stories are filled with material that will make anyone laugh, including some jokes that might go over the heads of younger audiences.
7 Pokemon
Ash Ketchum Was A Hero To Generations Of Kids
Pokémon
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 1997 - 2023
- Network
- TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Seasons
- 25
- Studio
- OLM
- Creator(s)
- Naoko Takeuchi
From 1997 to 2023, the original Pokemon anime was the childhood show for multiple generations and was the gateway to the family-friendly RPG franchise. It always changed to keep up with each game that came out, with new regions and Pokemon for Ash Ketchum and his friends to experience on their journey to becoming the very best (that no one ever was).
For twenty-six years, children and adults alike enjoyed Pokémon despite its formulaic approach. Aside from a few aspects sporadically throughout the many seasons, most fans agree that nearly every episode plays out the same, which leaves the series feeling repetitive and played out. However, it was still proof that a quality video game-based show was possible.
6 Castlevania: Nocturne
The Sequel Series Keeps The Monster Hunt Going
Castlevania: Nocturne
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- September 28, 2023
- Showrunner
- Clive Bradley, Kevin Kolde
- Seasons
- 2
- Story By
- Clive Bradley
When finished with the original Castlevania series, fans can immediately hop over to the sequel series starring Richter Belmont on his own vampire-hunting journey. Castlevania: Nocturne is not produced by Adi Shankar, but it maintains the gory action, three-dimensional character writing, and pristine animation required for it to feel like a proper continuation.
This time, the Belmont story is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, which, when combined with gothic horror elements, creates a powerful atmosphere complemented by formidable villains. Richter Belmont stands out as one of the greatest members of the Belmont family, and the sharp writing in Castlevania: Nocturne enhances his character beyond what the games have ever portrayed.
5 Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft
The Closest Thing To A Fourth Tomb Raider Game
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2024 - 2025-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Seasons
- 2
Starring Hayley Atwell as the famous video game hero, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is like Indiana Jones meets Mission: Impossible, with action, suspense, comedy, and mythology all rolled into one. It focuses on Lara as she tries to overcome past trauma while fighting a mysterious terrorist organization by uncovering mystical artifacts.
New audiences can enjoy a gritty animated series, but fans of the Tomb Raider games will also enjoy it, as it is confirmed to be a canonical sequel to Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Hayley Atwell brings a lot of charm and edge to Lara Croft, but she also delivers on the softer and vulnerable side of her, which helps a lot in the character’s arc throughout the series.
4 Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Night City Is Expanded Even More With New Characters
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2022 - 2022
- Network
- Netflix
- Seasons
- 1
- Studio
- Trigger
- Number of Episodes
- 10
Before the events surrounding V and Keanu Reeves' Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners focuses on a young rising criminal on the streets of Night City using his cybernetic implants to survive in a ruthless underworld. Instead of trying to replicate the vast amounts of content and stories in the game, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners tells its own story set within the same universe.
Many have praised Studio Trigger for crafting an engaging tale that is safe for newcomers to enjoy, while Cyberpunk 2077 fans can relish the details and references featured. It also maintains the criminal underworld element that makes the game so intriguing and some consider the characters featured in Cyberpunk: Edgerunners to be superior to those found in the game.
3 Castlevania
The Series That Saved The Vampire Franchise From Hibernation
Castlevania
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2017 - 2021-00-00
WHERE TO WATCH
- Showrunner
- Warren Ellis
- Seasons
- 4
During a time when Konami seemed disinterested in creating a new game in any of their legendary franchises, the Castlevania anime on Netflix provided a breath of fresh air, honoring the games’ lore while expanding upon it. Beginning with Dracula’s war on Earth to avenge his wife, Castlevania delves into the stories of both heroes and villains in detail, illustrating that everyone is more complex than they appear.
The Main Castlevania Timeline, Explained (In Chronological Order)
Castlevania features an expansive, extremely confusing timeline, and we're here to sort through it and make sense of Konami's crazy story.
For four seasons, Castlevania was created by fans for fans, with series creator Adi Shankar being an avid gamer who grew up playing Castlevania games. This dedication is why the series features fan-favorite characters like Trevor Belmont and Alucard, but, as a good series should, it does not alienate casual viewers who simply want to enjoy a bloody and ultra-violent vampire anime.
2 Arcane
Social Commentary And Steampunk Fantasy Make An Ideal Combo
Arcane
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- 2021 - 2024
- Showrunner
- Christian Linke
- Seasons
- 2
Not many expected a series based on League of Legends would become one of the darkest character-driven fantasy series, but Arcane made it a reality. With only two seasons, Arcane cemented itself as a modern classic with its unique visual style and story that tackles real-world issues such as classism.
Arcane is about the feud between two rival cities: the rich and powerful living in Piltover and the lower class scraping by in Zaun. Add in steampunk elements, memorable characters, and strong representation of the LGBTQIA+ community, and the result is an epic series that started as strongly as it ended.
1 Devil May Cry
Silly, Strange, And Super-Violent, Just Like The Games
Devil May Cry
Display card tags widget Display card community and brand rating widget Display card main info widget- Release Date
- April 3, 2025
- Network
- Netflix
- Seasons
- 1
Devil May Cry is Adi Shankar’s latest project, and it was created as a prequel to the over-the-top hack-and-slash video game franchise, allowing for a new story to be told for longtime fans who may have doubts about the adaptation. Fortunately, Devil May Cry is not a complicated story in the games, so neither is the series, featuring a half-demon/half-human mercenary fighting demons to save the world.
From the soundtrack filled with heavy metal songs to the intentionally cheesy dialogue, Devil May Cry feels like a giant homage to movies and video games from the early 2000s. Like Castlevania, it is also brimming with ultra-violent action sequences while still having enough drama and character development to keep audiences invested.
The 7 Best Characters In Netflix’s Devil May Cry, Ranked
Can anyone stand as tall next to Dante? These characters in the Devil May Cry animated series certainly come close.