It could easily be argued that we’re currently in the golden era of video game adaptations. A Minecraft Movie is the latest film to bring an iconic game to life in a new way, but it’s far from the only adaptation. In fact, this year alone we’ve got not just Minecraft, but also a second season of The Last of Us, a film adaptation of Until Dawn, and a new season of Twisted Metal. That means gamers everywhere have a lot to watch right now. After you check out A Minecraft Movie, be sure to watch these 10 other great video game adaptations as well. You can also use this JustWatch guide to find out where to watch them all on streaming services.
Uncharted
The Uncharted franchise has been one of PlayStation’s biggest hits since the first game debuted in 2007. The franchise follows a rule-breaking treasure hunter who is secretly also looking for his lost brother. The film adaptation stars Tom Holland (as a younger version of Nathan Drake) and Mark Wahlberg (as Victor Sullivan), and it's filled with excellent adventure reminiscent of Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones. It went on to be a box office success too, grossing over $407 million.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Did you know the first ever video game adaptation was the 1993 movie Super Mario Bros.? The film was super polarizing because it turned the Mushroom Kingdom into an underground, totally-90s, gritty, cyberpunk noir city. Personally, I love it – but it’s not for everyone. 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie, however, is a faithful adaptation of the Nintendo icon that finally gave gamers the type of Mario movie they'd been dreaming about for decades. Plus, it brought tons of characters along for the ride, including Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Toad, and many more. The movie also features voice acting from A Minecraft Movie's leading man, Jack Black, as the villainous Bowser.
Fallout
Based on the (mostly) acclaimed video game franchise Fallout, Amazon Prime’s series follows a young girl who has spent her entire life in a vault (a giant underground bunker made to withstand a nuclear war). When she finally emerges in search of her father, the world above is nothing like she’s used to. Instead, it's filled with lawlessness, murder, rival gangs, and some old-west ruthlessness to boot. The series has received ample praise and even earned itself an Outstanding Drama Series nomination at the Emmys.
Twisted Metal
One of the most totally-out-of-left-field video game adaptations is Twisted Metal. The game series, which hasn’t had a release since 2012, focused on a post-apocalyptic automobile death match between a bunch of rugged, scuzzy drivers who are willing to do anything to win. The series adaptation instead creates a story around the game’s post-apocalyptic version of America and it’s honestly really fun. It’s got comedy, action, adventure, and is pure camp. If you love Amazon’s Fallout but want something even more bombastic and slapstick…this is the show for you.
Resident Evil
Throughout its six-film run, the Resident Evil franchise went off the rails numerous times. Then it blew up, crashed, went off the rails again, and ultimately got rebooted in 2021 with a film that was panned by just about everyone. But the first Resident Evil movie is actually a lot of fun. It’s loosely (and look, I mean loosely) based on the first game, and sees an elite team enter the underground headquarters of the nefarious Umbrella Corporation to investigate what turned all its employees into bloodthirsty zombies.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Before Sonic had his 2020 film debut with Sonic the Hedgehog, many fans expected the movie to fail thanks to the “Ugly Sonic” controversy. But after Sonic was beautifully redesigned and became the lovable Blue Blur we all know him as now, the movie became a massive hit, even spawning two sequels and the excellent miniseries Knuckles. Fans have even come around to love the original “ugly” Sonic and, since becoming a fan-favorite meme, he even made an appearance in Chip n’ Dale Rescue Rangers.
Halo
If you’re looking for a faithful video game adaptation of the iconic XBOX franchise, Paramount+’s Halo is not for you. But if you’re down to accept the show for what it is and enjoy its complex universe and deep story, you’re going to love it. Halo has excellent graphics and attempts to dig deeper into the personal struggles and conflicts that led to the massive Great War we all know from the video games. The show has some wild moments, and fans of the games will definitely drop their jaws from the absolutely insane decision-making this series took, but it all adds to how surprisingly fun, unexpected, and wild Halo turned out to be.
The Last of Us
The Walking Dead helped usher in a new era of horror. One that focused on the personal conflict and struggles of those who remain alive just as much as the horrors going on around them. The Last of Us builds upon this premise and portrays its own post-apocalyptic story, which picks up after a mutation of the cordyceps fungus begins infecting humans and turning them into monsters. You’ve probably heard the hype already, and trust me, it’s more than warranted. The Last of Us is loaded with action, horror, and complex characters that evoke real emotion from the audience.
Detective Pikachu
In a seriously shocking move, Pokemon unveiled their first ever live action movie as Detective Pikachu, a movie taking place in a gritty, crime-filled city. The contrast between the cute Pokemon and the crimes they commit is hilarious and the wildly inappropriate setting makes Detective Pikachu tons of fun, especially for grown-up viewers who remember playing Pokemon as a kid. Ryan Reynolds voices Pikachu, who stars alongside Justice Smith, and the film has a surprisingly stacked supporting cast including Suki Waterhouse, Bill Nighy, and Rita Ora.
Gangs of London
Gangs of London is based on the 2006 PSP game of the same name, which itself is a spin-off to the 2002 game The Getaway. The show picks up after the head of one of London’s most infamous crime families is killed. This throws the city’s criminal underworld into disarray and ignites a battle for power. The series feels like a modern-day take on Peaky Blinders and it even stars Joe Cole – who rose to fame while starring in Peaky.
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