HBO’s The Last of Us is shaping up to be one of the best videogame TV shows ever made (especially considering how good episode three was), but there are definitely some other game-inspired shows worth watching.
While a sudden burst of videogame TV shows might catch you off-guard going “videogame movies are bad, why the heck would I watch a videogame TV show” I can assure you that they’ve been a popular thing for a while. And a lot of them are amazing.
Here are some TV shows based on videogames that you should check out, along with some videogame TV shows that are coming up.
You’ll find that most of the shows below come from Netflix… That’s not because I’m taking a comically sized bag of money from Netflix or anything, it’s just cause most videogame TV shows lately have come from the streaming giant. Let’s get into it.
Arcane
OK, I can’t stop talking about this show. I don’t mean it lightly when I say this is not only the best videogame TV show out there but it’s also the best Netflix original available to stream right now. Again, I’m not even a fan of the game it’s based on, but it’s true.
Arcane is a Netflix adaption of League of Legends (Riot Games), the popular MOBA videogame where two teams of five players fight for dominance over a map, each playing as one of over a hundred unique characters.
The show, however, laser-focuses on two heroes: Jinx and Vi. These sisters get caught up in the politics between Pilltover and Zaun in an emotional and action-packed story. It’s also incredibly beautiful, with an unforgettable art style. It has been renewed for a second season.
The Witcher
The second show is The Witcher, another Netflix original. OK, put the pitchfork down, I know what you’re going to say – The Witcher is based on the books, not the game. I know. However, I’m putting it here because much of the series’ art direction looks very much like The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (CD Projekt: RED). Also, you know, it’s hard to say if The Witcher’s cultural popularity would be anywhere near what it is right now without the game, so, it’s here. Sue me.
The Witcher is a medieval series based on Polish folklore, following the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, a Witcher, a monster hunter stripped of most emotions. It’s an action-packed show billed by many as Netflix’s Game of Thrones. It absolutely slaps. There’s also a spin-off limited series and a third season in development (which will be Henry Cavill’s last in the lead role).
Dota: Dragon’s Blood
Dota: Dragon’s Blood is a Netflix adaption of another popular MOBA: DOTA 2 (Valve). It’s actually kind of funny that Netflix has the distribution rights for the League of Legends anime and the DOTA 2 anime, two games that are seen as competitors.
Dota: Dragon’s Blood, however, is vastly different to Arcane. Dragon’s Blood subscribes to anime norms a bit more, with a traditional 2D art style and a gorier approach, following a Dragon Knight and the politics of the Dota world. Like Arcane, there are lots of call-backs to the games, but it’s a different show entirely.
Carmen Sandiego
I’m not gonna hear for a minute that this show should be excluded from the list because it’s a cartoon intended for a young audience. Netflix’s Carmen Sandiego is a fun, all-ages action show, based on the popular globe-trotting edutainment series of games of the same name (made by Broderbund).
It follows a young Carmen Sandiego, focusing on a story prying into her shady past and mysterious organisations operating around her. Like the games, it’s focused on edutainment, retaining the class and adding a nice animation style. It’s well-voice-acted and I found it to be quite enjoyable all around. There’s also an interactive episode available on Netflix, harking back to the games.
Castlevania
Netflix’s Castlevania is a gory medieval anime adaption of the famous Konami series. Castlevania follows Trevor Belmont, a talented monster slayer of house Belmont, focusing on killing Dracula and ridding the land of his evil, with the help of some friends along the way.
The show is well-rounded at four seasons, easy to cut through with short episode lengths. Parts of it feel a bit side-questy but all-around it’s very enjoyable. It has a very satisfying ending too. A spin-off is also in the works.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners
I was sceptical about how good Cyberpunk: Edgerunners before it came out. Between an original game that wasn’t particularly amazing lore-wise and one of the best Japanese animation studios, Edgerunners could have been a pretty lukewarm experience.
But it’s actually brilliant, and in my opinion, tells the story that Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt RED) should have told. You follow a young man whose life takes a drastic turn in the high-tech and unforgiving dystopia of Night City, and how things unfold as he becomes an ‘edgerunner’. It has a brilliant soundtrack and a beautiful colour palette. A second season isn’t on the cards, but CD Projekt RED is exploring different stories.
Halo
While the Halo adaption for TV has some fairly major breaks from the source material, it’s still a very great sci-fi in its own right.
Audiences thrashed Halo for its departures from the original lore, but it’s a perfectly fine show that will keep you engaged, even if you’re not too well-versed in Halo lore. It has been renewed for a second season.
Upcoming videogame TV shows
While Arcane, The Witcher and Dota: Dragon’s Blood are ongoing, there are plenty of upcoming videogame TV shows that are still in the works. Here’s a snapshot of what to look out for:
- A Plague Tale: As reported by IGN, a TV adaption of A Plague Tale is in the works. The game is similar to The Last of Us, with a focus on an apocalyptic medieval setting. Asobo Studio and Focus Entertainment will produce, with Mathieu Turi helming the project.
- Alan Wake: AMC is currently working on an adaption of Remedy’s Alan Wake.
- Assassin’s Creed: Yup, there’s an Assassin’s Creed series in the works at Netflix. We don’t know a whole lot about it beyond a teaser, but we do know that Die Hard’s writer is at the helm.
- Fallout: A Fallout adaption is in the works for Amazon Prime Video. Hell yeah, the post-apocalyptic RPG is getting a TV show. We don’t know when this show is dropping.
- Horizon Zero Dawn: A Netflix adaption of the PlayStation hit Horizon Zero Dawn is in the works. Steve Blackman and Michelle Lovretta (The Umbrella Academy) are writing the show.
- Mass Effect: Amazon Studios is developing an adaption of Mass Effect, EA’s sci-fi epic.
- It Takes Two: The developer of It Takes Two, Hazelight Studios, is currently in talks to adapt the game for either film or TV.
- Tomb Raider: Amazon Studios is adapting Tomb Raider to stream, and reportedly, Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) is writing.
- The Division: Netflix is adapting The Division for a streaming world. Set in a post-apocalyptic world centred around special agents, the show will be produced by the director of Deadpool 2. A release window hasn’t been specified. Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain will star.
Make sure you check out our article on every major sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, horror and adventure TV shows and movies hitting streaming services this month.