Gamers, the era of terrible video game adaptations is seemingly over. Well, the era of terrible animated adaptations, at least. Recently, gaming culture has seen a bit of an animated renaissance, what with the influx of cartoons based on video games that are, for once, actually pretty good. It makes one wonder what other titles could potentially be given the same treatment.
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The games listed below are by no means the only iconic titles that would work animated, nor would all games worth adapting necessarily translate best in that medium; looking at you,The Last of Us. These games in particular have the right style for a uniquely satisfying animated experience, as well as the substance to back it up.
10Kingdom Hearts
With its unique stylization, breadth of lore, and many beloved characters, you’d think that aKingdom Heartscartoon would be a no-brainer. Long ago, when we only had the first game to consider,DisneyChannel tried and failed to get a KH cartoon started. The concern lies in what exactly such a series or movie would look like, especially with as convoluted as the games have been. Not to mention, any content tied to Disney is a legal nightmare to get approved.
An animated miniseries might serve best as a new vessel for the canon leading up to Kingdom Hearts 4. Such a method may be more accessible to fans who don’t want to play the same two mobile games over and over just to know what the heck is going on.
You could argue that everyNintendoIP deserves its own cartoon; then again, maybe the most obvious choices aren’t always the best. TheSplatoonuniverse, on the other hand, is a world that’s just begging to be fleshed out. You have your player-character protagonist, your fish-out-of-water character arc, fun visuals and low-stakes competition.
But beyond the cute fish folks and city life is a post-apocalyptic wasteland and what remains of humanity’s annihilation. Splatoon lends a story that can be as simple or as complex as it wants, and a world of colorful aesthetic to play around with.
If we’re talking about mythology that’s been remixed and wrung out hundreds of times, we’re talking about Greek myth. But dang, doHades’ trailers and in-game visuals leave us itching for an expansion on this particular take. The world is vibrant, the characters are well-designed and cough really hot cough and the family drama keeps us invested to the very end.
Transforming this particular story into an animated series could also serve to expound on LBTQ+ representation in both gaming and animation, seeing as Hades’ protagonist Zagreus is canonically bisexual. With such a unique take on a story, we think we’ve heard a million times, seeing Hades adapted is worth it just for the promise of some exceptionally animated combat.
7No Straight Roads
When it comes to incredible animation and unique vibrancy, indie games always come out on top. There’s something aboutNo Straight Road’s funky inspirations taken fromJet Set Radiothat’s got that distinct early 2000s feel. Evensome of the best rhythm gamesaren’t going to be terribly focused on story, but that’s where NSR differs.
Combining the rhythm and fighting genres in an arena that’s bursting with energy would be mind-boggling as an animated movie. The cell-shaded graphics could work in this format, but the game’s 2D elements showcase a strong style that would also look great in motion.
6Undertale
Asone of the most successful indie gamesto date, it may seem strange thatUndertalehasn’t already expanded into other mediums. But creators Toby Fox and Temmie Chang have a specific style they’ve kept consistent, and it works.
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If Undertale’s distinct sense of humor translated well enough to spoken dialogue, an animated spin-off could be an enjoyable addition to the world’s lore. The developers’ greatest strength lies in their lovable characters, and fans of the series are all too eager to see what quirky monsters they’ll be introduced to next.
5Sea of Thieves
If you ask this writer, there can never be enough pirate-themed content.Sea of Thievesbegan as a fairly bare-bones game centered on sailing and exploration and has expanded the lore of its world significantly since. Imagine a series that follows a wide array of dastardly characters in a historical fantasy world that leans more into the latter concept than the former.
So much of the sub-genre relies on historical inspiration, which is effective. But an animated series set in the magical Sea of Thieves world would be a fun spin on the pirate stories we’ve come to know.
What distinguishesRimWorldfrom other sims is the extent to which its developers have fleshed out the game’s varied races, ideologies, and factions. With as much asindividual pawn traits play a partin how a colony develops, the random moments of both chaos and joy would make for an intriguing sci-fi epic.
A show based on such an expansive game might do best to chronicle the history of a single settlement. Imagine beginning the journey with three strangers who’ve crash-landed on a foreign planet, and ending with an empire that holds the planet in its iron grip. Combined with RimWorld’s absurd turns in gameplay, we’d love to see it all end with the emperor going mad because he had to eat without a table.
3Little Nightmares
For those familiar withLittle Nightmares, the prospective appeal of an animated movie is fairly plain to see. Imagine these monstrous places and creatures rendered in true stop-motion animation. The use of clay, physical sets, and practical effects would make this world even more uncanny and terrifying.
Combined with an eerie soundtrack written by game composer Tobias Lilja, a movie or series could be an interesting retelling of the game with an emphasis on world-building. A Little Nightmares stop-motion production would also expand on the limited stop-motion genre, which is always a plus.
Now, hear me out. We’re all sick and tired of hearing about this game, and if we’re not, it’s probably because it’s stillone of the best games on mobileand VR. But the iconography ofAmong Usis so distinct, it has bled into the mainstream consciousness far beyond what the developers originally intended. There’s something utterly nostalgic about the game too; its style and sense of humor are so reminiscent of classic browser games from the Flash era.
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For this reason, Among Us could be adapted into Looney Tunes-style animated shorts, where none or few of the characters speak. Imagine a multi-season series of 10-to-15-minute episodes like this. The low-stakes plot and slapstick comedy of these episodic space adventures could make for endless content.
1Cult of the Lamb
One look atCult of the Lamb, and there’s evidence of potential for an animated series. Massive Monster’s dedication to maintaining that cartoonish look means practically every asset could be dropped into a series with little alteration. Its unique blend of cute and creepy, combining cult culture with an idyllic nature setting, already makes for a pleasantly unsettling vibe.
Take a look at any of the animated trailers on Youtube, and the prospect of a show doesn’t feel too far-fetched. DeveloperDevolver Digitaleven asks if folks would want to see a Cult of the Lamb cartoon in the comments on their trailers. Is the question just a tease, or could an adaptation be in the works?
