Check out these live-action television shows based on video games!
With the return of season two of The Last of Us, HBO’s hit show based on the video game of the same name, I was inspired to look back at some other television shows based on video games. Turns out, there is quite a long list, which makes perfect sense. Much like television, storytelling is the backbone to any good game, which is explored in our current special exhibit Level Up: Writers & Gamers, on display now.
Many of the shows I found based on video games are also animated, a natural progression. So, to narrow it down, I focused on live-action shows based on video games, just like The Last of Us. This was especially interesting to me, to see how television writers adapted animated characters into real human characters played by real human actors. And, how close do they follow the source material of the game?
The following ten shows were all adapted from video game storylines and characters, with varying results. Presented in chronological order based on original air date, we’ve included the television critics’ consensus, along with how the gaming community responded. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, so please let us know your favorite video-game-to-television-show adaptations in the comments!
written and compiled by Nate King
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
Created for television by: Andy Heyward
Based on: Super Mario Bros. and Super Mario Bros. 2 by Nintendo
Original air date: September 4, 1989
From the distributor: “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! is a zany animated fantasy adventure comedy based on Nintendo’s most popular video game. The stars are the world-famous Mario and Luigi, two laugh-provoking plumbers from Brooklyn who suddenly find themselves washed through a Warp Zone.”
The show includes both animated and live-action segments, with professional wrestlers Lou Albano and Danny Wells playing the roles of Mario and Luigi respectively. The series also included animated shorts based on the characters from Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series.
Television critic Mike Hughes: “The Super Mario Brothers Super Show emerges as a surprising disappointment. This has the same producers as Captain N and the same basis—Nintendo video games. Yet it has little of the wit and spark; there are live-action bits surrounding the cartoons, but they merely remind us of why slapstick comedy is no longer an American artform.” (USA Today)
Game critic Mark Bozon: “Though the production is geared towards children and is often shameless with slapstick humor and terrible gags, it does have some entertainment for Mario fans of all ages. The animated sequences are decently done, and all the worlds from the show are taken from the games. The entire cast of characters makes an appearance (especially the quirky Mario 2 characters), and all in all the animated shorts are interesting to look back on.” (IGN)
Maniac Mansion
Created for television by: Eugene Levy, Michael Short, John Hemphill, and Paul Flaherty
Based on: Maniac Mansion by Lucasfilm Games
Original air date: September 14, 1990
From TMDB: “The series followed the adventures of the Edison family, who lived in a large mansion in an upper-class suburban neighborhood. Fred, the father of the family, was an eccentric scientist, and many of the plots revolved around his wacky experiments. One of these experiments caused his toddler son, Turner, to transform into a large adult man and his brother-in-law, Harry, to be turned into a fly with a human head! They both remained this way for the entire run of the series.
The series is very loosely based on the popular 1987 LucasArts video game of the same name. While LucasFilm served as co-producers on the series, the show thematically shares little in common with its source material.”
Television critic Daniel Cerone: “Despite its genesis as a commercial venture to cash in on a computer game, Maniac Mansion is a strikingly uncommercial TV series. It’s a stylized, sharp-edged comedy that’s a bit like David Lynch on helium. The series avoids the standard sitcom laugh track and relies on the droll humor of its mostly SCTV cast for laughs.” (Los Angeles Times)
Game critic website: “It would have been nice if there hadn’t been an active effort to attract, and therefore bamboozle, the game’s audience…It seems to me that with any other name Maniac Mansion would have still ended up being a quirky little family series with the same-sized fan base without needlessly pissing off a specific segment of people who committed the sin of trusting the accuracy of the ‘Based on an original computer game by Lucasfilm Games’ text that inexplicably remains a prominent part of the opening credits.” (The International House of Mojo)
Mortal Kombat: Conquest
Created for television by: Juan Carlos Coto
Based on: Mortal Kombat originally developed by Midway Games
Original air date: October 3, 1998
From Mortal Kombat: Conquest website: “The show follows the fierce warrior Kung Lao and his comrades Taja and Siro on the their quest to protect the Earth realm from falling under the control of the evil conqueror of realms Shao Kahn, ruler of the Outworld. Vital to the survival of mankind are warriors who can compete in Mortal Kombat. While combatants from Outworld have magic and darkness on their side, fighters from the Earth Realm have only their strength, both physical and mental, and belief that their cause is just and right.”
In addition to Kung Lao and Shao Kahn, other iconic characters from the game that get a live-action depiction include Sub-Zero, Kitana, Scorpion, Noob Saibot, Rain, Quan Chi, Reiko, Mileena, Reptile, and Shang Tsung.
Television critic Tyler Foster: “Other than the expansion of the game’s mythology, the main draw here is probably the fight sequences, which are decent…The show’s primary asset is its core cast, which is decent across the board…The three [main] characters don’t have a really strong personality between the three of them, but create the illusion of one by sticking together…I don’t think Mortal Kombat: Conquest has aged very well over the years (for reasons that have less to do with problems with the show and more with the way television has changed since 1998).” (DVD Talk)
Game critic Dustin Quillen: “Good luck following the action in this wire-fu disaster. In one particularly disorienting scene, Reptile dukes it out with an identically-dressed ninja in a cavern filled with more fog than a Judas Priest concert. Just remember: the one with the eyebrows is the good guy…probably.” (1Up.com)
Halo
Created for television by: Kyle Killen and Steven Kane
Based on: Halo by Bungie and 343 Industries
Original air date: March 24, 2022
From the distributor: “With the galaxy on the brink of destruction, Master Chief John-117 leads his team of Spartans against the alien threat known as the Covenant.”
While based on the video game, the show producers intentionally created a separate canon from the game. As Executive Producer Kiki Wolfkill said in 2021: “We’re referring to this as the Halo Silver Timeline as a way of differentiating it from core canon…By that I mean being able to give ourselves the chance to evolve both [game canon and television story separately] and for both to be what they need to be for their mediums without colliding with each other.”
Rotten Tomatoes:
Season 1 Rating: 70%. “Halo is too derivative of better science-fiction series to emerge a fully-formed elite, but glimmers of promise and faithfulness to the source material signal it’s not out of the fight just yet.”
Season 2 Rating: 90%. “Reloading on surer footing, Halo‘s streamlined second season is a leaner and meaner dose of sci-fi that comes closer to realizing the property’s potential.”
Game critic Jesse Schedeen: “By no means a perfect adaptation of the beloved source material. The series makes some storytelling mistakes and often stumbles when the action is too focused on recreating the look and style of the games. But considering Hollywood’s track record with video game adaptations, it’s a small miracle Halo is as good as it is. It succeeds in charting a different, more character-driven course with the mythos. Many of the changes made to the familiar Halo formula help the series better take advantage of the serialized TV format. This is an adaptation willing to take some risks, and those risks tend to pay off.” (IGN)
Resident Evil
Created for television by: Andrew Dabb
Based on: Resident Evil by Capcom
Original air date: July 14, 2022
From Rotten Tomatoes: “Year 2036 — 14 years after the spread of Joy caused so much pain, Jade Wesker fights for survival in a world overrun by the blood-thirsty infected and mind-shattering creatures. In this absolute carnage, Jade is haunted by her past in New Raccoon City, by her father’s chilling connections to the sinister Umbrella Corporation, but mostly by what happened to her sister, Billie.”
When asked what it was like to adapt a video game into a show, creator Andrew Dabb said: “Resident Evil was one of the games that really affected me. So the chance to get to play in that world was really, really exciting for me. And I just wanted to bring a degree of reverence to it. I’m sure we’ve made mistakes, but we really try to keep the game’s canon but at the same time present a story that anyone could get into and enjoy.” (Netflix Tudum)
Rotten Tomatoes:
Series Rating: 53%. “While Resident Evil comes closer than previous adaptations to honoring the beloved video games’ labyrinthine lore, this zombie serial could still use more brains.”
Game critic Taylor Lyles: “The superb acting combined with an intriguing plot that somehow fits into this ever-growing and wildly convoluted timeline makes for an interesting watch for the biggest Resident Evil diehards, but might be a tough sell for casual fans and especially newcomers…However, the series does a great job of condensing the game’s big plot points while still telling an original story.” (IGN)
The Last of Us
Created for television by: Craig Mazin and Todd Druckmann
Based on: The Last of Us by Naughty Dog
Original air date: January 15, 2023
From the distributor: “In 2003, a parasitic fungal infection ravaged the planet, turning humans into violent creatures known as the Infected. Twenty years later, hardened survivor Joel (Pedro Pascal) is hired to smuggle 14-year-old Ellie (Bella Ramsey) to the rebel Fireflies. Season 2 of The Last of Us picks up five years after the events of Season 1.”
A personal note: I loved playing the game (or watching my college roommate play it) when it first came out in 2013, and it was the first video game viewing experience I’ve had in which I felt the power of storytelling in games. The first season surpassed my expectations. It was fantastic, true to the story and grit of the game, and I cannot wait to finish writing this blog so I can start watching the second season!
Rotten Tomatoes:
Season 1 Rating: 96%. “Retaining the most addictive aspects of its beloved source material while digging deeper into the story, The Last of Us is bingeworthy TV that ranks among the all-time greatest video game adaptations.”
Season 2 Rating: 96%. “Grabbing onto thorny moral questions with its bare hands, The Last of Us‘ second season is a challenging expansion that retains its predecessor’s superb performances and verisimilitude.”
Game critic Simon Cardy: “A breathtaking adaptation of one of the most impactful stories told in video games and brilliantly brings Joel and Ellie’s journey to a whole new audience. Taking the essence of what made the original tale so enduring, it builds out the world of the game while also switching up some aspects to almost entirely stunning effect. Anchored by two outstanding lead performances from Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal, it delivers an enriching show for fans of the PlayStation hit, while also managing to stay welcomingly thrilling to newcomers.” (IGN)
Twisted Metal
Created for television by: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Michael Jonathan Smith
Based on: Twisted Metal by Sony Interactive Entertainment
Original air date: July 27, 2023
From Rotten Tomatoes: “Twisted Metal, a half-hour live-action TV series based on the classic PlayStation game series, is a high-octane action comedy about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, he’ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.”
Twisted Metal was a hit show for Peacock upon its release, becoming the streaming platform’s “most-binged” comedy premiere with more than 400 million viewing minutes in its first weekend (Deadline). The series was renewed for a second season and is set to be released later this year.
Rotten Tomatoes:
Season 1 Rating: 67%. “An enjoyable blast of cartoonishly violent mayhem, Twisted Metal sometimes struggles to flesh out its source material, but ultimately offers an adaptation with surprising depth.”
Game critic Matt Fowler: “Twisted Metal is absurd and hilarious in exactly the ways you want a dystopian Cannonball Run to be. Yes, it matches the games’ crude humor but, mostly, it springboards from there and creates its own dark and warped wasteland sensibilities. During the back stretch of the season, there’s a little bit of joke fatigue, but the demented tapestry presented here, grown from the seeds of the games and expanded into something workable as an ongoing series, is delightful…This show is so so dumb, as only clever people could achieve.” (IGN)
Knuckles
Created for television by: John Whittington and Toby Ascher
Based on: Sonic the Hedgehog by Sega
Original air date: April 6, 2024
From Rotten Tomatoes: “Set in the cinematic universe of Sonic the Hedgehog, the Knuckles series follows an action-packed journey of self-discovery.
While struggling to adjust to life on Earth, Knuckles the Echidna takes on Wade Whipple as his apprentice, training him in the ways of the Echidna to help him prepare for a bowling tournament in Reno, Nev., where his estranged father is competing. During their journey, Wade reunites with his mother and sister, while Knuckles is pursued by a former agent of Dr. Robotnik, who now seeks to take his power for himself.”
Rotten Tomatoes:
Series Rating: 75%. “Pairing Idris Elba’s terse echidna with a befuddled Adam Pally, Knuckles could use some extra punch to appeal more broadly beyond youngsters but hits just fine as light family entertainment.”
Game critic Ryan Leston: “Knuckles is an absolute riot. Wade Whipple’s over-the-top antics give the stoic echidna a much-needed foil, and the result is a laugh-a-minute road movie that just happens to be a six-part miniseries. It’s bold, creative, and takes some big swings. And there’s some heartwarming payoff, too, as Knuckles and his hapless human sidekick grow ever closer with each passing episode. Knuckles really nails what made Sonic and Sonic 2 so great, but with its own unique style and a bit of ’80s flare.” (IGN)
Fallout
Created for television by: Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet
Based on: Fallout by Bethesda Softworks
Original air date: April 10, 2024
From Rotten Tomatoes: “Fallout is the story of haves and have-nots in a world in which there’s almost nothing left to have. Two-hundred years after the apocalypse, the gentle denizens of luxury fallout shelters are forced to return to the irradiated hellscape their ancestors left behind—and are shocked to discover an incredibly complex, gleefully weird, and highly violent universe waiting for them.”
Fallout was popular and praised highly upon its release, garnering 17 Emmy nominations including Outstanding Drama Series. It also rekindled interest in the video games, most surprisingly so for the first entry in the series, 1997’s Fallout: A Post-Nuclear Role Playing Game, which gained a 160% increase in its player base following the release of the show according to Steam Charts (VG247.com). Fallout has been renewed for a second season.
Rotten Tomatoes:
Season 1 Rating: 94%. “An adaptation that feels like a true extension of the games, Fallout is a post-apocalyptic blast for newcomers and longtime fans alike.”
Game critic Matt Purslow: “A bright and funny apocalypse filled with dark punchlines and bursts of ultra-violence, Fallout stands up there with The Last of Us among the best game adaptations ever made. Brilliantly constructed, its three distinct leads travel through cleverly linked storylines that build to a fantastic finale. Along the way, there’s a megaton of treats for long-term fans thanks to immaculate production design and attention to detail, but never at the expense of making this an ideal starting point for the uninitiated.” (IGN)
Like a Dragon: Yakuza
Created for television by: Sean Crouch and Yugo Nakamura
Based on: Yakuza / Like a Dragon by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, Sega
Original air date: October 24, 2024
From the distributor: “Based on the best-selling global video game franchise, the story unfolds across two intersecting timelines—1995 and 2005. In 1995, four friends eager to escape their restrictive lives in an orphanage dive into the yakuza-controlled underworld of Kamurocho. Meanwhile, in 2005, their friendship is deteriorated, as tensions between the Tojo Clan and the Omi Alliance are at a boiling point.”
The show is loosely based on the Like a Dragon video game series, with characters and settings from both the 2005 original game Yakuza and the 2016 remake Yakuza Kiwami. However, the show follows its own plot and only retains the major plot points of the games.
Television critic Niv M. Sultan: “The Amazon series evokes the works that inspired it by playing with tone, physicality, and humor to poke at the psyches of its characters. But while it evolves into a competent, at times rather deft, drama, it proves too staid to capture the idiosyncratic, fiercely political spirit of its source material—and feels, as a result, less like a reimagining than a sandpapered imitation.” (Slant)
Game critic Mat Jones: “Without the Like A Dragon name attached, this series would get very little attention. There’s so little that’s very Yakuza in tone, and it’s so limited in inspiration from the games that there’s hardly much you’ll recognize from them. There’s great character work from some of the cast—particularly Kento Kaku as Nishikiyama—but sadly nothing very interesting for them to do.” (IGN)
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