We are in the Golden Age of video game adaptations. Video games have been getting more great movies and TV shows than ever before, with hits like Arcane, Fallout, and Sonic the Hedgehog, to name a few.
Adaptations can lead many to experience a story they might not otherwise have thought of. With so many video game adaptations hitting the big and silver screens, it seems appropriate to look forward to future adaptations. This list will feature adaptations that have been confirmed but won’t come out for a while, as well as adaptations that have not been confirmed.
Without further ado, let’s begin!
5. Getting an Adaptation: Clair Obscure: Expedition 33
First, we have the recent hit, Clair Obscure: Expedition 33. The game follows the story of the members of Expedition 33, a group of adults tasked with defeating the Paintress to save their people from certain doom. Expedition 33 has some of the best writing and dialogue to come out of video games in recent memory. It’s an exploration of death and mourning.
The game could make for a great movie. The narrative beats of its story may lead to great emotional moments. Some of the monster designs could make for incredible cinematography and fight scenes.
There are currently plans to make a feature-length film, though no release date has been announced. The film will be done by Story Kitchen (formerly known as dj2 Entertainment), the same team that brought us the critically acclaimed Sonic the Hedgehog movies. Hopefully, they will put in the same amount of effort into it as they will in Clair Obscure.
5. Deserves an Adaptation: Kingdom Hearts
No, your eyes do not deceive you; that is an anime boy hanging with Donald Duck and Goofy. Here we have Sora, a young boy whose world is literally destroyed by shadowy monsters called Heartless. Kingdom Hearts follows him as he teams up with high mage Donald Duck and knight Goofy to fight against the Heartless and going to different Disney worlds to prevent their destruction.
While the premise is very silly, the series works unbelievably well. A show could capture a similar amount of fun action and heartwarming friendships that the series is known for. It could also be just as fun to see an anime character interact with classic Disney characters, just like in the games.
While there were rumors of a movie in development, there is no confirmed evidence that it is the case. However, if any entertainment studio were to adapt one of the most popular RPG series they legally own, it would be Disney.
4. Getting an Adaptation: The Legend of Zelda
Returning from my Fantasy adaptations list, here we have one of the most legendary video game franchises of all time. While each game in The Legend of Zelda franchise tells a different story, most follow this pattern: a young man named Link goes on an epic adventure to stop a great evil from taking over Hyrule.
With the series’ massive scope of adventure, the movie will be just as epic. Many of the series’ lovable grand terrains of Hyrule and the unique creatures that inhabit it, from the fish-like Zora to the stone-like Gorons. Plus, if they give Link the iconic items he gets in the games (like the hookshot or boomerang), they could do a lot of entertaining cinematography for the fight scenes.
Thankfully, it was confirmed that Nintendo will work with Sony Pictures to make a live-action film set for release on April 30, 2027. Not much more information is known about the film, including which game it will adapt. With Nintendo, the series’ developers, themselves working on the project, we should be in good hands.
4. Deserves an Adaptation: Team Fortress 2
Next, we have the genre-defining Hero Shooter, Team Fortress 2. While the game itself does not follow a story, there are tons of materials that can create one. With its lovable cast of iconic characters, from the psychotic Medic to the Egotistical Scout, it’s surprising they never made an animated series.
The series even created its own animated short, Expiration Date, character trailers, and a long-running comic series. There is a lot of material they can use to make a TV series.
YouTuber Tyler McVicker stated that Valve, the game’s developer, collaborated with Adult Swim on a project, but it was ultimately canceled, with Expiration Date being the unofficial pilot. However, if Expiration Date was an indicator of what a TF2 show could be like, there is a lot of potential if Valve ever wished to try again.
3. Getting an Adaptation: Elden Ring
Elden Ring follows the story of a nameless wanderer, titled the “Tarnished,” as they explore The Lands Between to become the Elden Lord. With help from acclaimed Game of Thrones author George RR Martin, The Lands Between is one of the most gripping dark fantasy worlds in gaming.
The game itself is fairly light on story, focusing more on lore and exploration, as we see the rich history of the Land Between Worlds and learn about what it once was and how it became what it is now. However, a television show could do a lot to expand the characters and their backstories. It could breathe new life into the broken world of Elden Ring. They could even give the Tarnished their own personality and motivations.
As it so happens, A24 is currently working on a movie adaptation. It will be written and directed by Alex Garland and is set for release on March 3rd, 2028. No trailers so far, but knowing A24’s output, like Everywhere, Anywhere, All at Once and The Drama, we should be excited.
3. Deserves an Adaptation: Hollow Knight
Here we have one of the most popular indie video games of all time. Hollow Knight follows the Knight, a being known as a Vessel, wandering the abandoned Hallownest, a former kingdom inhabited by sapient insects. Similar to Elden Ring, the game focuses more on lore and exploration to tell its story.
Much like The Land Between Worlds, Hallownest is one of the most atmospheric and beautiful settings in any video game. The characters are all beautifully designed, including Cornifer, the cartographer weevil, and Zote, the wannabe Knight who constantly needs saving. The setting and characters could be used to great effect in an animated show.
They could follow a similar style to shows like The Mandalorian or The Witcher, with a wandering warrior exploring Hallownest. The story could have the Knight walk around, meet different characters each episode, and fight the enemies and bosses they encounter in the video game.
As of now, there are no plans for a TV show or movie based on the IP. If other indie game megahits like Cuphead and Among Us could get animated TV shows, Hollow Knight can too.
2. Getting an Adaptation: Disco Elysium
Next, we have another indie gem, though of a different variety. Disco Elysium follows an amnesiac detective as he tries his best to find the murderer in the city-state of Revachol. All the while, he will try to recover his memory, clear his debt, and do anything else he can find.
The greatest aspect of Disco Elysium is the character writing. All the characters are multilayered. For example, Kim, your empathetic partner, tries to be as moral as possible despite the situation around him and the xenophobia he receives from others. Or Cuno, the annoying teenager who refers to himself in the third person and may be a bit smarter than he appears.
A show or film can’t capture the same level of detail as the game. However, an adaptation could fully convey each character’s complexity through actors’ performances in ways the game could not.
As of now, Story Kitchen is also working on a TV show adaptation. No new information regarding the adaptation, but there is no news of cancellation either. It likely will not come soon, but hopefully it will be worth the wait.
2. Deserves an Adaptation: Xenoblade Chronicles
With the Legend of Zelda movie on the horizon, we could look forward to another Nintendo adaptation.
The first Xenoblade Chronicles is a fantasy and science fiction game that follows Shulk as he uses the mysterious Monado to avenge his friend’s death and the near-destruction of his home at the hands of the Mechon, mechanical beings.
While the game may be a bit too long for a movie adaptation, a television series could work well. The strong emotional beats of the narrative, along with the gorgeous science-fantasy setting of Bionis and Mechonis, would work beautifully in a television series. Perhaps an anime.
Unfortunately, there are no plans or notable rumors to turn the series into a movie or an anime television series. However, if The Legend of Zelda turns out to be a success, perhaps Nintendo could give another of their more action-heavy series franchises a film.
1. Getting an adaptation: Mass Effect
Of the final game confirmed to get an adaptation, we have this legendary Sci-Fi epic. Mass Effect follows the story of Commander Shepherd, the leader of an intergalactic team fighting the galaxy’s biggest threats.
Mass Effect features one of the most distinctive science fiction settings. With many alien creatures and lovable characters, it’s a wonder how there was never a Mass Effect show before.
With a cast of alien creatures like the all-female Asari and the raptilian Krogan, there is plenty for Sci-Fi fans to enjoy. As with Disco Elysium, the show cannot capture the variety of routes and character choices the game offers. It could still try to capture a similar scope and epicness of the universe that the games provide.
It was announced that Amazon MGM Studios is developing a Mass Effect TV show. The show tells the game’s story but takes place in the universe as its original narrative, similar to the Fallout Amazon Prime series. This could lead to a compelling adventure, though we’ll have to wait to see.
1. Deserves an Adaptation: Red Dead Redemption
Finally, we have Rockstar’s most notable franchise…aside from Grand Theft Auto. Red Dead Redemption follows the story of John Marston, a former bandit working for the government to kill members of his former gang so that he and his family can be pardoned.
A movie adaptation could be a fun watch, with all the action and gut-wrenching moments that explore what it means to “redeem yourself”. The game itself is already cinematic enough that a film adaptation should work easily. It would also be nice to see a new Western on the big screen, especially one with a pre-existing fanbase.
There are currently no plans to create either a show or a movie. Given the cinematic storytelling, a movie is perfect. Considering the success of the story’s prequel, Red Dead Redemption 2, studios may take interest.
