TV Shows Based on Video Games
TV shows and video games have had a strange, symbiotic relationship since video games became more realistic and featured a more story-based game rather than an objective-based game.
There have been many notable TV shows that were based on video games—some of these have followed a classic animated style, whereas others have gone one step further and created a live-action series. Both had their place in cinematography history and both will feature in our list.
The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
One of three spin-offs of the Super Mario Bros. video games, the 1989 Super Mario Bros. Super Show was created by Andy Heyward and ran from September 4 to December 1, 1989. It featured Mario and Luigi as Italian-American plumbers dealing with running a plumbing business in Brooklyn in the late 1980s. The cast featured WWF's "Captain" Lou Albano as Mario and Danny Wells as Luigi. Wells later played bartender Charlie in The Jeffersons (1974-1985).
Saban Entertainment, The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! (1989)
Sonic The Hedgehog Franchise
The Sonic The Hedgehog franchise was first launched as an animated series, The Adventures of Sonic The Hedgehog, in 1993, following the enormous success of the video game franchise. Since the mid-'90s, there have been four Sonic The Hedgehog TV series, with the most recent release being the 2022 CGI-animated TV show, Sonic Prime.
WildBrain Studios, Sonic Prime (2022-2024)
Halo
The Halo video game franchise was first launched on November 15, 2001 under the name Halo: Combat Evolved for the XBOX console. It was later ported over to Windows and Mac OS in 2003, but remained solely an XBOX game for two years. It launched the Halo franchise, which is currently comprised of 16 video games and the Halo TV series, which launched on Paramount+ in March 2022.
Showtime Networks, Halo (2022-2024)
The Last Of Us
The Last of Us was released in 2013 on the PlayStation 3 to great acclaim. While zombie-style horror flicks aren't anything new in terms of video games, the storyline of The Last of Us was what made this game different. Then, in 2020, The Last of Us was announced as being in the "planning phase" by HBO. Released in 2023, the show stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
Sony Pictures Television, The Last of Us (2023-)
Mega Man
Mega Man was a classic video game released for Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1987. It has since spawned over 50 games, in which you play the role of Mega Man, a super robot fighting the forces of evil. In 1994, Mega Man first aired as an animated series in the United States, running for two seasons until 1996. Mega Man was revived in 2018 as Mega Man: Fully Charged, another animated series.
There has been a recent announcement that Mega Man will be one of the games featured in a 15-episode series called Secret Level (2024), a video game anthology series created by Tim Miller. It will stream on Amazon Prime on December 10, 2024.
DHX Media, Mega Man: Fully Charged (2018-2019)
Where On Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
Based on the popular mystery-educational video game series Carmen Sandiego (1985-2019), Where On Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? was released in February of 1994 and ran for five seasons, concluding in January of 1999. It aired on FOX's Kids Network and is generally viewed very favorably by history as an educational and interesting television series for kids.
DIC Entertainment, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego? (1994 - 1999)
Pole Position
Pole Position was created by Namco in 1982, then licensed to Atari Inc. to publish in the United States. It was the most popular coin-operated arcade game internationally in 1983, and the highest-grossing arcade game in 1983 and 1984. Then in 1984, DIC Enterprises released a Pole Position (1984-1985) TV series. The series featured a group of crime-fighting stunt drivers and their misadventures. It was very loosely based on the video game and only lasted for one season on CBS.
DIC Entertainment, Pole Position (1984-1985)
Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness
The first of two appearances for Resident Evil on our list is Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021). Based on the video games produced by Capcom in 1996, the Resident Evil franchise has produced over 30 video games, add-ons, and remakes over the last 28 years. The first TV series based on the game, Infinite Darkness, was an animated series released in four parts on Netflix.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness (2021)
Resident Evil
Developed for Netflix by Andrew Dabb, Resident Evil is an eight-episode live-action series that aired in 2022. It starred Ella Ballinska (Charlie's Angels) and Lance Reddick (The Wire) and followed a similar plot line to the original game series. Unfortunately, Lance Reddick passed away in March 2023 from heart disease, thus ending any immediate hopes of a season two of Resident Evil.
Constantin Television, Resident Evil (2022)
Street Fighter: Legacy
We'll include Street Fighter: Legacy in this list because of it's importance in the development of the next two Street Fighter titles listed. It was produced for YouTube in 2010 by Joey Ansah (of The Bourne Ultimatum) and Owen Trevor. The live-action short fan film was greenlit by Capcom and was initially released as a proof-of-concept film.
Streetlight Films Inc., Street Fighter: Legacy (2010)
Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist
Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist (2014) was born out of the success of Street Fighter: Legacy (2010). It was released on Machinima's YouTube channel, before being released on TV, DVD and Blu-Ray in late 2014. IFC Films would release the full film in 2015.
Capcom Company, Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist (2014)
Street Fighter: Resurrection
Street Fighter: Resurrection was an animated web series that followed the above-mentioned Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist. The web-based miniseries is set 10 years after the events of Assassin's Fist and was released on Machinima's YouTube channel on December 19, 2016.
World Warrior, Street Fighter: Resurrection (2016)
Captain N: The Game Master
Captain N: The Game Master aired from 1989 till 1991, on NBC's Saturday morning kids' cartoon lineup. The premise of Captain N: The Game Master was that Captain N did battle against a series of video game villains from Nintendo's extensive lineup of video games, even featuring a "Villain Of The Week!". It's a classic "Good Vs. Evil" trope with video games and their characters making up the 'cast'.
DIC Animation City, Captain N: The Game Master (1989-1991)
Castlevania
Another animated TV series born of a video game is Castlevania (2017). Adapted from Konami's 1989 video game of the same name, the 2017 anime series focuses on the events in Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and followed three protagonists as they defend their nation against Count Dracula and his minions. The series ran for four seasons till 2021, and even spurned a sequel: Castlevania: Nocturne, which continues on Netflix today.
Frederator Studios, Castlevania (2017-2021)
Darkstalkers
Darkstalkers (1995) is another one of those adapted TV series that ran for one season. Adapted from the arcade game Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors (1994), it lasted from September to December, comprising 13 episodes on American TV. It adopted a good-vs-evil plotline as it was geared towards children and toned down much of the explicit references found in the video games.
Donkey Kong Country
This one came following the enormous success of the Donkey Kong (1981) video game released by Nintendo, one of the earliest examples of a "climbing game" and one of the most popular video games of 1981 and 1982—it eventually became one of the most popular video games of all time. So, when Donkey Kong Country was released in France first (despite being Canadian produced) in 1996, it was enormously popular. A full series was released from 1997 to 2000. In the US, it was released as Donkey Kong: The Legend of the Crystal Coconut, as a single VHS tape (a feature film).
Nelvana Limited, Donkey Kong Country (1997-2000)
Earthworm Jim
Earthworm Jim was a run-and-gun game developed for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo systems in 1994. The player took control of an earthworm named Jim and battled the forces of evil. Likewise, an animated series of the same name was produced in 1996 and aired on the CW Network for two seasons between September 1995 and December 1996.
Universal Animation Studios, Earthworm Jim (1995-1996)
The Legend Of Zelda
Robin Williams enjoyed playing The Legend of Zelda so much he named his daughter "Zelda". Everyone has heard of, or has played The Legend of Zelda. In North America, the first game in the series was released in 1987 for the NES system and sparked a legacy that included multiple sequels and spin-offs, including The Legend of Zelda - The Animated Series (1989), which lasted for one season (13 episodes) and aired as part of the Super Mario Bros. Super Show!
Saban Productions, The Legend of Zelda (1989)
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Based on the 2005 video game Yakuza, it's film follows a loose plot line that's similar to the Yakuza game, namely following the action and adventure of a former Yakuza member released from prison, after spending 10 years inside for a crime he did not commit. After leaving, he discovers a rival clan are searching for stolen money and must protect an orphan who he believes may have the key to their stolen finances. Released in 2007, Yakuza: Like A Dragon drew reasonable plaudits.
Sega, Yakuza: Like a Dragon (2007)
Gangs Of London
Based on the plot of the 2006 video game of the same name, Gangs of London tells the story of different criminal enterprises and rival gangs in London. The first series was released in 2020 on Sky TV, with a second series following in 2022. Gangs of London was officially renewed for a third season in April, but no release date has been made public.
Sky Studios, Gangs of London (2020-)
Twisted Metal
Twisted Metal was first released as a smash-'em-up demolition derby game in 1995. It spawned multiple sequels with the latest being a reboot of the same name in 2012. But, in Twisted Metal (2022), the action element of the video game was accompanied by a generous comedic helping, to great effect. The popular series was given a second season, filming this year in Toronto.
Sony Pictures Television, Twisted Metal (2023-)
The Cuphead Show
This one is based on the 2017 video game Cuphead, a run-and-gun style game centering on boss fights. It was a commercial success, selling 2 million copies within the first two weeks of it's release. Such was it's commercial success overall that Netflix released an animated show entitled The Cuphead Show! in 2022.
King Features Syndicate, The Cuphead Show! (2022)
Knuckles
Another spin-off of Sonic: The Hedgehog sees Sonic's former rival and current best friend, Knuckles the echidna, get a spin-off show of his own. It's worth noting that Knuckles is only six episodes long, however. But still, a TV show based on Sonic.
Paramount Pictures, Knuckles (2024)
Fallout
First released in 1997, the original Fallout is set in a post-nuclear United States, with the title being an ode to nuclear fallout. Fallout's premise is that the main protagonist needs to get the underground bunker's water supply back online, by locating a prized chip. Fallout was hugely successful, spawning multiple sequels. A Fallout TV series premiered on Amazon Prime Video in March 2024.
Amazon MGM Studios, Fallout (2024-)
Assassin's Creed
While not yet released, Ubisoft and Netflix have confirmed that a TV series based on the popular game is in development. AC Universe fans may have to wait until 2025, but an Ubisoft statement released this year teases: "A brand-new, live-action Assassin’s Creed series is coming to Netflix. The deal includes multiple different series, the first of which will be a genre-bending live-action epic, while the others will be animated and anime adaptations".
dronepicr, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
A Plague Tale
In an interesting and creepy take on the The Black Death, A Plague Tale (2020) is an action adventure stealth game featuring two siblings as they strive to survive during the Bubonic Plague, fleeing soldiers of the French Inquisition and plague-carrying rats on the streets of France. Utilizing stealth tactics, players must survive.
After receiving positive reviews, A Plague Tale sequel entitled A Plague Tale: Requiem was released in 2022, and fans learned of a TV series currently in development.
Jan van der Crabben, World History Encyclopedia
Arcane
Netflix's animated series Arcane (2021) is based on the multiplayer online arena-battle style game League of Legends (2009).
Maniac Mansion
Maniac Mansion (1990-1993) is a TV family sitcom that aired in Canada and the United States. The series was loosely based on Lucasfilm Games' Maniac Mansion video game from 1987. The game was developed for the Commodore 64 console.
Lucasfilm Ltd. Television, Maniac Mansion (1990-1993)
Pokémon
Pokémon debuted as a video game in Japan in 1996, for the Game Boy console. You starred as the main character, Ash, a Pokémon trainer, battling against other trainers in a shared universe where humans and Pokémon coexist. The game is widely viewed as one of the most popular games of all time and has spurred an anime television series that has lasted for eight series across 26 seasons. Legendary.
Shogakukan, Pokémon (1997-2023)
Mortal Kombat: Conquest
One of the first live-action shows based on a video game to air in the US, Mortal Kombat: Conquest (1996) serves as a prequel to video games, detailing the heroics of Kung Lao as he protects earth. It is based on the Mortal Kombat video game, first published in 1992 by Midway.
Threshold Entertainment, Mortal Kombat: Conquest (1998-1999)
Wing Commander
The Wing Commander video game series was first released in 1990 by Origin Systems for MS-DOS. It was widely viewed as a huge success and has spawned a series of novels, an animated TV series, and a feature film. The Wing Commander animated series received positive reviews, while the film of the same name released in 1999 fared poorly—fans felt it was a huge departure from the Wing Commander universe.
20th Century Studios, Wing Commander (1999)
Doom
Doom had to be on this list, of course. The 1993 video game that took the first-person-shooter format by storm as it was one of the first FPS-wave-style games wherein a "space marine" fights off hordes of undead humans and invading aliens, beginning on the moons of Mars and finishing in Hell. It's one of the earliest examples of 3D graphics in video games.
A 2005 film of the same name starred Dwayne Johnson and Karl Urban, about Marines sent on a rescue mission to Mars, where they encounter deadly aliens.
Tomb Raider: The Legend Of Lara Croft
Remember Lara Croft: Tomb Raider from 2001, released on the Sega Saturn, MS-DOS, and the OG PlayStation? Looking back at those graphics that are, well—out-of-proportion, shall we say—certainly makes you laugh (or feel old, or both), doesn't it? Well, in October of this year, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is being released as an action-adventure animated series on Netflix.
Crystal Dynamics, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (2024)
Pac-Man
Everybody loves Pac-Man, no matter which console you played it on. Pac-Man was first released by Namco in 1980 in Japan for arcades. Later that year, Midway Manufacturing agreed to release Pac-Man to North American audiences. Pac-Man the cartoon was released in 1983 and ran for two seasons till 1984, spanning 44 episodes. It was the historic first-ever cartoon based on a video game.
Which of these games was your favorite? Which do you think is the best TV show based on a video game? Head to the comments section to discuss!
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