There was a time when upcoming video-game-inspired movies and TV shows did not instill as with much hope, but that has changed with successes like the live-action Witcher and animated Castlevania series. With fast home internet services and streaming services we can all enjoy these video games turned to TV shows and movies.
With that in mind, let us look at the upcoming shows that have us buzzing with anticipation, available to watch on your favorite TV streaming services.
Fallout
Fallout is a beloved retro-futuristic setting that imagines a world in which China launched nuclear weapons against the United States at some point in the 1950s. It is amazing as a setting for a video game and no doubt a television show in this golden era, but when Fallout is at its best, it is with its cutting satire. That is what really has us excited about what this Amazon-financed series may be able to be.
The Witcher Season 3
Selecting the third season of The Witcher may be a bit obvious at this point since the property is so well known and has crossed over into the mainstream in America thanks to Netflix. While the first season did not go down all that well with critics, it surpassed many fans’ expectations and managed to earn a legion of new fans. The second season brought the critics on board and managed to exceed the first, which is no simple feat, and we cannot wait to see how they build on it in the next go around.
Bioshock
Bioshock is a film that has been in the works in one form of another for almost a decade, and it finally ends up on Netflix, which we think is a great landing spot. Bioshock is like Fallout as a setting in that it is just a natural fit for a TV show. But where Fallout provides great potential, Bioshock arrives with one of the best stories in video games and some really insightful things to say about our society.
Borderlands
Borderlands was originally based on Mad Max but set in space and infused with a unique kind of absurdity. The second game in the series introduced one of the best villains in the history of video games. The movie has certainly caused concerns among fans due to its departure from the source material, but we are really curious to see this world and all these new choices on the big screen.
The Division
While the Division bears the Tom Clancy name, the game was developed after the author’s death and only loosely based on his ideas. The game is among the most atmospheric ever created. The story is solid with some small moments that are truly heart-wrenching and unexpected from a Ubisoft game, and we cannot wait to see what happens with a powerhouse actor like Gyllenhaal as the lead.
Mass Effect
Mass Effect is one of the most famous and widely played video games ever created. It had every opportunity to be a derivative experience but delivered a sci-fi story, world and characters that stand on their own. This one could be special and provides a lot of opportunity for expansion.
Halo
As we write this, the newest trailer has premiered and the Halo fanbase has recoiled somewhat. The director and lead have oddly gone out of their way to tell us how they have maintained their distance from the games in the development of this series. All the warning signs are there, and yet, something still makes the little kids in us giddy about seeing Master Chief in a modern live-action series.
Gears of War
Gears of War is a wonderful setting for a sci-fi action-adventure game, and the single-player campaigns and cooperative and competitive multiplayer have earned many loyal fans. A lot those fans were disappointed to learn that the movie story will not follow Marcus Fenix. We understand the disappointment but also think this is a great choice that really presents a lot of opportunities.
Assassin’s Creed
Let’s all pretend that the Assassin’s Creed movie starting Michael Fassbender never happened. In case you are unfamiliar, we won’t dive too deep, but at the core of the historically driven AC series is a sci-fi concept that presents a lot of opportunities for a TV series that could span centuries and many characters. We hope that TV streaming Netflix’s plans for it are as ambitious as we imagine that they can be.
Metal Gear Solid
Metal Gear Solid is a beloved video game franchise by legendary video game developer Hideo Kojima. Although the movie was first announced in 2006, the hype was back on with news in 2020 that Oscar Isaac was cast as Solid Snake. Some say that the storylines in MGS are too outlandish to make for good TV, and they may be right, but boom or bust, we just cannot wait to see what that looks like.
Resident Evil
The Resident Evil property has resulted in some good fun at the cinema if you enjoy B horror flicks for what they are. But many fans of the iconic series want something that better reflects what they love. A common criticism of the movies is that they lacked the time needed to explore the nuances of the characters and settings. Well, Netflix is going to give RE that time, and we couldn’t be more excited.
Five Nights at Freddy’s
FNAF is another beloved video game series that has been trapped in movie development hell. While we don’t know much yet, we feel that this animatronics-driven horror setting will work well in a movie. The trick will be shifting from a player perspective to characters that we actually care about.
Honorable Mention
For the sake of brevity, there are our 12 picks for video game movies that have us hyped. Of course, when we set out to write this, we had more than two dozen options to choose from. That includes Mario, Sonic 2 and Minecraft. Oh, did you know Elden Ring is coming too? It would have made our list except we have no idea whether it is a movie, a TV show or something else altogether. Other notables to explore include Tomb Raider 2, Call of Duty, Jax and Daxter and the Last of Us!
