Five video game-to-screen adaptations
In line with the hit new HBO series The Last of Us; an adaptation of the critically acclaimed video game of the same name. It’s only right to look back on the numerous attempts (both good and bad), ranging from film to television that have tried to replicate and build on the uniqueness that comes with video game storytelling.
5. Assassins Creed (2016)
Ubisoft's long-standing series Assassin's Creed has consistently delivered gaming experiences to its fans since 2007 and is still going strong after 12 main title games. The most recent in the series, Assassins Creed Valhalla has earned $1bn in revenue, making it the highest-earning Assassins Creed game in the companies history according to Ubisoft.
In 2016, the hugely successful intellectual property (IP) was set to debut the series' first live-action film based on the games. The film would star big names including Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard and Brendan Gleeson.
Unfortunately, the film would be considered a flop both critically and domestically, with fans of the games left disappointed with the on-screen adaptation. Currently, the film sits at 19% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film’s failure is estimated to have cost the studio 75-100 million US dollars.
4. Sonic the Hedgehog (2020-2022)
Japanese video game company SEGA released the first Sonic the Hedgehog game for the Sega Genesis in 1991 and followed up again in 1992 with a sequel due to the hugely popular debut. Since then, Sonic has released a number of titles across multiple platforms.
The popularity of the Sonic video games also inspired many TV shows with a total of six cartoons from 1993-present. These shows released alongside many iterations of the games and cemented the popularity of the character across the globe.
In 2020 Sonic the Hedgehog was released, as the first of two films that saw a mix of live-action and CGI motion capture. Starring Jim Carey and James Marsden, the action-filled adventure grossed £306.8m at the box office and received a 93% audience approval score according to Rotten Tomatoes.
3. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022)
CD Projekt Red developed Cyberpunk 2077, an action role-playing game (RPG) and was released in 2020. Upon release in December 2020, the game was criticised for its poor performance issues. Since its release, CD Projekt Red has continued to update and patch many of the key issues that caused the player base to abandon Cyberpunk 2077.
In 2022 Netflix released a 10-episode standalone anime with CD Projekt Red titled Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. The current rotten tomatoes score stands at 100% fresh from critics and 96% audience score. The English dubbed version of the original Japanese speech includes acting performances from Giancarlo Esposito.
2. Halo
Halo is a Microsoft-owned product and is only available on select platforms, the video game series spans over 22 years. 343 Industries began the development of Halo games in 2012. 343 was created as part of Microsoft and took over fully in the development of the Halo video game series following the exit of the previous development team Bungie. This brought the end to a 13-year relationship between Bungie and the Halo series that began in 1997 and ended in 2010.
Since 2010, 343 Industries has developed 3 main titles in the Halo trilogy, and other smaller titles under the Halo name. The most recent of these titles is Halo Infinite released in 2021 to mixed reviews from the fanbase, a common theme among the Halo titles released under the 343 name.
The scrutiny among fans continues over to the Halo TV series on Paramount Plus released in 2022, with many fans unhappy at the show's loose depiction of the Master Chief character; the main protagonist in the games. Despite fans’ dismay, Halo remains at a steady 70% on Rotten Tomatoes.
1. Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)
Pokémon began as a Japanese RPG created for the Game Boy by Satoshi Tajiri back in 1996 under the name Pocket Monsters Red and Green (only in Japan). Pokémon Red and Green were eventually released internationally in 1998. Pokémon now distributes under three companies that operate under the title “The Pokémon Company” and include Nintendo, Game Freak, and Creatures.
Alongside the first games included many films and TV shows from 1997-2021, with More on the way. Merchandise and a card game also became increasingly popular as the Pokémon title continued to grow across various platforms.
In 2019 Warner Bros. produced a live-action CGI motion capture film based on the Nintendo title Detective Pikachu. The film featured Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith and Bill Nighy and was overall well-received by audiences with a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Last of Us currently sits at 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. The show is shaping up to be a smash hit on its own away from the video game-to-screen adaptations title that many have tried and failed to conquer. It has proved possible but only time will tell if The Last of Us will deliver on all fronts after its second episode.