The world of entertainment is often intertwined.
At the moment, popular films and television shows are intersecting more often with video games. That’s thanks to the sharp rise in gaming interest over the last decade. In the past, video games were a slightly fringe interest, as only players with consoles, PCs, or handhelds had the option to compete.
That’s changed rapidly over the last decade—largely thanks to the rise in more affordable gaming tech and the availability of mobile games. Now, just about anyone with a smartphone can start gaming straight on their mobile device. The same is true for tablets like iPads.
While theatre hasn’t quite joined the zeitgeist, there are dozens of unique projects that highlight the interest that audiences and gamers have in the same type of content. At the moment, popular games are earning a second life as TV shows or full-length films. But let’s look back at the old standard: When popular films and shows instead influenced video game releases.
Looking back, which films and TV shows inspired the best video games? And which ones created cult hits that players still remember today?
Jumanji, Jumanji Slot
Let’s start small. Jumanji is a celebrated film franchise that has seen two very distinct yet successful releases. Unsurprisingly, the movie’s highly unique premise has helped generate interest in Jumanji as a game—a digital game, not a board game.
The Jumanji slot can be found at most major virtual casinos. This popular selection is one of hundreds of online slots offered—and it’s not the only major film spinoff. But it’s a favorite for players thanks to its symbols, graphic design, and audio, which mimic the original film release in all the right ways.
GoldenEye, GoldenEye 007
Who doesn’t love a spy tale? James Bond is one of the most recurring video game subjects, as every new Bond film release generates interest in a new game spinoff. But none were as impactful as 1997’s GoldenEye 007, which was released shortly after the Pierce Brosnan flick.
The game introduced brand new mechanics to the gaming world, including a first-person shooter perspective. On top of that, the game also included a battle royale-style death match in which multiplayer players could compete against one another. Both set major precedents in the gaming world that are still followed today.
Spider-Man, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Franchises like Marvel aren’t short on video game content, which is partly thanks to the sheer number of superheroes under the company’s purview. But few releases hit the mark like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which is a follow-up to the Miles Morales-based release from 2020.
This game introduces Venom, a villain that the players must contend with as Morales explores brand-new superhero territory. Critics lauded the release as one of the freshest new approaches in gaming from a narrative, characterization, and gameplay perspective. In other words, Marvel set a precedent that will be hard to beat.
Fight Club, Fight Club
Not all video game adaptations are bona-fide hits. Some, instead, become known as cult hits… and maybe ones that are played for laughs more than serious gameplay. That’s the case with Fight Club, a poorly rated release based on the novel and film of the same name.
Still, the game’s terrible mechanics and characters proved so memorable that some fans have come back to play this title again, making it one of the most intriguing cult hits—which includes fightable characters from Fred Durst to Abraham Lincoln.
Jurassic World, Jurassic World Evolution
Given the naturally intriguing narrative behind the Jurassic Park franchise, it’s no surprise that this series does well in its many video game adaptations. But few are quite as novel as Jurassic World Evolution.
Rather than task players with surviving a day trip to a dinosaur-filled theme park, the game tasks them with taking control of operations. In other words, it’s a simulation in which player must balance their resources to keep the dinosaurs and visitors happy. The stakes are, unsurprisingly, very high. But those who succeed will have their very own Jurassic World to enjoy.
