Video gamesare an untapped source pool of entertainment that has unending potentialif they were adapted to live-action mediums. Unfortunately, while there have been countless attempts, no live-action video game adaptation has risen to the standards that fans expect of a beloved franchise.
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While receiving a live-action video game production dedicated to the source material has been an uphill battle, there are ample amounts of IPs ripe for the taking, particularly in thesci-fi genre.Sci-fivideo games have rich lore and spectacular visuals that fall in line with the look and feel of today’s line of media and would more than thrive if portrayed accurately and with care. Here are some sci-fi video games that could make screen adaptations work.
8Destiny
Destiny’simpact on the video game genre has been monumental; the first-person RPG has had a bit of a rough ride but still maintains a healthy player base.Destinyis on its second installment and with it comes several DLCsand new seasons packed with story, exciting characters, and deep lore that would make it a prime subject for a live-action adaptation.
Taking on an intergalactic entity hellbent on wiping out a supernatural force known as “The Traveler” basically writes itself. Past successes such asStarship TroopersorThe Expanseare keen examples of how well a live-action take on the world ofDestinycould do.
7Control
Controlwould make a brilliant psychological thriller as viewers would tune in to watch Jesse Faden attempt to navigate her way through the FBC headquarters to get to the source of what has caused such chaos and discover the awful secrets hidden within.
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Controlcould branch offof the success of previous shows such asStranger ThingsonNetflix, which falls in line with the episodic adventure that Control could take advantage of. Fans of supernatural suspense would flock to their streaming services to binge the strange occurrences and psychokinetic horrors set loose within the Federal Bureau of Control.
Dead Spacewould be the perfect guilty pleasure for fans of nerve-wracking horror as an unsuspecting space-crew fight off an infestation of interstellar monstrosities or a lone survivor tries to find an escape from a monster-infested space station.
A haunting in Spaceis a genre that has been proven successful in the past; films likeEvent Horizon andGhost of Marsare fine examples. A bloody heart-racing thrill ride would fit right at home onAmazonnext toThe Boysor the Big Screen as a stand-alone film.
5Returnal
Returnalis perhaps one of the most well-crafted sci-fi video games in the last ten years; the story rises to that ofHalf-Lifelevels of mystery and foreshadowing. Selene finds herself on a distant planet caught in a time loop while on an exploration mission. Unfortunately, the seemingly dead world holds a dark secret and a horde of monsters that seek Selene’s demise.
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However, every time she perishes, Selene comes back to life with no memory of her previous encounters. Viewers would find themselves on the edge of their seats as all the pieces to the puzzle slowly come together for a mind-bending realization.
4Titanfall
Mecha sci-fi is another untapped resource for live-action adaptations; with the renowned success of thePacific Rimfranchise, it is evident that there is a market for robot fighting action.Titanfallis the perfect IP to bring to the big screen as it has all the makings of a fantastic series and the ability to be crafted without being a slave to the source material.
TitanfallandTitanfall 2were released and highly praised for their story and gameplay. Because of how the story ofTitanfallis so malleable, it leaves a lot of room for creative freedom while honoring what the already established fan base would come to expect.
3Detroit: Become Human
Among the more challenging takes on sci-fi,Detroit: Become Humancould be a masterpiece depending on the stories told. An episodic adventure would be great for exploring the characters and even introducing new ones for fans and newcomers to connect with.
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A mix of crime drama, suspense, and techno horror would pull a large audience sure to become enthralled by the fate of the characters involved. Films like Surrogates and shows like Westworld pave the way for the possibility of aDetroit: Become Humanproduction; a strong take like this would turn the zombie genre its head and spawn a life of its own like The Walking Dead Series.
2Bioshock
Bioshockis an interesting story, to say the least; a live-action film in the same vein as Tom Cruise’s Oblivion or Tom Hanks Finch would be an easy sell. Taking on a journey to an artificial utopia where superpowers are real would match the trends currently popular in theatres.
However,Bioshock’s lore is what would make a live-action tale unique; the creation of the little sisters and the looming threat of the big daddies would intrigue even the least interested individual as long as the visuals were implemented correctly.
1Infamous
In the Superhero dominated box office, no other video game would perform better in a live-action adaptation than theInfamousfranchise. In a world similar toX-Men,where individuals called “Conduits” reign supreme,Infamoushas a fascinating world filled to the brim with possibilities aching for a live-action spin-off.
There are several options for the main character from the original Cole MacGrath, the newcomer Delsin Rowe, or maybe dive deeper into the life of Abigail Walker. A strong character-driven series along the lines ofThe Giftedthat premiered onFoxwould make a strong argument for anInfamousseries’ success.
