8 TV shows that deserve a video game adaptation

With the success of movies and television like The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Five Nights at Freddy’s, and The Last of Us, video games are reigning supreme on both the silver and small screens. And with plenty more adaptations, such as Minecraft, in the works, it seems like we’re right at the beginning of what is becoming Hollywood’s newest cash cow.

I’ve shared my thoughts on five games I would love to be turned into films. But with the 2023 Emmy Awards just having aired and the Oscars right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to turn the tables. Here are eight of my favorite TV shows that deserve their own video game adaptation.

1. Succession

Succession is one of my favorite shows, and it deservedly took home six Emmy wins for the final season. Yes, it’s incredible as a TV drama, but I think it would also make a great video game adaptation! I picture this as a choose-your-own-adventure-style game, where you’re free to choose the siblings and factions you want to make alliances with as you ruthlessly claw your way to the top of the Waystar Royco empire.

2. The Bear

What better way to celebrate drama in the kitchen than with a game adaptation based on The Bear? Forget Cooking Mama! This game could be part cooking game, part mystery, part money management—and all while handling the unruly personalities of your staff and trying to make your restaurant succeed. Just think of all the delicious recipes you can whip up while overworking yourself so hard you develop an anxiety disorder!

3. Severance

One of the best sci-fi experiences you can get on TV has to be through the television show Severance, so naturally, this would make a great game adaptation. I mean, who doesn’t wish they could “sever” the work portion from their lives at one point or another? This could be a great visual novel about dissociation, work-life balance, and work culture.

4. Better Call Saul

With the reveal of the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI, I know I’m not the only one counting down until 2025. What better snack to tide us over while we wait than a video game adaptation of Better Call Saul?. This sandbox-style open-world game would have us playing as a lawyer, working with the cartels, and trying to build up your name. There’s a lot of fun tension to be mined from pushing players to slowly take part in more and more unethical behavior.

5. RuPaul’s Drag Race

RuPaul’s Drag Race naturally lends itself to one of the best makeover competition games I can think of. Not only would the character creation be expansive, there could even be a multiplayer option to compete online. Think of all the dresses and accessories available for collection while trying to outdo opponents and become the ultimate queen.

6. Only Murders in the Building

Detective games have always been fun. Something about collecting clues, forming a list of suspects, and solving crimes screams perfect for video games—especially if the subject matter might involve murder. Only Murders in the Building takes a more comedic approach to that serious subject, but that also feels perfect for a game. I love the idea of skulking around a high-end apartment building trying to solve a caper while gaining clues from a true crime podcast on how to proceed.

7. Ted Lasso

I can’t forget my sports fans out there. The perfect video game adaptation for demonstrating those sports management skills would be the hit show Ted Lasso. This streaming TV hit follows an American football coach hired to lead a British soccer team; naturally, hilarity ensues. With sports games like NBA 2K24 and EA Sports FC 24 adding management as part of the game mechanics, I think a more cinematic and fleshed-out management-focused game with characters players already love would be a hit. 

8. Yellowjackets

Not since Lost have I been more invested in a group of folk crash-landing on an island—even if Yellowjackets involves more cannibalism and fewer smoke monsters. Still, it’s the ideal premise for a great horror survival game. It could be a unique spin on titles like  Sons of the Forest, a game where you’re literally trapped on an island inhabited by cannibals.

💬 What movies or TV shows do you think would make for great game adaptations? Let me know in the comments below.