The success of video game adaptations like The Last of Us and Fallout has proven that the line between gaming and binge-watching is very thin. We’re talking worlds so rich and stories so compelling, they practically beg for a TV series. But not every game is cut out for the small screen. Games like Counter Strike: Global Offensive would obviously not work because they are very basic, with little to no story to adapt. But there are more than enough excellent video games that would make perfect TV series. Here are five that should be next on the list.
Metro 2033
If there’s one game that screams “TV adaptation,” it’s Metro 2033. Imagine the gritty, claustrophobic tunnels of post-apocalyptic Moscow brought to life on screen. The game is a survival horror experience that could easily translate into a suspense-filled series. With its dark, atmospheric setting, intense action, and a plot full of moral dilemmas, Metro 2033 could be the next big thing. Kind of like The Walking Dead—but with more Russian accents and mutant creatures. The story’s exploration of humanity’s last remnants battling external threats and inner demons would make for edge-of-your-seat viewing.
Subnautica
Picture this: a TV series that’s part Lost, part 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, with a sprinkle of Stranger Things thrown in for good measure. That’s what a Subnautica adaptation could be. The game’s underwater world is a visual feast just waiting to be explored on the small screen. It’s got all the ingredients for a gripping TV series—mystery, survival, and an alien ocean filled with mind-bending creatures. Plus, there’s the psychological aspect of being alone on a foreign planet, which could add layers of depth (pun intended) to the narrative. Subnautica is one of those rare games where the setting itself becomes a character, and that’s something a well-crafted TV show could capitalize on.
Mass Effect
Come on, this one’s a no-brainer. Mass Effect has one of the most expansive and beloved sci-fi universes in gaming. Turning it into a TV series would be like printing money. Imagine the complex, multi-species political drama of Game of Thrones, but in space, with better special effects. And, of course, fewer dragons. The story of Commander Shepard and their crew as they try to save the galaxy from the Reapers is epic in every sense of the word.
Beyond the grand battles and high-stakes missions, Mass Effect is about relationships—how you treat your crew, who you choose to trust, and what you’re willing to sacrifice. That’s the kind of emotional storytelling that TV audiences eat up.
Half-Life
The mystery of Gordon Freeman’s silent crusade against the Combine has been haunting gamers for decades. Half-Life has it all: an enigmatic protagonist, a dystopian world, and a resistance movement both desperate and hopeful. Imagine a TV series that slowly peels back the layers of the Combine’s control over Earth, all while Freeman remains the enigmatic center of it all. The show could dive deep into the lives of resistance members, the origins of the alien invasion, and even what the heck the G-Man’s deal is.
There’s so much rich, unexplored territory in the Half-Life universe that a TV series could be just the medium to finally give fans the answers they’ve been craving—or tease them even more.
Death Stranding
If there’s one game that’s already cinematic enough to be a TV series, it’s Death Stranding. Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece is a weird, wild, and unique journey through a fragmented world. It’s a game where the journey is the story, with deep, philosophical undertones about connection, isolation, and the human condition.
A TV adaptation could explore the complex relationships between characters like Sam and Fragile, dive into the mysteries of the BTs and the Death Stranding itself, and offer more of that signature Kojima weirdness that fans love. With its stunning visuals and layered narrative, Death Stranding would be unlike anything else on TV—and that’s exactly why it needs to happen.
Which Game Should Be Next?
So, there you have it: five games that are begging to be adapted into TV series. Whether it’s deep-space drama or deep-sea loneliness, these games offer stories and worlds that deserve to be explored on the small screen. The real question is, which one should get the green light first?