We recall the most striking video game adaptations of recent years, as well as a few unexpected examples of the genre.
If you hear "movie based on a game" and immediately think of the dusty "Super Mario" from the 90s or another Uwe Boll film, relax. The situation has changed, and it's time to get acquainted. Because today, video game adaptations are not always effects for the sake of effects, nor are they always a flat and boring retelling of gameplay.
Let's look at video game adaptations that prove: if you play by the rules of cinema, you can turn a video game into a work with taste, meaning, and drive.
New Releases: "The Exit 8" and "Until Dawn" Break the Mold, While "Minecraft" Dominates the Box Office
"The Exit 8" (2025)
A Japanese psychological thriller based on the puzzle game The Exit 8, where the hero is trapped in a mystical subway and tries to escape an endless corridor by catching barely noticeable anomalies. This is not a typical horror with bloody monsters, but rather a philosophical story about the fear of growing up, responsibility, and internal crisis. First-person filming and almost game-like mechanics transport the viewer into a state of liminality—suspension between worlds. The film embodies a unique approach to adaptation, restrained yet highly atmospheric, and deserves attention for its subtle work with the hero's psychology and symbolism.
Endless corridors with flickering anomalies are a metaphor for the hero's internal crisis and his fear of growing up. Director Genki Kawamura turned the game into a philosophical thriller with elements of arthouse, where fear has been replaced by anxious reflection on life and choice.
"Until Dawn" (2025)
The film, based on the game of the same name, tells the story of a group of young people trapped in a cursed forest. The foundation is the butterfly effect multiplied by a time loop: every action changes the course of history, and tension builds with each new attempt by the heroes to escape the trap. In the living forest, among terrifying creatures, not only horrors but also human conflicts, fears, and relationships are revealed. An excellent modern horror that combines survival races with psychological analysis of the characters.
If you love movies where you truly care about the characters, and you don't mind plot twists in the spirit of "Black Mirror," this is your choice.
"A Minecraft Movie" (2025)
Although the premiere of "Minecraft" was not without criticism, the film is an important event for the industry and the game's huge audience. It's a family movie that brings the cubic world to life with digital magic and a generous dose of humor. The story of childhood friendship, adventure, and creativity in one of the most popular gaming universes on the planet became a reason for theaters to fill seats with entire families.
Unlike action films and dramas, "Minecraft" is a warm and kind project that doesn't try to be more than it is: a fun and touching story about the magic of creativity and the power of gaming imagination. Hollywood's love for the cubic world has every chance of growing into a major franchise.
Streaming Hits: Dramas, Apocalypse, and Relentless Action
"The Last of Us" (2023–present)
"The Last of Us" is one of the best video game adaptations in history. The series retells the iconic story of a world after a zombie apocalypse while creating an epic about survival, love, and human dilemmas. Forget the clichés of walking dead—here, the drama, depth of characters, and search for hope in hopelessness make every minute compelling.
This is a touching and heavy story where the characters are as realistic as you and me. The series shows the game from a new perspective, where people matter more than monsters, and the choice between survival and humanity becomes an eternal dilemma.
"Arcane" (2021–present)
Although "Arcane" is based on the League of Legends universe, this series goes far beyond a typical "cartoon" based on a game. Developed with the animation studio Fortiche, it features stunning visuals, mature drama, and well-developed characters.
The plot focuses on the struggle between two cities—Piltover and Zaun—where power, corruption, and revolution reign. It received rave reviews from critics and became an example of how a game can inspire deep and emotionally rich animated cinema (albeit in the form of a multi-episode show).
Not long ago, 'Arcane' concluded on Netflix, based on the popular game League of Legends. We explain why it claims to be the most outstanding animated series of the year.
Open material"Fallout" (2024–present)
A post-apocalyptic series that transferred the atmosphere of the series into a complex, rich story about a destroyed world and attempts to rebuild it. It is a dramatic saga brought to life on small screens, inspiring several generations of gamers who are interested in seeing the fates of people within complex circumstances.
Feel free to watch the series if you want to experience desolation and simultaneously see glimpses of an extraordinary future. The atmosphere, script, and visuals all work together for a full immersion effect.
"Twisted Metal" (2023–present)
Black humor, brutal races, and adrenaline-pumping action—a show for seasoned fans of a merciless apocalypse on wheels. For fans of action with nails and cars that shoot, it's a real treat.
The series incorporates the mayhem and challenge of the original series, creating a maximally wild and unpredictable setting where every episode is a "car crash with special effects."
"Halo" (2022–2024)
The series "Halo" unfolded an epic space opera before viewers, with large-scale battles, bloody conflicts, and dramatic fates of heroes living in a brutal but well-thought-out future world. There is room for both futuristic action and internal conflicts that raise the question of humanity in an age of technology and war. An excellent combination of visual effects and a serious script in the spirit of "The Mandalorian" allowed "Halo" to become one of the most discussed game adaptations of recent years among gamers and sci-fi fans.
Despite the series sometimes being criticized for deviations from the original game lore, it managed to attract not only fans but also a new audience, thanks to its dramatic nature and high-quality production. "Halo" successfully expanded the game's universe, adding intrigue and new facets to the characters, making the universe alive and voluminous.
"Tekken: Bloodline" (2022)
Tekken is an iconic fighting game, and its animation and fight scenes are truly impressive. The animated series "Tekken: Bloodline" became one of the most successful adaptations, managing to preserve the charisma of the characters and the dynamics of the fights. The plot touches on family secrets and paths to reconciliation. But what plot, when it comes to a fighting game adaptation!
Interestingly, a full-length film adaptation of Tekken was released back in 2010. But it was a mediocre action movie with a mediocre plot. Animation became the best way to convey the spirit of the Tekken universe beyond arcade machines and game consoles.
Unexpected Video Game Adaptations
"Maniac Mansion" (1990–1993)
If intellectual cinema about the subway is not your thing, and animated series don't inspire you, then try to appreciate this hidden gem.
The show has plenty of humor, oddities, and a sea of retro charm. Nostalgia and surrealism, mixed with unpredictability, create an atmosphere of a fun and slightly crazy adventure based on a once-popular game.
"Gran Turismo" (2023)
This is more of a full-fledged sports drama than a movie based on a game. The story of a young racer who came to the sport from video games(!) tells about a difficult journey, ambitions, and personal victories.
Even if you're not a motorsport fan, the film captivates with its sincerity and human emotions, turning race tracks into arenas of trials. This film brings new life to the genre of "movies based on video games," showing that adaptation is not only about special effects but also a way to touch emotional chords.
"Detention" (2019)
This low-budget horror is an adaptation of the indie game of the same name and simultaneously a socio-political drama, immersing you in the atmosphere of a Taiwanese school in the 1960s during the martial law period.
An unusual mix of horror and historical drama stands out for its extraordinary atmosphere, psychological depth, and non-stereotypical approach to the genre of games and their adaptations. "Detention" is a captivating story about memory and fear that can be encountered precisely in cinema.
Video game adaptations are not always fun with blue hedgehogs and cheap production. They can be reflection, drama, horror, and even arthouse (hello, "The Exit 8"). If someone had told you a couple of years ago that a video game adaptation could be almost a deep philosophical experience—would you have believed it? Exactly.
So games come to life not only under your fingers on the gamepad but also on big and small screens. And, of course, this list will not disappoint the discerning viewer who loves it when directors play with them—right in the middle of watching.
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