15 Best TV Shows Based On Video Games, Ranked
Video game adaptations have come a long way - so we ranked 15 of the best TV series based on games, from cult favorites to prestige hits.
The ranking of 15 best TV shows based on video games is a topic of ongoing debate. While some adaptations are faithful to the source material, others fall short in terms of narrative ingenuity. Among the three tiers of these adaptations, the top tier consists of series that offer great television even to those unfamiliar with the games.
One such series is "Splinter Cell: Deathwatch," a Netflix adaptation of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell games. Despite relying on stealth mechanics that are challenging to translate to a story format, this series manages to capture the spy thriller tone of the source material, albeit with limited success. Another notable adaptation is "Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear," which stands out as one of the best pieces of Warhammer media and re-inspires hope for a fully realized adaptation of the franchise on Amazon Prime Video.
Within the anthology series "Love, Death + Robots," "Secret Level" offers a love letter to video games, even if it pales in comparison to earlier anthology series. However, the series struggles to maintain its ambition throughout its run. On the other end of the spectrum, "Among Us," an adaptation of a multiplayer online party game, is seen as a cash grab with little substance.
Despite its ubiquity during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the show's lack of story and overt lore make it seem like a missed opportunity. The remaining shows on the list offer varying degrees of success in adapting video game properties to the television medium, with a few standing out for their ability to capture the essence of the source material while others struggle to find their footing.
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