The video game industry has always had a habit of trying to replicate the movies. While we’ve seen innumerable movie tie-ins over the years, games such as the Grand Theft Auto series and anything from developers Quantic Dream have highlighted that even when developers aren’t directly adapting films, they’re still often heavily influenced by them.
However, despite this there have been several films over the years that, even though they were seemingly perfect fodder for a game tie-in, haven’t made the cut for some reason. The following list isn’t a summary of movies we’d like to see be turned into games, then (even though that is also the case), but rather movies we can’t believe haven’t yet been adapted.
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Here are 10 video games based on movies that somehow haven’t been made yet:
10 Video Games Based on Movies That Somehow Haven’t Been Made Yet
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Battle Royale
Battle Royale fits the video game format so perfectly that modders have already done a good job of recreating it in the world of the open-world zombie survival title DayZ, with it also being offered as a legitimate, official mode in H1Z1.
But Kinji Fukasaku's gory action thriller deserves its own fully-fledged game, complete with all of the moral dilemmas that are seen in the film. This could be accomplished by it either being a multiplayer-only game in which combatants can choose to go it solo or side with one another in order to improve their odds of survival (until the final moments where they're required to kill their new-found friends), or as a single-player game in which the narrative is directed but the decisions the player makes impact upon the rest of the story, like we have seen in games such as Heavy Rain.
If the game was to take the multiplayer route then it would obviously be difficult to replicate the feeling of actually taking someone's life from them, which many characters struggle with in the movie, as opposed to killing someone in the video game. To counter this, the Battle Royale game could therefore give each player a randomized secret objective prior to the start of each round, with the completion of these objectives granting them tons of bonus XP. For instance, some players could have the objective of approaching the fatal tournament like a psychopath, killing everyone they come into contact with, while others would be tasked with playing like a pacifist, refusing to kill anyone. Someone could be given the objective of seeking out and ensuring the safety of one particular combatant that they shared a friendly relationship with prior to being thrust into the tournament, whereas another player may have to travel to a particular destination on the map and keep it secure, such as the girls who took over the lighthouse in the film.
Considering that Battle Royale practically already is a video game, complete with the violence, competitiveness and sneering assholes wandering around the map wanting nothing more than to murder you, it's baffling that no developer has tried to make it yet.
Alternatives: DayZ's Battle Royale mod, H1Z1's Battle Royale mode
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Kill Bill
A Kill Bill video game was actually in development, with director Quentin Tarantino himself working in collaboration with Vivendi to bring the project to light before the first volume of the two-part series ever made it into theaters. Unfortunately the game was canceled, and it's still surprising that we've never seen a game based on the ultra-violent martial arts movies, given that they would seemingly lend themselves perfectly to the medium.
Kill Bill: The Video Game would obviously reside within the hack 'n' slash genre, and given how thrilling its action scenes are to watch in the films, being able to replicate them ourselves would surely make for some thrilling gameplay. The bloody battle with the Crazy 88 would obviously be the stand-out and, combined with the movies' unique aesthetic and compelling soundtrack, there's real potential for a wonderful video game here.
Another interesting direction that a Kill Bill game could take would be combining the hack 'n' slash mechanics with some traditional 1-on-1 fighting game mechanics. Given that many of the battles in the Kill Bill series feature The Bride seeking vengeance upon each of her attackers in the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, the game could even be based around a series of boss fights, albeit ones that showcase a great deal of diversity in order to not make the concept grow stagnant. Think the concept of Shadow of the Colossus, except instead of making players question their morality, it instead makes them want to stab things.
Alternatives: Lollipop Chainsaw, Killer Is Dead
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Dredd
There have been Judge Dredd games before, such as the thoroughly mediocre 2003 game Judge Dredd: Dredd vs. Death, but we would have loved to have seen a video game adaptation of the 2012 movie Dredd. While it may have been a little difficult to pull off given that it takes place entirely within a high-rise block of flats in Mega-City One, if the film could pull it off (which it did with gusto), then we're sure an adept developer could've done the same.
Combining the movie's intense action with its stunning visual direction, a Dredd video game could have been something special and may have garnered the cult appeal of its film counterpart. One key component of Judge Dredd's character that has always been missing from his video game forays is the complexity of his character, with them instead focusing upon the violence he inflicts rather than his questionable black and white view of good and evil, and the difficulties that would present to a player who may not be of the same mindset. It could even see the player assuming the role of Judge Dredd's accomplice Judge Anderson, gifted with psychic abilities that allow her to sense the emotions and thoughts of others that would make Dredd's decisions even more difficult to bear witness to.
On top of that, it could also replicate the beautiful violence of the film, with the pristine, slow-motion effects that accompany bouts of gunfire, and the occasional bouts of sunlight reflecting from shattered glass being gorgeous to look at even though, y'know, there's all that blood and stuff. A Dredd game won't happen now given that the film didn't do as well as had been hoped, but we remain optimistic that a Judge Dredd game will be made in the future that is actually befitting of the 2000AD series.
Alternative: Hotline Miami
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Star Wars Episodes IV - VI
Considering how many Star Wars video games we've seen over the years, it's baffling that there has yet to be a straight-up video game adaptation of A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. We've had the Lego trilogy that served as a jump-off point for that particular franchise, and back in the days of the SNES we were treated to the insanely difficult Super Star Wars trilogy, but Episodes IV, V and VI have yet to be truly represented in a game that faithfully follow the events of the movies.
Considering that Star Wars has perhaps had the very best games based upon a movie license in the history of the medium, we'd love to see who the franchise's new license-holders Disney Interactive would choose to handle games based upon the original trilogy. The games themselves could be wonderfully diverse, with space battles permeated by lightsaber duels and shootouts on-board the Death Star.
It'd be a Star Wars fan's dream to be able to replicate the movies' most iconic scenes with the power of current-gen consoles, and we can barely believe no one has thought of this idea yet. Yes, we enjoyed the Lego Star Wars games, but we'd much rather play through adaptations of the original trilogy that feature graphics not made out of bricks.
Alternatives: Star Wars Battlefront, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
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Escape From New York
We all know that Escape From New York's protagonist Snake Plissken inspired the creation of the Metal Gear series' protagonist Solid Snake, but Plissken hasn't had the opportunity to star in his own video game yet and it just doesn't feel right.
The concept of an overwhelmingly hostile open-world in which the player is placed in control of a morally questionable anti-hero isn't exactly a new concept for the video game industry, but considering Escape From NY had so many great scenes that are begging to be turned into video game action set-pieces, we're surprised that no one has picked it up yet.
Roaming around a nigh-on apocalyptic New York setting and defending yourself against hordes of crazed criminals may be derivative of a plethora of other open-world games, but we still really want to see this game get made. The film's even got its own final boss fight in the form of Snake's fight to the death with inmate Slag - it pretty much writes itself.
Alternatives: Batman: Arkham City
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Guardians of the Galaxy
Considering that we've seen a variety of other Marvel movies adapted into video games, it's a shame that the two we'd really want to see make their way onto consoles and PC - The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy - have been avoided by developers. The latter in particular would be particularly exciting, assuming it would be placed in the hands of the right developer, of course.
Guardians of the Galaxy's tale of intergalactic adventure and terrific cast of characters would translate perfectly to a video game, and while we're seeing an influx of games focused upon space travel, from the superb Elite: Dangerous to the upcoming No Man's Sky, all of them place players in the shoes of an anonymous protagonist. That is where Guardians of the Galaxy could change up the formula, offering players the same high level of exploration alongside a cast of heroes they can actually emotionally invest in.
Unfortunately, the broad scale of a Guardians of the Galaxy video game means that it would inarguably take more time than is typically required for a movie tie-in game, meaning that if we were to see one for the film's sequel, it'd probably be more reminiscent of unfortunate cash-ins such as the woeful Iron Man 2 game or The Amazing Spider-Man 2 tie-in. But we still hold out hope that someone, somewhere has a great idea for how to translate the series into a game.
Alternatives: Mass Effect 1, 2 and 3
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Jaws
We've already technically seen a Jaws game in the form of Jaws Unleashed, but it had very little to do with the movie and more to do with taking control of a Great White Shark and causing chaos. It was silly, enjoyable fun, but what we really want to see is a movie that can replicate the horror of Steven Spielberg's summer blockbuster classic, as difficult as that may be.
The inherent problem with a Jaws video game is that the shark would only be a real threat once the player is near the water, and the original film mostly revolved around character development and a few scenes of the shark terrorizing those paddling in Amity Island's surrounding ocean, before Brody, Hooper and Quint embarked upon their little voyage into the sea. This doesn't really translate well to a full-budget, AAA game, but it would certainly make for an interesting indie game.
Creating a linear story based upon Jaws' plot would be a difficult task, sure, but there are numerous opportunities for jump-scares and psychological horror if the game takes a few liberties with the source material. Imagine being on that boat in the dead of night, with that old familiar theme gradually getting more intense as the shark attempts to overturn your fishing boat? Imagine trying to fend it off in the pitch-black of the evening? And what about a terrifying moment in which the monster forces you to fall overboard, with you desperately having to make your way back onto the boat before it sinks its teeth into you?
Jaws isn't ideally suited to a full-price game, but as a small-scale horror oddity it might just work and we can't believe that the only attempt on adapting the subject matter of the films has been in an ultra-violent take on Ecco The Dolphin and an awful NES game.
Alternative: Depth
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Oldboy
"Man seeking revenge" isn't exactly an uncommon theme in video games, but Oldboy pretty much epitomizes this plot device in terms of cinema, and it could do the same for gaming.
Outside of the iconic hallway scene in which Oh Dae-su taken on a horde of assailants armed with little more than a hammer, Oldboy features numerous ultra-violent scenes that accompany a gripping plot, leading right up to a gut-wrenching finale that is almost unbearable to sit through.
If Oldboy the video game could replicate both the action sequences and the drama of its cinematic counterpart, it could wind up being a pretty special game... or at the very least better than the putrid US remake.
Alternatives: Max Payne 3, God of War
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Rambo: First Blood
We've seen Rambo video games before and they have all been, without exception, awful. When Rambo: The Video Game was unveiled back in 2013, we all held our breath hoping that maybe, just maybe it'd be the First Blood adaptation we'd all been waiting for, but instead it was on-rails shooter that completely betrayed everything we loved about the tormented action anti-hero.
A Rambo: First Blood video game should have been made by now, given that the source material would work incredibly well as a stealth/action title. The first Rambo movie actually made it seem like what Sylvester Stallone's iconic character was doing could be possible, and a video game would need to replicate this.
Think of how Batman begins to look more worn out, his clothes ripped and bloodied, as you play through an Arkham game - that's essentially what would need to happen in a First Blood adaptation, only without the cape and cowl, obviously. Every boy aged 8 to 18 wanted to be Rambo when they were growing up, and a First Blood adaptation would belatedly allow them to do just that.
Alternative: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
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Jurassic World
There has yet to be a video game that actually serves as a direct adaption of a movie in the Jurassic Park series, with developers having instead produced on-rails shooter, side-scrolling platformers and even dinosaur fighting games rather than using the subject matter given to them by Spielberg & co.
Jurassic World has two officially licensed games, but neither are really befitting of the movie they're based upon; Lego Jurassic World applies that familiar Lego game shtick to the movie's plot, while the mobile Jurassic World game places you in control of building a dinosaur theme park (but is quite a bit worse than that sounds). While many of us have our reservations about the movie, it could undoubtedly be translated into a fun video game - it'd be like Turok, except set in Disney Land with dinosaurs.
Dinosaurs are not represented very well in video games in general, and the lack of a true Jurassic World video game is evidence of this. Imagine being hunted down by the Indominus Rex while in one of those roller balls from the film? Or being able to view the Mosasaurus show in first-person?
The beauty of a Jurassic World video game would be that the player could spend a substantial portion of it simply wandering around and enjoying its attractions (an open-world theme park setting would be wonderfully unique), before watching the park crumble right in front of their eyes and then being tasked with surviving. It'd also give Chris Pratt the chance to be the star of a video game, as the guy has been in two blockbusters now and still doesn't have a polygonal representation of himself.
Alternative: ARK: Survival Evolved
