We all know that video game movies generally don’t have the best reputation, but can the same be said for video games based on movies? Whilst video games that try to adapt movie IPs can certainly fail, it’s never as frequent. It’s usually down to developers being forced to create an entire game with a tight deadline, or the IP they chose doesn’t translate well to the video game format. I mean, did ET really need a video game tie-in? There are a lot of gems to be found though. Spiderman 2, GoldenEye 007, Mad Max etc. So, with that being said, I put together a list of 5 movies that would make for some incredible video games.
5. Mission Impossible
Probably the most obvious choice on this list, Mission Impossible has been one of the best (and most popular) action franchises in history. While the major appeal of Mission Impossible comes in the death-defying real action set pieces that continue to blow us away, games like Uncharted have proven that breath-taking action can be recreated in video games if given the same amount of care and time. With Dead Reckoning expected to be the conclusion to Ethan’s story, a game series could follow his eventual successor. A new spy, employed by the IMF, is being trained to eventually become the next Ethan Hunt. This spy could be better suited to a stealth approach offering a fresh new take on the series with a Splinter Cell-style approach to some missions. The other option is to just take Jeremy Renner’s character from Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation and make him the lead. It seemed like he was being groomed to be Cruise’s eventual replacement anyway so here’s a chance to continue the franchise with a character that fans are already familiar with.
4. The Conjuring
Is The Conjuring the biggest horror movie franchise that isn’t considered a slasher? It definitely is in recent memory. With the number of Conjuring spinoffs that we’ve seen in the past 10 years, it’s quite surprising that they haven’t tried to break into the video game industry yet (especially with the rise of VR gaming). The film spinoffs we get are usually average at best anyway, so why not give some big game developers a chance? I saw a brilliant trailer for a Conjuring-style game which I’ll share here, but the name was later changed to something different and it didn’t quite generate the buzz expected from a Conjuring story (perhaps due to a lack of care or resources). However, it got me thinking about the cancelled Silent Hill game back in 2014. If somebody was to create a Conjuring video game, that would be the absolute best way to go about it. Take Ed and Lorraine Warren back to their early years to tell creepier stories. You could even revive some cancelled movies like The Crooked Man.
3. The Purge
I always assumed that this franchise would have worked better as video games anyway. A bunch of crazy criminals running around and committing crimes? I mean, that’s GTA Online. That doesn’t mean a Purge game should just rip GTA off, an action-horror game (leaning more on the action side) with a slight GTA influence sounds perfect. Especially if they drop the stupid and terrible NFFA stuff (and yes, I had to google the name of the organization because nobody cares). Just follow in the footsteps of the second movie, remove all the political nonsense and you have a fun game. Vulnerable civilians must survive the night as dangerous criminals roam the street. Take this concept to multiplayer with a fun little hunter vs hunted game mode. Nothing too complex, just keep enjoyment at the forefront.
2. Missing/Searching
If you haven’t heard about these films, that kind of makes sense. They aren’t as popular as the other movies mentioned on this list and are severely underrated. While they can get crazy at times, they never fail to take you on a wild ride. Both ‘Searching’ and ‘Missing’ are two separate films, but set in the same world. They’re told from the perspective of our protagonists’ computer screen, very much like Unfriended, as they try to solve the disappearance of their loved ones. Now imagine a video game where you take control of someone’s desktop and have to figure out what happened to them. Being able to click through their emails, apps, messages, and bookmarked webpages until you discover new evidence that allows you to access different apps and webpages. I’m thinking about a game that looks kind of like Emily is Away in its visuals and mechanics, but Her Story in the execution of the story. Maybe there could be several ways to weave through this puzzle which leads to the same ending.
1. Scream
Realistically, you could put any slasher here and it would make for a pretty fun and compelling video game. I believe Friday the 13th already has one, but Scream is my favourite horror franchise and, if I’m being honest, might just be the best one to use. An Until Dawn-style horror-comedy that is a celebration of horror and the Scream franchise. I think it would be important to introduce a new cast of characters for the games so as to not interfere with the movies too much. I mean, how many times can Sidney be the killer’s target without it feeling repetitive? Create a new cast of characters, keep it in Woodsboro (as the movies have left the city) and continue the same formula. That isn’t to say that characters from the movies can’t have small cameos as fan service though. Some people have stated that the self-aware jokes have started to get stale. While I don’t agree with that sentiment, I think a video game will offer a fresh approach to that. In terms of gameplay, it’s acceptable to go with a normal 3rd person style, but I think a more cinematic Until Dawn-style gameplay would be better. Whether you’re following one character or multiple, everyone must be a suspect.