Video game adaptations are having a major moment right now, with studios and streaming platforms betting big on beloved franchises making the jump to film and television. The success of recent adaptations has proven that games can translate to compelling screen experiences, and the pipeline of upcoming projects reflects this growing confidence. Here are seven video game adaptations worth watching as they move toward release.
Key Takeaways
- Netflix is developing a Bioshock movie adaptation with 2K and Take-Two to bring the underwater city of Rapture to life.
- Gears of War, Until Dawn, and Alan Wake are among the franchises getting film and TV treatments in development.
- Horizon Zero Dawn is being adapted into a show called Horizon 2047 that could explore new stories within the franchise’s large world.
- Gary Dauberman is producing the Until Dawn movie adaptation, which is still in early development stages.
- Video game-to-screen adaptations are competing directly with other entertainment properties as studios recognize the fan bases and narrative depth these games offer.
Bioshock Brings Rapture to Netflix
Netflix is partnering with 2K and Take-Two to adapt Bioshock, one of gaming’s most visually distinctive and thematically rich franchises. The story follows Jack, who survives a plane crash and discovers the hidden underwater city of Rapture, a art deco metropolis built on philosophical extremism and corporate excess. Netflix’s involvement signals confidence in the source material—Rapture is a setting unlike anything in mainstream cinema, and translating its aesthetic and ideological complexity to film is a genuine creative challenge. The partnership with the original publishers suggests the adaptation will prioritize authenticity to the game’s vision rather than stripping it down for mass appeal.
Gears of War and Until Dawn Enter Development
Gears of War, the third-person shooter that defined a generation of console gaming, is being developed into a film adaptation, with the first game likely serving as the narrative foundation. The franchise pits players against the reptilian Locust as humanity fights to restore peace on the planet Sera. Meanwhile, Until Dawn—an interactive horror game where player choices determine the outcome—is in early development as a movie produced by Gary Dauberman. Until Dawn’s branching narrative structure presents a unique adaptation challenge: how do you preserve the illusion of player agency in a linear film format? Dauberman’s involvement suggests the filmmakers understand this isn’t just a straightforward horror story, but a meditation on consequence and survival.
Horizon and Alan Wake Expand Game Worlds
The Horizon franchise is becoming Horizon 2047, a television series based on Horizon Zero Dawn that will follow Aloy, a young hunter uncovering the truth about her past. Because the Horizon universe features a large, complex world with extensive lore, the show could explore new stories or characters beyond the games’ narratives. This approach—using the game’s world-building as a foundation rather than a direct adaptation of the plot—gives the series room to surprise both longtime fans and newcomers. Alan Wake, the psychological thriller centered on a crime-fiction novelist and his wife who encounter shadowy pursuers during a vacation, is being developed for AMC. Updates on the Alan Wake adaptation have been scarce since AMC acquired the franchise, though progress is still hoped for.
Why Video Game Adaptations Matter Now
Video game adaptations are competing directly with traditional film and television because the source material offers what studios crave: established fan bases, complex world-building, and narratives already proven to engage audiences for dozens of hours. The recent success of adaptations like Fallout has validated this strategy, encouraging platforms and studios to greenlight more ambitious projects. These seven adaptations represent different genres and storytelling approaches—from underwater dystopias to sci-fi action to psychological horror—suggesting the industry is moving beyond one-off curiosities toward genuine franchise development. The fact that Netflix, AMC, and major studios are all investing in game adaptations indicates this is not a trend but a structural shift in how entertainment properties are sourced and developed.
What Makes These Adaptations Stand Out
Unlike earlier game-to-film attempts that often stripped away the source material’s identity, these upcoming adaptations are being helmed by creators and platforms that seem to understand what made the games compelling in the first place. Bioshock’s partnership with the original publishers, Dauberman’s horror pedigree with Until Dawn, and the decision to expand Horizon’s world rather than simply retell the game’s story all suggest a more thoughtful approach. The diversity of formats—Netflix film, AMC series, theatrical releases—also indicates that studios are not forcing all game adaptations into a single mold. Each franchise gets the treatment its story structure demands.
Are video game adaptations finally becoming good?
Recent adaptations like Fallout have proven that games can translate to compelling television when the creators respect the source material and understand why audiences loved the original. The seven upcoming projects suggest studios have learned this lesson and are willing to invest in authenticity rather than quick cash-grabs.
Which video game adaptation should I watch first?
That depends on your interests. Bioshock offers philosophical depth and visual spectacle. Until Dawn delivers psychological horror. Gears of War provides action-driven spectacle. Horizon 2047 promises expansive sci-fi world-building. Start with whichever genre appeals to you most, though Bioshock’s Netflix release will likely reach the widest audience first.
Why are so many games being adapted right now?
The success of recent game-to-screen projects has convinced studios that game franchises offer the narrative depth, fan loyalty, and world-building that modern audiences crave. Games have become as culturally significant as films and books, making them natural sources for adaptation.
Video game adaptations are no longer a gamble—they are a strategic investment for platforms and studios betting that audiences will follow beloved franchises to new mediums. These seven projects represent the best of what that shift looks like: thoughtful, ambitious adaptations that understand why the games mattered in the first place.
Where to Buy
$29.71 | $29.92 | $19.99 | $24.91 | $32.99
Edited by the All Things Geek team.
Source: Tom's Guide
