Summary
Video games are a phenomenal medium for storytelling, and are responsible for some of the most visceral and emotional narratives to date. In fact, certain games are tied to gaming in such a purposeful and complex way that they wouldn’t seem right presented in a different form. Titles likeDoki Doki Literature Clubare so concerned with the concept of playing and making choices with repercussions, that they don’t naturally lend themselves to the medium of film. The concept would need to be changed so substantially that it may appear to be a different story altogether.
But, other games have created brilliant environments and narratives that would translate to film perfectly. In particular, horror games have animmense capability for cinema, since many of the genre conventions and techniques are similar. That’s likely why so many existing video game adaptations have been from the horror genre, likeThe Last of Us,Resident Evil,andSilent Hill. Although these adaptations don’t always go well, there are still dozens of games that would make fantastic movies if given the chance.
Alan Wakeis a longstanding pillar ofthe horror/thriller genrein gaming, first released in 2010 to critical success and a cult following. A long-awaited sequel, aptly titledAlan Wake 2, was announced in 2021, making this the perfect time for a movie adaptation.
Alan Wakealready has the depth of storytelling and lore that would be needed to create a movie. The intense mystery taking place in Bright Falls is a brilliant setting for an unsettling horror movie that would keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Although some players may be apprehensive at the thought of an adaptation, the best way to go about it would be to stick close to the source material and be loyal to the effort and care put into the original game. It’s an easy choice for an epic horror movie that would stay with audiences long after.
It’s true thatResident Evilfilm adaptations have been somewhat overdone. There have been seven relatively unsuccessful attempts at creating movies based on theResident Evilgames, although many of them differ quite substantially from the in-game narrative. This may have gamers thinking the franchise is better off left alone.
However, off the back ofResident Evil 4’sremake, there’s a real chance to make a movie adaptation that is true to the games. Even thoughResident Evilhas alot of classic stories, Leon, Ashley, and Ada are fantastic characters to translate onto the screen, and with only minor changes to the narrative, the storyline could easily remain intact. The most recent adaptation of theResident Evilseries aimed to be fun and somewhat loyal to the nature of the games, but a gory and gritty retelling of the story could make for the perfect horror film.
Outlasthas been at the forefront of the horror video game scene since its release and for a good reason. This terrifying series is unbelievably stressful to play and really incorporates all the most frightening horror conventions to make a brilliant game. It follows the story of Miles, a journalist, who encounters more than he bargained for when he enters Mount Massive Asylum to try and expose inhumane practices.
Outlastcould be adapted into either linear or found-footage style horror film, particularly since one of Miles' mechanics is to record the goings-on of the Asylum. The alreadyhorrendously frightening encountersinOutlastwould translate superbly onto the big screen, and there’s even an opportunity to tell a different story than Miles' based on the events leading up to his arrival.
The Quarryis another phenomenal horror game from Supermassive Games, creators ofUntil DawnandThe Dark Pictures Anthology. LikeUntil Dawn,The Quarryalready featuresincredible motion-capture performancesand is so story-heavy that it’s not too far off a movie in its game form. That’s not to do a disservice to the gameplay, which is mainly composed of quick-time events, button mashing, and shooting. However, many of these aspects can be disabled which can make the gameplay more like an interactive story.
The Quarry’scast of characters is prime material for a teen horror movie, especially sinceThe Quarrydefinitely draws influences from classic slashers likeFriday the 13thandScream. Although a movie adaptation would have to dictate which characters lived and died ahead of time, it would actually allow the movie to differ enough from the game to make it fresh while staying loyal to the source material.
Five Nights At Freddy’sis such a great choice for a movie adaptation, that it’s already gotten one. TheFive Nights At Freddy’smovie was announced for release in October 2023 and follows the story of the first game. Josh Hutcherson is Mike Schmidt, who takes the security job at a now abandoned Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria and quickly discovers the animatronics are sentient and out for blood.
The immense lore and clever setting ofFive Nights At Freddy’salready made it a great choice for movie adaptation. There’s awhole series of gamesthat could be next in line for a movie, including its most recent installmentSecurity Breach. With a little bit of story sharpening and streamlining, this franchise could be the next epic movie series.
1Poppy Playtime
Any fans of the horror genre will likely have heard of this relatively recent release.Poppy Playtimeis an episodic horror game that’s set in the abandoned Playtime Co. factory. It’s evident that something awful has taken place in the huge, intimidating building, and soon players will come to encounter mortifying puppet creatures who are no longer the friendly faces they were created to be.
Poppy Playtimeis the perfect choice for a movie adaptation, even if the storyline isn’t yet complete. Its terrifying world is a unique and uncanny setting for a horror movie, and the distinct puppet characters lend themselves well to the medium. Particularly sinceplayers don’t typically fightthe enemies, but rather must solve puzzles and find clever solutions to avoid their grasp. These tactics would work well as story beats in a linear movie, and with the modern talent of effects and art in cinema, it would be incredible to see the puppets come to life on the big screen.
