(Photo by Patti Perret/©Universal Pictures,©HBO, JoJo Whilden/©Amazon)
With Sonic the Hedgehog 3 racing into theaters – and already receiving rave reviews – it seems the video game adaptation revolution won’t be slowing down anytime soon. Toss in recent, critically-acclaimed TV series, from Fallout and The Last of Us to Arcane: League of Legends’ second season, and game-inspired shows and films have finally shed the stigma that plagued the subgenre for decades.
Of course, it’s not all sunshine and polygons. Box office bombs like Borderlands suggest the dreaded “video game curse” hasn’t been completely vanquished, while even some respectable efforts – like Paramount+’s cancelled Halo series – can fail to find an audience.
Still, the last few years have delivered more quality game-based films and TV series than the ’80s, ’90s, and early aughts combined. And based on the nearly 100 projects in the pipeline, it appears Sega’s Blue Blur will have plenty of company in the coming years.
While some announced adaptations have been light on updates as of late, there are at least two dozen well on their way to bringing our favorite games to life on the big and small screens. So whether you’re anxiously waiting to stream Kratos’ god-slaying adventures or just wondering when Sam Fisher will fire up his night vision goggles again, read on for the latest intel on 25 of the most promising – and probable – game-based movies and shows.
[Updated 12/19/24]
The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep
(Photo by Netflix)
Premiere Date: February 11, 2025
Netflix’s The Witcher has previously spawned a pair of prequel stories for better (the excellent animated film The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf) and worse (the abysmal live-action series The Witcher: Blood Origin). Thankfully, the streamer’s next attempt to expand on the franchise’s rich, fantasy lore looks to not only borrow from the former, but also stars the titular monster-slayer himself, Geralt of Rivia, and features Doug Cockle, the original voice of Geralt in the video games, in a standalone story landing February 11, 2025.
Release Date: April 4, 2025
Hot on the heels – or blue, furry feet – of Sonic the Hedgehog 3, A Minecraft Movie brings another enormously popular franchise to the big screen. Arriving April 5 and helmed by Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess, the film stars Jack Black and Jason Momoa. Its trailers have received mixed reactions at best – and Black’s last game-based effort, the aforementioned Borderlands, barely eked out 10% on the Tomatometer – but hopefully this one will get its blocks together and do right by the sandbox-survival game source material.
Release Date: April 25, 2025
2015 PlayStation 4 game Until Dawn was praised for essentially being an interactive slasher flick. Now the title – which was recently remade for the PlayStation 5 – will be an actual movie. Annabelle: Creation director-writer duo David F. Sandberg and Gary Dauberman are bringing their respective horror film skills to the project, which is slated to leap from the shadows April 25 of next year. An ensemble cast of up-and-coming actors will star alongside Peter Stormare, who reprises his role from the game.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2
(Photo by ©Lionsgate)
Release Date: December 5, 2025
Last year’s Five Nights At Freddy’s failed to resonate with critics, scoring just 32% on the Tomatometer. Still, the pairing of Blumhouse’s horror chops with creepy animatronic creatures brought in the fans – and big box office returns – resulting in a fast-tracked follow-up. Details on the sequel’s story are scarce, but the movie is confirmed to bring back the frights December 5, 2025.
Street Fighter
Release Date: March 20, 2026
Released in 1994, the first Street Fighter film was a victim of the video game curse that plagued nearly all the interactive pastime’s adaptations during the ’80s and ’90s. Seeing that the subgenre has significantly improved, though, there’s hope this latest take on the popular fighting game franchise – due to arrive March 20, 2026 – will beat all memories of the Jean-Claude Van Damme original into oblivion, memorable Raul Julia performance notwithstanding.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2
(Photo by ©Universal Pictures)
Release Date: April 3, 2026
Given that last year’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie brought in over $1 billion to become the biggest video game-based movie of all time, it was a no-brainer that the portly plumber would return to the big screen. Little is known about the sequel – though it’s assumed the likes of Chris Pratt and Jack Black will reprise their iconic roles – but a release date of April 3, 2026 has been set for the princess-rescuing siblings’ return.
The Legend of Zelda
Release Date: TBA
The enormous success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie not only spurred Nintendo into fast-tracking a return to the Mushroom Kingdom, but also green-lighting a live-action adaptation of their equally popular The Legend of Zelda franchise. A release date is yet to be announced, but Wes Ball (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes) is set to direct the Link-starring fantasy adventure, while the face of Nintendo creative, Shigeru Miyamoto, will produce alongside Avi Arad.
Ghost of Tsushima
(Photo by Playstation Studios)
Release Date: TBA
It’s a great time to be a Ghost of Tsushima fan, as the sprawling samurai epic is not only getting a sequel – Ghost of Yotei – sometime in 2025, but also a film based on the popular open-world action game. Project details are still under wraps, but Chad Stahelski, who’s helmed every John Wick film, is set to direct.
The Sims
Release Date: TBA
While this popular simulation franchise has seen fans living their best virtual lives for over two decades, it doesn’t feel like an especially good fit for a film adaptation. That said, the project’s promising resume, which includes Kate Herron – who directed the first season of Loki, and will direct an episode of The Last of Us’ second season – and Margot Robbie’s Barbie-producing production company, suggests it could subvert expectations.
Gears of War
Release Date: TBA
A life sim might seem like a somewhat awkward fit for a big screen adaptation, but over-the-top, sci-fi shooter Gears of War feels like it was destined to bring its buzzing chainsaw-guns to the cinematic medium. Dune and Dune: Part Two scribe Jon Spaihts will pen this live-action movie for Netflix, who’s also working on a Gears-based TV series (see below).
Mortal Kombat 2
(Photo by ©Warner Bros.)
Release Date: October 24, 2025
1995’s Mortal Kombat was yet another casualty of the era’s video game curse, but the 2021 reboot, which scored 55% on the Tomatometer, fared quite a bit better with both fans and critics. Unsurprisingly, then, it’s spawning a gore-soaked sequel – which will see director Simon McQuoid back in fighting form – set for an October 24, 2025 release date.
Death Stranding
Release Date: TBA
Revered game director Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is an ambitious post-apocalyptic tale packed with cinema-rivaling production values and Hollywood talent. Now the acclaimed 2019 action-adventure is set to get both a game sequel and film adaptation. There’s no word on whether series star Norman Reedus will reprise his role for the film, but we know the project will be a close collaboration between Kojima’s production company and A24.
Dredge
Release Date: TBA
A year after indie darling Dredge brilliantly combined deep sea fishing with Lovecraftian scares, the horror/angling sim’s developer Black Salt Games revealed its unique game would be adapted into a live-action film. Story specifics are yet to be reeled in, but the project will be a collaborative effort between the gamemaker and media brand Story Kitchen, who also announced a Sifu film back in 2022.
BioShock
(Photo by 2K Games)
Release Date: TBA
While fans have long wanted a film based on 2K Games’ BioShock, it’s a project that’s suffered a number of false starts over the years. That may finally be remedied with Netflix announcing in 2022 that a movie based on the underwater sci-fi horror hit is in the works. Set to be directed by Francis Lawrence – who helmed the Hunger Games sequels, as well as the series’ prequel – the film will feature a screenplay penned by sci-fi/fantasy vet Michael Green (Logan, Alien: Covenant, Blade Runner 2049).
Premiere Date: January 16, 2025
Netflix’s Castlevania animated shows have been quietly delivering some of the best video game adaptations for the last seven years. Following the original show’s stellar four-season run, fans were able to sink their fangs into last year’s equally good sequel series Castlevania: Nocturne. Season 2 of the adult-aimed adaptation will return January 16, 2025 with eight bloody new episodes of vampire-slaying action.
Devil May Cry
Premiere Date: April, 2025
Netflix will continue to corner the market on mature, game-based animated series with Devil May Cry. Starring sword-swinging, dual pistol-packing protagonist Dante, the show promises to deliver all the lightning-quick action, snarky attitude, and cinematic style of the long-running Capcom franchise. Coming from Castlevania showrunner Adi Shanker, this one looks to be a demon-slaying success when it lands next April.
(Photo by HBO)
Premiere Date: Early 2025
Arguably the best – and certainly most critically acclaimed – series based on a video game, The Last of Us brought a level of respect and prestige to the subgenre that had previously escaped even its best efforts. Arriving next spring, the show’s highly-anticipated second season will presumably stick close to Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie’s (Bella Ramsey) story from The Last of Us: Part II. New characters introduced in the sequel, including Abby, Jesse, and Dina, will be portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever, Young Mazino, and Isabella Merced, respectively.
(Photo by Peacock)
Premiere Date: 2025
Remaining faithful to a project’s source material has proven successful for many game-inspired shows, but as 2023’s Twisted Metal established, it’s sometimes better to think outside the Xbox, er, box. Based on PlayStation’s car combat franchise, the Anthony Mackie-led series fleshed out the game’s defining elements with a can’t-miss combination of compelling characters, dark comedy, and high-octane action. We can’t wait to buckle for season 2, due to put the pedal to the metal sometime next year.
Premiere Date: 2025
Long before The Last of Us was widely, albeit falsey, credited with breaking the video game curse, The Witcher had already proven quality TV could be spawned from the thumb-blistering pastime. Two seasons later, the mature fantasy epic is still going strong, with a fourth – and fifth and final – season on the way. You’d have an easier time felling a Fiend than scoring deep-diving details on the next season, but we do know star Henry Cavill will pass his silver sword to new Geralt of Rivia actor Liam Hemsworth.
Assassin’s Creed
Premiere Date: TBA
Netflix is forgoing its familiar animated adaptation formula for an ambitious, live-action take on Ubisoft’s stealth-action series Assassin’s Creed. The 2016 film failed to do right by the beloved franchise, but hopefully an episodic approach – which we’ve already noted has worked brilliantly for narratively complex properties like The Last of Us and Fallout – will better capture the spirit and grandeur of the historical, throat-slitting series.
(Photo by JoJo Whilden/Prime Video)
Premiere Date: TBA
Where The Last of Us dropped alongside high expectations, Amazon’s Fallout series landed with much less fanfare, making its surprising success as sweet as a Nuka-Cola. A return to the Wasteland – with core cast members Ella Purnell, Walton Goggins, and Aaron Moten – was quickly fast-tracked, which began fueling story speculation faster than a post-apocalyptic plague. In addition to rumors swirling over which character new cast member Macaulay Culkin will play, fans have theorized season 2 will take place in New Vegas – the titular locale of one of the franchise’s favorite games.
Gears of War
Premiere Date: TBA
Netflix is going all-in on Gears of War, with both the aforementioned live-action film in development and a TV show in the works. Set to launch sometime after the movie, the episodic adaptation will be a mature, animated series in a similar vein to many of the steamer’s other game-based projects – like Arcane, Castlevania, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, and Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft. Both the film and show are being produced in partnership with the franchise’s developer The Coalition.
God of War
(Photo by Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Premiere Date: TBA
Amazon Studios and PlayStation Productions are teaming-up to give fans a live-action God of War show based on the games series’ 2018 reboot. On top of the studios that helped bring both Fallout and The Last of Us to the small screen collaborating, writer/producer Ronald D. Moore (Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Outlander) is set to serve as showrunner.
Mass Effect
Premiere Date: TBA
A film or TV series based on Electronic Arts’ and BioWare’s popular sci-fi, role-playing game franchise has been kicking around Hollywood for years. But in the wake of Fallout’s success on Amazon, it seems the streamer is now anxious to bring Commander Shepard and his crew to the small screen. The final product is still a ways out, but Amazon MGM Studios is actively developing a Mass Effect series in collaboration with Fast & Furious 9 writer Daniel Casey.
Splinter Cell: Death Watch
Premiere Date: TBA
Ubisoft’s fan-favorite stealth-action franchise hasn’t received a fresh entry in years, but protagonist Sam Fisher will soon don his iconic night vision goggles again in Netflix’s upcoming series. Like many of the streamer’s other game-based adaptations, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is a mature, animated take on the neck-snapping source material. Liev Schreiber will voice the secret agent, taking over for the games’ longtime star, veteran actor Michael Ironside.
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