10 Underrated Video Game Franchises That Would Make Great TV Shows

With Arcane having received critical acclaim, not to mention Castlevania still going strong, it seems that TV has been turning around opinions on video game adaptations. For years, it was predicted that all adaptations of games were going to be terrible, but it seems the small screen is the antidote.

It does raise one question though, what’s next? With video games getting love on TV, what game franchises are getting the Arcane/Castlevania treatment in the future? While it’s likely the AAA franchises will rush to the small screen as soon as possible, there are some underrated franchises that would thrive on TV.

The Max Payne Franchise (2001-2012)

Max Payne is no stranger to adaptations, getting a long-forgotten movie, but the Mark Wahlberg vehicle failed to capture what made the games so compelling. At its core, Max Payne is a character study about an angry, grieving man at the end of his rope, something that could easily be made engrossing to watch over the course of about 10 episodes.

TV has been embracing more edgy content over the years, with shows like The Wire, Breaking Bad, and The Sopranos pushing the boundaries of what content is acceptable for TV shows. A TV show about the life of Max Payne could be both action-packed, gritty beyond belief, and could give the main character the depth that the movie failed to do.

The Killer Instinct Franchise (1994-2013)

With Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Super Smash Bros selling like gangbusters, it’s easy to forget some other great fighting game franchises, Killer Instinct among them. In the fighting games of the 1990s, the original Killer Instinct stood out above the crowd due to its pioneering 3D graphics and phenomenal combat.

What makes Killer Instinct prime real estate for a television adaptation is its unique cast of characters, each distinctive and full of that Rareware flavor. With both Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter proving that a serialized take on fighting games can work, it’s time for Killer Instinct to rise up and get the love it deserves.

The Sly Cooper Franchise (2002-2013)

Sony has unleashed quite a few mascots upon the unsuspecting populace, with Sly Cooper being a true fan favorite, as the franchise has a timeless appeal that surpasses its better-selling brethren. Fans of Sly Cooper have been salivating for a new game since the fourth installment, but an animated series can make that wait a little more tolerable.

There was a teaser for a Sly Cooper movie a while ago, but nothing has come from it and honestly, the franchise works better as a TV show anyway. A show could both feature the daring heists that the franchise promises, but also could properly flesh out Sly, Bently, Murray, Carmelita Fox, and the rest of the franchise’s cast.

The Clock Tower Franchise (1995-2002)

Clock Tower may be forgotten by many, but it has a fanbase that would be excited about a true adaptation. Before Resident Evil became the be-all-end-all when it comes to horror games, Clock Tower was terrifying gamers with its two-part saga of the young Jennifer Simpson running from the malicious Scissorman.

After the second game, the series drifted away from Scissorman, which saw a severe drop in critical reception, but a Clock Tower series would likely return to the original plot. It may seem odd for a slasher game to get a TV adaptation, but if Scream can do it, Clock Tower can too.

The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Franchise (2007-Now)

There are many great post-apocalyptic video games, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. hasn’t been able to escape the shadow of its more popular cousins like Fallout. Following a group of individuals attempting to survive in a post-nuclear-fallout Russia, the games have lore that could keep an ongoing TV show going.

Interest in the mysterious Chernobyl disaster has risen since HBO’s Chernobyl came out, but S.T.A.L.K.E.R. asks questions about what would happen if Chernobyl happened again, a hook that could really get people’s attention.

The TimeSplitters Franchise (2000-Now)

FPS games have a tendency to be overly serious, but that isn’t something anyone can accuse the TimeSplitters games of. The games take place in different time periods as Agent Cortez, a marine from the year 2401, hops his way through time to stop the machinations of the evil TimeSplitters.

It’s easy to see how a TimeSplitters show would work, each episode would take place in a different time period with glimpses of the future connecting the stories, all with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that will leave audiences in stitches. With a new TimeSplitters game confirmed, a new show could create some great synergy.

The Thief Franchise (1998-2014)

Thief, one of the earliest stealth-action franchises in the same vein as Metal Gear Solid, has a world that no other game, movie, or television show can boast. Set in a fantasy land with Victorian trappings, the franchise follows the misadventures of a talented thief named Garrett who is constantly trying to steal valuable trinkets whilst avoiding the different factions out for his blood.

It’s very rare that gaming or cinema avoids action, but in Thief, it’s essential that Garrett avoids one-on-one combat as much as possible, giving a potential TV show a chance to stand out. Not to mention that, with fantasy TV on the rise right now, Thief would be in a position the thrive.

The Legacy Of Kain Series (1996-2004)

Speaking of the fantasy genre, Legacy of Kain is a blend of dark fantasy and action-adventure that has developed a passionate fanbase. The game follows the complicated vampire hero Kain and the even more complex anti-hero Raziel as they battle the evil forces that endanger the realm of Nosgoth.

Not only does the series have very complex lore behind it, but it deals with deep themes like fate that could help a TV series captivate an audience. Besides, a TV show could make up for the fact that there hasn’t been a proper Legacy of Kain game in almost 20 years.

The Infamous Franchise (2009-2014)

From the same developers as Sly Cooper, Infamous is a much grittier, more superpowered franchise than that of the furry little thief. The game is set in an alternate present, where Conduits, humans with special powers, are hunted by a special government organization after a bio-terrorist attack.

Superhero content is more popular than ever, but unlike most soft-superhero media, Infamous has a marketable lead in the form of Cole MacGrath, a conduit with lightning powers. Regardless of whether the show follows Cole’s story or not, it has a unique world that would set it apart from DC or Marvel.

The Mother Franchise (1989-2006)

Outside of F-Zero, the Mother series may be the Nintendo franchise that’s gotten the least amount of love from the video game giant, with only one of the games seeing receiving a physical release. The series is most famous for its second game Earthbound, a difficult hidden gem on the SNES which follows the child Ness and his friends as they battle the nightmarish Giygas.

Earthbound alone has enough material to build a show around, but the other games could also be adapted. The games have a Stranger Things flavor, but they also have a much more lighthearted tone that could help escape the shadow of the Netflix original.

About The Author

Seth Rector
(172 Articles Published)

Ever since he was a young lad, Seth Rector has had a love for all things that reek of geek. Movies, tv shows, comic books, and video games are what he considers his wheelhouse. A writer at heart, Seth says he’s over the moon now that he can write about what he loves. When he isn’t writing for Screen Rant, he is putting his film degree from Lights Film School to good use by working on future film projects.

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