Video Games and Their TV Counterparts (Part 2)

Video games are bigger than ever. So big that Hollywood is knocking on many developers’ doors, with Assassin’s Creed being the most recent game to receive a movie. But have you ever played a game and thought that it could not only make a great film but also a great TV show? I have, several times. However, we haven’t seen many because there are already TV shows that are very similar to some big games. Here are 5 more games and their TV counterparts.

In Part 1, I pointed out that Vikings has more similarities to The Elder Scrolls than Game of Thrones. The primary reason being the exploration in Vikings. Another reason is that Game of Thrones is more akin to a different game franchise, Call of Duty. One might wonder what a futuristic first-person shooter has in common with a fantasy drama featuring swords and dragons. It’s the massive fanbase and popularity surrounding both. Call of Duty and Game of Thrones are the most popular franchises around, enjoyed by a wide demographic. Over the last five years, we’ve seen countless installments from both, selling millions worldwide. Neither franchise seems to be slowing down anytime soon, despite the controversies both have faced in the media for their violence and graphic content.

Another odd comparison: What does a guy and his horse fighting giant monsters have in common with a space science fiction drama? Despite both receiving great reviews, neither Shadow Of The Colossus nor Firefly received a sequel, despite popular demand. Despite the ending for Shadow Of The Colossus, Team Ico could have easily made a sequel or at least some DLC for the game. Firefly could have also continued for a second season with its popularity and great reviews, but was sadly canceled. We’ve seen an HD remastered version of both. We’ve also seen a Firefly film. But did you know that a Shadow Of The Colossus film might be in the works?

A more straightforward comparison: Both Watch Dogs and Mr. Robot feature a socially awkward main character with little family and social life. Both Aiden Pearce and Elliot Anderson are also proficient hackers, capable of hacking their surroundings and retrieving private information from other people’s devices. Both series are fairly new, with only one installment so far. Each had significant hype before its release. Watch Dogs was meant to be Ubisoft’s next big franchise, one that would compete with the larger Grand Theft Auto. Mr. Robot is also one of Amazon’s main TV shows, competing with the more popular Netflix.

Both great spin-offs from already successful franchises. Better Call Saul is obviously a spin-off of the popular Breaking Bad series, as mentioned in part 1. Not everyone knows that Portal takes place in the same world as Half-Life. Both Portal and Better Call Saul also occur between the events of their respective original shows, not after, which is the more common placement for spin-offs. We’ve seen two Portal games, and Better Call Saul is currently in its second season. Both are very popular and have the potential to be even bigger and more successful than the original, making them among the most successful spin-offs ever made.

It’s all about the story here. You won’t see much gameplay in Until Dawn, and you won’t see much action in House Of Cards. Both focus on storytelling, performances, and drama. The main character of House Of Cards, Frank Underwood, manipulates and harms people during his campaign for president, even resorting to murder. The same can be said for Until Dawn, where death is a significant part of the game. Depending on your actions, you can also manipulate and harm characters, akin to Frank Underwood, or help the characters you prefer the most. Another interesting similarity is the way the psychiatrist in Until Dawn, Dr. Alan Hill, and Frank Underwood talk to you during the game/show, making you feel like a part of the story.

More people will be familiar with the film when mentioning Spartacus, or the gladiator himself. But if you’re a fan of God Of War, then I highly recommend the Spartacus TV show. Both are loosely based on Greek mythology, and the rise of their main characters is very similar. Kratos from God Of War was once a servant for Ares, who tricks him into killing his family. Spartacus was one of Batiatus’ slaves, who also kills his family. Both eventually become godlike figures. Kratos becomes the god of war, while Spartacus becomes a godlike figure for all slaves. To top it all off, God Of War and Spartacus feature a lot of fighting, a lot of blood, and a lot of violence, more so than most video games and TV shows.

And there you have it—Video games and their TV counterparts (part 2). If you missed part 1, click here. Thanks again for reading. Please like, share, and comment with your opinions on which video games and TV shows are similar. Also, feel free to follow me on Twitter X @rhysbritton.