After Arcane’s Emmy Triumph, Which Games Deserve A Prestige TV Adaptation Next

Arcane’s multiple Emmy wins proved one thing – video games can deliver when adapted into other formats. They have great characters who are emotionally invested, and animation that can even make the most breathtaking shows falter. With Arcane’s venture into a new world, the video games are no longer bound to joysticks and keyboards. They can be adapted into prestigious TV adaptations or anime, exploring bold themes and great tonal shifts, like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Hades.

Fans have already started to believe that Arcane is just the start, and they might get more video games with adaptations in the future. With that thought, here is a list featuring a few of the greatest award-winning video games, which have the potential to become successful if adapted into a TV adaptation.

1. Baldur’s Gate III

• Game Release: August 3, 2023
• Rating: 9.6/10 (IGDB), 96% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Larian Studios
• Platform: PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S

Baldur’s Gate III follows the story of a custom-made character who is affected by a mind-flayer parasite that could transform them into a monster. When illithids abduct the protagonist, the ship crashes, leading to the protagonist surviving the abduction. With the parasite still inside their body, the protagonist starts their journey of finding a cure, making friends, and fighting gods. There are choices that define the characters, making it a great game.

Baldur’s Gate III could be considered for a TV adaptation because of its rich characters, with each of them having exciting backstories, showcasing their personal growth. There are high stakes with the protagonist trying to fend off sinister beings while carrying a parasite that could transform them into a monster at any point. The mythic themes, lore, and choices make it one of the best choices for a TV adaptation. The balance of different genres improves the narrative, making it more approachable to a diversified audience.

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2. Elden Ring

• Game Release: February 25, 2022
• Rating: 9.5/10 (IGDB), 96% (Metacritic)
• Developer: FromSoftware Inc.
• Platform: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S

Taking place in the Lands Between, Elden Ring focuses on the journey of an exiled warrior named Tarnished, who has to face the Demigods, Queen Marika the Eternal’s descendants, and many more to collect shards of the Elden Ring. The Elden Ring and the Erdtree once maintained peace and stability, but after the former was shattered, chaos crawled over the Lands Between. Now, it is up to Tarnished to connect the shards to form the Elden Ring or choose a new destiny.

The world-building of Elden Ring is one of the best, especially since it is written by George R. R. Martin, who wrote Game of Thrones. It will feel like an epic that is a mixture of Game of Thrones and Dark Souls, since there are horror and tragic stories as well. There are mysteries that need to be discovered, with tonal shifts that will leave everyone mesmerized. Also, the characters are larger-than-life, similar to The Lord of the Rings, offering a greater spectrum over the narrative. A live-action film is under development, with Alex Garland writing and directing it, A24 and Bandai Namco producing it.

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3. Chrono Trigger

• Game Release: March 11, 1995
• Rating: 9.9/10 (IGDB), 92% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Square Enix
• Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation

When Chrono meets a princess named Marle during a festival, he learns that a teleportation device malfunction has sent her through time. When he and his friends embark on a journey to return Marle to her timeline, they discover multiple ages, along with the end of time. Upon learning that a parasite named Lavos is feeding on the planet, which will ultimately lead to its destruction, they also take it as a mission to prevent the apocalypse from happening.

Chrono Trigger provides one of the greatest time travel plots ever, and if done correctly, it could potentially become one of the best TV adaptations. The narrative begins with a slow pace but turns out to be an epic with the world at stake. Each character is deeply connected emotionally. Chrono Trigger is visually outstanding and often provides multiple endings based on different choices. The story not only relies on the vanquishing of evil, but also on minimizing the sacrifice required to achieve it.

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4. Red Dead Redemption 2

• Game Release: October 26, 2018
• Rating: 9.7/10 (IGDB), 97% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Rockstar Games
• Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Red Dead Redemption 2 takes place in 1899 in a Western epic setting. The story centers on Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang. All the characters are explored to their core, with the plot revolving around sacrifice, betrayal, survival, and morality. Arthur is a morally complex individual who cannot decide what kind of legacy he wants to leave behind while fighting off against his illness.

Red Dead Redemption 2 not only excels with the narrative but also with the characters. There are multiple supporting characters, and each one has a backstory that could be perfect for a TV adaptation. Initially, the plot may feel slow, but the background will mesmerize the audience. The vibe of the Wild West coming to an end will leave the audience grief-stricken. Red Dead Redemption 2 beautifully connects its prequel, allowing the makers to easily make 4-5 seasons out of it.

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5. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

• Game Release: May 12, 2023
• Rating: 9.3/10 (IGDB), 96% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Nintendo EPD
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

When Demon King Ganondorf reawakens, the people of Hyrule become weak, and the land starts to corrupt. Now, it is up to Zelda and Link to bring back peace by defeating Ganondorf. Zelda ends up in the past, and Link develops a damaged hand imbued with the power of the ancient Zonai Sage. Together, they try to aid each other through different timelines. While Zelda is busy aiding Link, the latter tries to find strong companions to defeat the Demon King.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has an epic mythological setting, blending past and present in the most terrific manner. Similar to Shounen anime, which often showcases dual narratives, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will also feature dual narratives, this time focusing on Zelda and Link. It will be an emotional journey since they will no longer be a duo and will act as individuals, aiding each other. There is also a strong villain who will help in carrying the narrative and maintaining a balance. It could very well be adapted into an adventurous show, if things kept to their original self.

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6. Half-Life: Alyx

• Game Release: March 23, 2020
• Rating: 9.3/10 (IGDB), 93% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Valve
• Platform: Microsoft Windows

Half-Life: Alyx is the VR Sequel of Half-Life, with Alyx Vance as the protagonist. She is a resistance warrior trying to free her father, Eli Vance, from an alien empire named Combine, which took over Earth after the Black Mesa Incident. Alyx’s missions take her through the arduous City 17, and in the process, she discovers shocking entities. Half-Life: Alyx’s conclusion sets the stage for Half-Life 2.

Half-Life: Alyx’s sci-fi world could be the perfect setting for a TV series. There is a strong protagonist going through a dangerous rescue mission. There have been multiple alien invasion stories, but Half-Life: Alyx’s horror elements, along with the intriguing and mysterious scenarios, stand out. Lastly, the story acts as the bridge between two different plots, making it a long series.

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7. Hollow Knight

• Game Release: February 24, 2017
• Rating: 9.2/10 (IGDB), 90% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Team Cherry
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, macOS, Xbox One

Hollow Knight takes place in the ruined and plagued city of Hallownest. The protagonist is called Knight who ventures on a journey to find the reason behind Hallownest’s downfall, and finds Radiance, a cosmic being, who is responsible for all the mishaps. Things take a turn when it is revealed that Knight is actually a vessel for Radiance. The story then involves sacrifice, transcendence, and destruction.

Hollow Knight’s dark world can be a great TV adaptation for people who love eerie and gothic plots. While Knight is a silent character, his silence and expressions are much more than words. Beginning as a dangerous adventure, the story soon becomes a tragic lore, involving sacrifices, deep characters, and cosmic beings at play.

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8. Undertale

• Game Release: September 15, 2025
• Rating: 8.6/10 (IGDB), 92% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Toby Fox
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows

When a child falls into a realm beneath the Earth named Underground, he has to find ways to return home. But with ferocious monsters lurking in the Underground, the child has to choose between the Pacifist Route, the Genocide Route, and the Neutral Route. Pacifist Route will make the child learn the way of the monsters and help them to gain freedom; Genocide Route will turn the child into a killer, who murders all the monsters; and Neutral Route will make the child take the middle path, where he will try to create a balance between the two.

Undertale’s choice-based plot can be used to make a TV adaptation with multiple seasons, with each season exploring each route. The multiple routes showcase narrative richness, great characters, and an emotional core, and often they break the Fourth Wall, giving it a fun side.

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9. Outer Wilds

• Game Release: May 28, 2019
• Rating: 9/10 (IGDB), 85% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Mobius Digital, Annapurna Interactive
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S

The protagonist of Outer Wilds is an astronaut from an alien race who gets caught in a 22-minute time loop after reaching the solar system. Slowly, the protagonist learns about planetary phenomena, Nomai ruins, and the reason for loops with each loop. With each new discovery, it is revealed that the protagonist is the inheritor of an ancient Nomai project for preserving knowledge amidst cosmic death.

The 22-minute outer loop is a unique set up for a TV adaptation, allowing the audience to know about every minute detail along with the protagonist. Exploration and wondering are a part of the plot, along with asking philosophical and morality questions. It has a poetic narrative, exploring the depth of space through the eyes of an alien race. The time loop might slow it down, but the slow revelation could pretty well become its main attraction.

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10. Hades

• Game Release: December 10, 2019
• Rating: 9/10 (IGDB), 93% (Metacritic)
• Developer: Supergiant Games
• Platform: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, iOS, PlayStation 4

Hades highlights a tale of sacrifice, rebellion, family, and resilience. Following the Greek Mythology, Hades is the King of the Underworld, and his son is Zagreus, the protagonist of the video game. He rebels against his father and embarks on a journey to get out of the Underworld and reach the surface. With each escape, a new realm of the Underworld pops up, and Zagreus has to battle mythological figures to fulfil his desire. Along the way, he met several characters like Nyx, Achilles, Athena, etc., who aid him. Zagreus’s journey leads him to search for his mother, Persephone, discover the truth about his family, and challenges Hades to a duel.

There have been multiple adaptations of Greek Mythology, but Hades provides a unique plot, which is fresh and character-rich drama. Each escape journey can be featured in an episodic format, making it more detailed and exciting. The Underworld visuals are quite dark, yet stylish. Hades maintains a perfect balance between humour and grimness, with family at the center of everything.

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