Entertainment
10 Best Video Games Based on TV Shows, Ranked
Watching reruns after reruns of a show can be so fulfilling. The comfort of knowing how it ends, but still enjoying it, feels like heaven. But what if there was another way to immerse oneself in the beautiful memory without having to start a rerun? Here’s the secret: video games. There’s so much more to explore in the world, and if you’re a gamer, you will know how a game helps you admire it and refresh after a hard day, all at the same time.
But where’s the connection, you ask? Over the years, some incredible TV shows have been made into user-friendly video games that let you improve your skills and reminisce about old shows simultaneously. And if your favorite show is one of those, make it a point to play the game now!
10
‘Beavis & Butt-Head’ (1994)
Beavis and Butt-Head, the sneering idlers from MTV’s hit animated comedy series, got their own game on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo in 1994. In the game, Beavis and Butt-Head have obtained tickets to a Gwar concert, but as luck would have it, they’re now in shreds.
Players can alternate playing as Beavis or Butt-Head as they search high and low for the pieces of the ticket. While the game is relatively simple, the animation, voice acting, and music make it remarkable, which will make you feel like you are a character in the 2-D world.
9
‘Duck Tales: Remastered’ (2013)
A classic action game from Capcom, DuckTales: Remastered allows users to take control of Scrooge McDuck as he tours the world and beyond, looking for more rare treasures to add to his collection. The game is relatively simple and boasts of being a platformer-style game. The game sold over a million copies worldwide, a considerable number by 1990 standards.
While initially released for PlayStation 3, the iOS version of DuckTales garnered better reviews. The game isn’t highly competitive but is definitely fun, interactive, and nostalgic.
8
‘The Adventures of Batman & Robin’ (1994)
What comes to mind when you think of the ’90s? Chicago Bulls a contending team? Nostalgic ’90s cartoons? MTV’s fantastic music? Even better: Konami producing awesome action games? It was then that The Adventures of Batman & Robin was released, following the hit Batman: The Animated Series.
The game offered incredible graphics and sound and features some incredibly challenging puzzles that players must solve over the course of the game. Directly influenced by the TV show, the game has the same cartoony and comic-book feel. But, of course, this was long before Christopher Nolan steered the franchise towards a darker version.
7
‘Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3’ (2004)
The Dragon Ball game series launched its first installment in 2002 and lasted until its last release in 2012. The third installment in the series, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3, was released in 2004 and was the most talked-about. The game had better reviews than its predecessors, with improved graphics and sound, and the gameplay was far ahead of the previous games.
Players can play in story mode, versus mode, a tournament, and a battle ranking stage where they compete against AI in a hundred-fighter challenge. Its massive roster of playable fighters and faithful recreation of iconic battles make it one of the greatest Dragon Ball games ever released.
6
‘Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force’ (2000)
The Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force is loved far and wide by audiences, but only for its PC version, which came out in 2000. The PlayStation version, however, is way less interactive and way more troublesome. Nevertheless, the game invoked sighs of relief from fans as they rejoiced and finally welcomed a good Star Trek game.
The game incorporates an array of characters and visually pleasing settings from the beloved sci-fi TV show. The game also includes a multiplayer mode that makes it more appealing and adds to its longevity. By combining satisfying first-person shooter mechanics with an original story that feels like an episode of the series, Elite Force remains a favorite among fans.
5
‘South Park: The Stick of Truth’ (2014)
In fierce competition with its successor, The Fractured but Whole, South Park: The Stick of Truth is one of the most faithful video game adaptations of all time. While otherwise at par with its sequel, the game features a more exciting and dynamic combat system. This role-playing adventure game came out in 2014 and was rated approvingly for its PC and PlayStation 3 versions.
The South Park game is based on an open-world model and includes countless inside jokes and references to the first 17 seasons for fans to reminisce. For longtime fans, it’s packed with enough references and characters to make every moment feel like an interactive episode of the series.
4
‘South Park: The Fractured but Whole’ (2017)
While The Stick of Truth is often considered the definitive South Park game, The Fractured but Whole is every bit as worthy of that reputation. Instead of parodying fantasy role-playing games, the sequel shifts its focus to the ever-growing popularity of superhero franchises, with Cartman rebranding himself as “The Coon” and recruiting the rest of the boys into an increasingly ridiculous battle over who deserves to headline their own cinematic universe.
Created with direct involvement from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, The Fractured but Whole feels like a playable season of South Park. Its turn-based combat is deeper and more strategic than its predecessor’s, while the dialogue, animation, and countless references perfectly recreate the experience of watching the long-running animated series.
3
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time (1991)
Even several decades after its release, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time is yet to be defeated when it comes to the ultimate TMNT game. The game is a sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and while it takes some characteristics from the original, it ups the ante with the use of colorful graphics and varied level settings.
The Konami classic captures the essence of the ’80s cartoon show with utmost perfection and adorns an eclectic palette of extraordinary situations with incredible historical themes.
2
‘The Simpsons: Hit & Run’ (2003)
Since its release, numerous versions of The Simpsons video games have been made, but The Simpsons: Hit & Run is the only one you need to own. The game came out in 2003 for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, Windows, and Xbox. What separates this version from the others is its existence as a witty parody of the Grand Theft Auto series, only less brutal and much funnier.
In this well-received and competently executed game, users control Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge, and Apu as they investigate odd occurrences in Springfield. Nearly two decades later, Hit & Run remains the gold standard for The Simpsons games and one of the greatest licensed games ever made.
1
‘The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series’ (2012)
There is no better way to execute episodic games than Telltale Games, and it’s no surprise that the attempt to create the exhilarating The Walking Dead game was a whopping success. Technically, the game is based more on the comic than the show, where every action you perform has a different consequence and can change the story’s route.
The game focuses on character and story development and often feels like you’re playing an interactive rendition of the sensational show. Critically acclaimed, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series is as accurate a zombie apocalypse simulation as it gets.
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