The Best Video Game Adaptations You Can Stream Right Now

Do you switch off your PC or PS5 or whatever after hours of rainbow lights and eyebrow sweat and think, “Ugh, I really wish I could do this more often except for something different and on my streaming service of choice”? They do? How random. I’ve compiled a list of all the major video game adaptations – the good, the bad, and the just OK – currently streaming for free.

I wish this list was weighted by “the good,” but by the state of video game adaptations is a sad sick puppy. Like newer, more artful and emotional shows Castlevania and arcane (both making up the “best” part of this list) seem to be slowly adding games to the list prestige-adjacent Mixing bowl, but vintage clothes and Tom Holland’s floppy presence can’t be ignored. So here’s a little bit of everything. Popcorn not included.

The best of the best

Castlevania

In short: Netflix adaptation of Konami’s gothic action-adventure series Castlevania makes Count Vlad Dracula Țepeș cause suffering to the Romanian region of Wallachia after she wronged his wife. Hard-edged hero Trevor Belmont has a problem with that.

What it achieved: 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Release date: July 7, 2017

streaming on: Netflix

Dota: Dragonborn

In short: Another animated Netflix adaptation, this time of Valve’s multiplayer online battle arena dota 2. War-torn dragon knight Davion shares a soul and power with the slightly evil Slyrak, a dragon he found dying. This can be to his disadvantage.

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What it achieved: 75 percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Release date: March 25, 2021

streaming on: Netflix

arcane

In short: Riot Games’ collaboration with French animation studio Fortiche (in which it also has a minority stake) is inspired by its MOBA League of Legends. Violet protects her trigger-happy sister Powder as best she can while navigating the class conflict between the seedy town of Zaun and the glittering Piltover. It is also distributed by Netflix. This post is not sponsored by Netflix.

What it achieved: 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Release date: November 6, 2021

streaming on: Netflix

gloriole

In short: This live action TV series is based on glorioleBungie’s first-person shooter franchise, is executive produced by Steven Spielberg and is being developed for Paramount+. Federation, a dedicated alien alliance, wants to end humanity. Clad in green armor and born to fight back, the super soldier Master Chief won’t let him.

What it achieved: 70 percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Release date: March 24, 2022

streaming on: Outstanding+

The Cuphead Show!

In short: The apt title The Cuphead Show! is Netflix’s animated version of the run-and-gun game Cuphead. Cuphead and Mugman – their heads are a cup and mug respectively – goof around the Inkwell Isles while the devil tries and fails to take Cuphead’s soul. There are musical numbers.

What it achieved: 69 percent on Rotten Tomatoes

Release date: February 18, 2022

streaming on: Netflix

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a

In short: The upcoming anime about the action role-playing game by PlatinumGames Nier: Automata will occur Battle android 2b fight invading aliens in the name of humanity.

What it achieved: 4.8 out of 5 on Crunchyroll.

Release date: January 7, 2023

streaming on: crispy roll

The last of us

In short: The upcoming HBO drama from Naughty Dog’s zombie-infested survival horror franchise The last of us has already attracted attention. Joel, played by Pedro Pascal, smuggles 14-year-old Ellie, played by Bella Ramsey, across the devastated United States.

What it achieved: open minded

Release date: January 15, 2023

streaming on: HBO Max

The hit or miss

Mega Man: Fully charged

In short: This colorful take on Capcom’s sci-fi MegaMan Franchise is an adaptation for children. Boyish robot Aki Light defends Silicon City from evil robots. He also has a robot sidekick named Mega Mini and a robot dog. And he’s a robot.

What it achieved: 3.5 out of 5 on Google reviews

Release date: August 5, 2018

streaming on: Amazon Prime

Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge

In short: Warner Brothers’ Animated film based on the Mortal Kombat Fighting game franchise may be a direct DVD hit. Ninja Hanzo Hasashi, or Scorpion, kills a bunch of people in the intergalactic Mortal Kombat tournament in hopes of avenging his family.

What it achieved: 90 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, 3.4 out of 5 on Letterboxd

Release date: April 14, 2020

streaming on: HBO Max

The Legend of Zelda

In short: An early entry, the 1989 animated series follows Link and Princess Zelda, the angelic protagonists of the fantastic The Legend of Zelda Franchise. You must protect Hyrule from Ganon, a Warthog looking wizard wearing a cute purple hat.

What it achieved: Six out of ten on IMDB

Release date: September 8, 1989

streaming on: Amazon Freevee, The Roku Channel, Tubi

Unexplored

In short: Naughty Dog’s action-adventure game gets the treatment of Tom Holland in this blockbuster from Sony. Nathan Drake (Holland) with the help of Sully (Mark Wahlberg) finds his missing brother and the supposed treasure of Ferdinand Magellan.

What it achieved: 41 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, 2.8 out of 5 on Letterboxd

Release date: February 18, 2022

streaming on: Netflix

For more background noise, see Sonic Prime (netflix), injustice (HBO Max, Amazon Prime) or Rabbids invasion (Netflix).

…and the worst

Lara Croft Tomb Raider

In short: Angelina Jolie plays Lara Croft, the tank-top, mud-spattered archaeologist who (originally) Square Enix Grave robbers Franchise. Croft must prevent the Illuminati from using an ancient artifact to ruin the world. There is time travel and puzzles.

What it achieved: 20 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, 2.6 out of 5 on Letterboxd

Release date: June 11, 2001

streaming on: HBO Max

resident Evil

In short: Director Paul WS Anderson, who is also behind tepid adaptations Mortal Kombat (1995) and monster hunter (2020), takes on the survival horror resident Evil franchise up. Alice (Milla Jovovich) wakes up with amnesia. She must bring down the Umbrella Corporation while her nefarious bio experiments turn humans into zombies.

What it achieved: 35 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, 2.9 out of 5 on Letterboxd

Release date: March 12, 2002

streaming on: Netflix

Hitman: Agent 47

In short: Genetically engineered (although he’s still bald), Agent 47 (Rupert Friend) is an uncompromising assassin. He helps Katia van Dees (Hannah Ware) track down her father, who happened to turn him into a super killer.

What it achieved: 8 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, 2.1 out of 5 on Letterboxd

Release date: August 21, 2015

streaming on: Hi

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li

In short: A street fighter The spin-off, produced in part by Capcom publishers, follows Chun-Li (Kristen Kreuk) as she tries to take down evil crime boss M. Bison (Neal McDonough) after he kidnaps her father. An ancient Chinese scroll helps her enter street fighter Mode.

What it achieved: 3 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, 1.4 out of 5 on Letterboxd

Release date: February 27, 2009

streaming on: HBO Max, Hulu with HBO Max add-on

To encourage your brain to spill your ears, you should watch too Warcraft (fuboTV, Hulu with Live TV), Max Payne (HBO Max, Hulu and Amazon Prime with HBO add-on), silent Hill (Hulu) or Silent Hill: Revelation (HBO Max)

What’s your favorite video game adaptation? Does the perfect adaptation even exist?