After the success of HBO's 'Last of Us' and Amazon Prime Video's 'Fallout' blew streaming charts, game adaptations have returned as hot properties for screen adaptations.
However, it is not just today’s big-budget mentality for films that has made past adaptations work—adapting video games for the screen can be done in a variety of creative ways, all of which contribute to the success of the adaptation, when done right.
Here are 5 console games that could (and perhaps should) be next in making the leap from the console to the screen:
Assassin's Creed
The 2016 film starring Michael Fassbender may have been a dud, but Ubisoft has not given up. A Netflix series has reportedly been in development for a while, which makes sense: centuries of rooftop chases, hidden blade kills, and adapted history deserves slow, game-accurate treatment, not a rushed two-hour film.
God of War
Kratos has ravaged almost half of mythology, but the real drama lies in the vulnerability—and a different type of strength—that fatherhood demands from him. Amazon Prime Video is already working on a live-action series to tackle this part of his life, promising equal parts of axe-swinging and being a dad.
Elden Ring
Though this sweeping Game of Thrones-style fantasy has more bosses than plot, the George R.R. Martin seal on the game's foundation makes it a perfect choice for a big-budget film or series. Problem is, it has no takers. Yet.
Dark Souls
Adapting a game famous for its silences and cruelty sounds like a recipe for disaster. However, when done right—even by indie studios—it could be a bold, atmospheric experiment.
It might even need a bit of extra steam to get started, but the "Soulsborne" games are a rich treasure trove of source material to ensure success.
Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar's cowboy chronicle is one of gaming's greatest stories, one with enough depth to be a slow-burn Western, where loyalty and betrayal play out against a dying frontier.
There is no official deal yet, but a Yellowstone-style series with the critical acclaim of a series like 'True Detective' is certainly a possibility.