Top 20 Movie-Based Video Games of All Time
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Gaming - February 17th 2025, 19:16 GMT+1
For this list, we focused on the best video games based on movies (even if some of those movies were originally based on books or comics – because let’s be real, adaptations get complicated). To keep things fair, we limited ourselves to one game per franchise, or else this would just be a giant list of Star Wars games.
We’ve also sorted the list by release year, so you can see how movie-based games have evolved over time! Did we miss an essential movie-based game? Let us know in the comments!
Ah, Disney’s Aladdin – the game that made us all believe we could parkour our way through Agrabah with nothing but a pair of loose-fitting pants and a monkey sidekick. Released in 1993 for the Sega Genesis, this gem is widely regarded as one of the best platformers of its era. With stunning animation that looked like it was ripped straight from the movie, tight controls, and a killer soundtrack, it was the perfect way to relive the magic of the film. And let’s be honest – jumping over rooftop guards while tossing apples at them never felt so satisfying. If only all Disney games had this much charm (looking at you, Home on the Range game). | © Virgin Interactive / Disney Interactive
No list of great movie-based games is complete without GoldenEye 007 (1997), the game that turned every '90s kid into a split-screen warrior. This N64 classic brought James Bond into the world of first-person shooters with a single-player campaign that was ahead of its time and a multiplayer mode that basically defined couch gaming. Everyone had their own house rules – no Oddjob, no screen peeking (which we all did anyway), and definitely no proximity mines in the Facility. With its tight gunplay and iconic levels, GoldenEye 007 proved that movie tie-ins could be more than just cheap cash grabs – they could be absolute legends. | © Rare / Nintendo
You might expect a Blade Runner game to be a fast-paced shooter, but nope – Westwood Studios had a different plan in 1997. Instead of gunning down Replicants, you played as detective Ray McCoy, solving crimes in a cyberpunk world dripping with atmosphere. With branching narratives, moody rain-soaked visuals, and a true noir feel, this game was ahead of its time in storytelling and choice-based gameplay. It wasn’t just inspired by the movie; it felt like it belonged in Ridley Scott’s world. Plus, the big question – are you a Replicant or not? – was left deliciously ambiguous. Now that’s how you do a movie tie-in. | © Westwood Studios / Electronic Arts
Whether you wanted to explore Hogwarts, play Quidditch, or just hear “Wingardium Leviosa!” a hundred times, the Harry Potter games (2001-2011) had you covered. Some were magical (Prisoner of Azkaban had excellent open-world elements), while others (Goblet of Fire, we’re looking at you) were… let’s just say, cursed. But for millions of fans, these games were their ticket to living out their Hogwarts dreams, from sneaking past Filch to brewing questionable potions. The later games leaned into a darker, action-packed tone, but nothing quite beats the early years, where you could run around casting spells on random students for no reason at all. | © Electronic Arts / Warner Bros. Interactive
There have been countless Star Wars games, but none have captured the galaxy’s magic quite like Knights of the Old Republic (2003). BioWare didn’t just make a great RPG – they crafted a Star Wars experience so good that fans are still arguing over whether it deserves a proper remake. Set thousands of years before the movies, it let players forge their own Jedi (or Sith) destiny with rich storytelling, impactful choices, and an epic twist that rivaled even The Empire Strikes Back. Whether you were a heroic Jedi or an unapologetic Sith Lord, KOTOR made you feel like you belonged in a galaxy far, far away. And let’s be real – HK-47, the murderous assassin droid, is the true star of the game. | © BioWare / LucasArts
If you ever wanted to feel like a battle-hardened warrior swinging swords, hacking through orcs, and shouting “For Gondor!” at your TV screen, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) had you covered. This game didn’t just adapt the epic conclusion of Peter Jackson’s trilogy – it threw you into the action, with intense hack-and-slash combat, massive battles, and cutscenes that blended seamlessly with movie footage. Playing as Aragorn, Legolas, or Gimli was a power trip, but let’s be real – everyone secretly wanted to play as Gandalf. The co-op mode made this game a legend, turning couch multiplayer into a Middle-earth battlefield. It was the closest thing to actually joining the Fellowship (without, you know, dying in Mordor). | © EA Games
Here’s a rare case where the game wasn’t just better than the movie – it was a masterpiece in its own right. The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay (2004) gave players the chance to step into the futuristic boots of Vin Diesel’s gravel-voiced antihero, sneaking, fighting, and stabbing their way out of a high-security prison. Unlike most movie tie-ins, this one didn’t follow the film – it built its own dark, immersive story with surprisingly deep stealth mechanics and brutal melee combat. It was so good that even non-Riddick fans couldn’t deny its greatness. Who knew that a movie game could actually be one of the best first-person action games ever? | © Starbreeze Studios / Vivendi Universal Games
This was the game that made us all feel like Spider-Man, long before Insomniac’s 2018 masterpiece. Spider-Man 2 (2004) revolutionized superhero games with its open-world web-swinging – because let’s be real, nothing beat the feeling of zipping through Manhattan at high speed. The combat was solid, the side missions (pizza delivery, anyone?) were delightfully weird, and even Tobey Maguire’s slightly awkward voice acting couldn’t bring it down. Sure, some of the street crimes got repetitive, and Mysterio’s boss fight was a joke (one punch?!), but none of that mattered because swinging through NYC felt perfect. This game didn’t just raise the bar for Spidey games – it set the bar. | © Treyarch / Activision
If you thought Shrek 2 (2004) was just another throwaway licensed game, then somebody once told you the wrong thing. This four-player co-op action-adventure was surprisingly fun, packed with humor, clever level design, and a cast of playable characters that let you swap between Shrek, Donkey, Puss in Boots, and more. Whether you were solving puzzles, fighting knights, or running from a rampaging chef in "Ogre Kung Fu," this game captured the chaotic energy of the Shrek universe perfectly. Plus, the "Hero Time" challenges were legendary – especially when you got to kick butt as Puss in Boots. Was it the best game of 2004? No. But did it make us laugh, smash barrels, and yell "Get outta my swamp"? Absolutely. | © Activision
"Warriors… come out to play-ay!" Rockstar Games took the cult-classic The Warriors (1979) and turned it into one of the best beat-‘em-up games of all time in 2005. This wasn’t just a love letter to the film – it was a brutal, stylish, and surprisingly deep brawler that expanded on the movie’s story. With tight hand-to-hand combat, an engaging gang-war atmosphere, and an awesome co-op mode, it felt like stepping into the gritty streets of 1970s New York. Whether you were brawling in back alleys, smashing bottles over rival gang members’ heads, or just trying to survive the night, this game nailed the spirit of the movie. Rockstar didn’t just adapt The Warriors – they made it even better. | © Rockstar Games
Finally, a Matrix game that lets you play as Neo! Unlike the more serious Enter the Matrix, which focused on secondary characters, The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005) gave us what we really wanted – slow-motion bullet dodging, gravity-defying kung fu, and the chance to live out the most iconic moments of the trilogy. The combat system was a glorious mix of stylish martial arts and over-the-top telekinetic powers, making you feel like a true digital messiah. And let’s not forget the wildly unexpected ending, where the Wachowskis decided that a giant, exploding Agent Smith mecha was the way to go. Is it canon? Probably not. Is it ridiculously fun? Absolutely. | © Shiny Entertainment / Atari
You wouldn’t expect a movie tie-in to be this good, but Peter Jackson’s King Kong (2005) pulled it off. With no HUD, immersive first-person gameplay, and terrifying encounters with prehistoric creatures, this game made you feel trapped on Skull Island in the best way possible. Switching between playing as Jack Driscoll, desperately surviving against dinosaurs, and Kong himself, delivering massive beatdowns to T-Rexes, was a brilliant move. The atmosphere, the tension, and the cinematic presentation were all top-tier, proving that sometimes, movie games could actually match their Hollywood counterparts. And let’s be honest – who didn’t enjoy throwing V-Rexes into walls as a giant gorilla? | © Ubisoft
Say what you will about video game adaptations, but The Godfather (2006) was an offer we couldn’t refuse. Instead of just rehashing the film’s plot, this open-world crime saga let you create your own mafioso, rise through the ranks of the Corleone family, and take over New York, GTA-style. Extorting businesses, roughing up shop owners, and managing rackets felt surprisingly authentic, while the voice acting (with Marlon Brando himself reprising his role!) added a layer of legitimacy. Sure, it wasn’t quite Grand Theft Auto: Sicily, but it captured the essence of the movie while letting players carve their own legacy in the mob world. And let’s face it – who doesn’t love a good “press X to intimidate” moment? | © EA Games
What if Tony Montana didn’t die at the end of Scarface? Well, Scarface: The World Is Yours (2006) answers that very question by giving us an alternate-reality sequel where Tony survives the mansion shootout and rebuilds his empire from scratch. Think of it as Grand Theft Auto: Miami, but with way more swearing and an endless supply of cocaine-fueled rage. The game delivered an over-the-top, revenge-fueled power fantasy where you could talk trash, expand your drug empire, and mow down enemies while screaming, “Say hello to my little friend!” It was loud, violent, ridiculous – and honestly, kind of perfect for a Scarface adaptation. | © Radical Entertainment / Vivendi Universal Games
Nobody expected much from a game based on X-Men Origins: Wolverine (because let’s be real, the movie was meh), but surprise! This game absolutely ripped. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) didn’t just let you play as Logan – it let you unleash his full, brutal, limb-tearing potential. Limbs flew, claws slashed, and enemies got wrecked in some of the goriest combat ever seen in a superhero game. This was Wolverine done right, complete with a healing factor that actually showed his wounds regenerating in real-time. It was fast, ferocious, and better than the film it was based on – so much so that we all pretended the movie didn’t exist. | © Raven Software / Activision
A love letter to beat-‘em-ups, pixel art, and, well, love itself, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game (2010) was everything fans of the comic and movie could have dreamed of. This side-scrolling brawler took inspiration from classics like River City Ransom, letting players pummel their way through waves of hipster enemies, all in pursuit of defeating Ramona Flowers' seven evil exes. The art was pure nostalgia, the combat was surprisingly deep, and the chiptune soundtrack by Anamanaguchi? Chef’s kiss. Sadly, the game vanished from digital stores for years, making it the holy grail of lost games – until it made a triumphant return in 2021. Lesson learned: never underestimate the power of fan demand. | © Ubisoft
You’d think a game based on Mad Max would be all about insane high-speed chases and massive explosions, but Mad Max (2015) surprised everyone with its gritty and methodical approach to wasteland survival. Sure, there were car battles – glorious, metal-crunching, flame-spewing car battles – but the game also emphasized scavenging, upgrading your ride (the Magnum Opus), and knocking out bandit camps one punch at a time. It was a slow burn, much like Max himself, but once you got into the rhythm of punching warboys and collecting scrap like it was currency, it was hard to stop. If Mad Max: Fury Road was an adrenaline rush, this game was a methodical trek through the end of the world – and somehow, that worked. | © Avalanche Studios / Warner Bros. Interactive
Most movie-based games put you in the role of a hero, blasting enemies and saving the day. Alien: Isolation (2014), however, put you in a horror movie where you are not the hero – you are the prey. Set in the eerie corridors of Sevastopol Station, this game perfectly captured the terrifying essence of the original Alien film. You weren’t some overpowered space marine – you were Amanda Ripley, running for your life, hiding in lockers, and praying the Xenomorph didn’t hear you breathing. The AI-driven alien was unpredictable, relentless, and smart enough to make even hardened horror gamers break into a cold sweat. If you’ve ever wanted to experience true fear (or just see how fast you can panic-crawl under a desk), this game delivers. | © Creative Assembly / SEGA
A John Wick game where you don’t just button-mash through enemies? Bold move. John Wick Hex (2019) took a completely unexpected approach by turning Wick’s brutal, choreographed combat into a strategy game. Instead of mindlessly shooting bad guys, you had to think like John – planning your moves in real-time strategy sequences that made every step, reload, and headshot feel tactical. It was more of a chess match with bullets than an all-out action game, and while not everyone expected John Wick to go full tactical mode, it actually worked. It captured the precision and flow of Wick’s fighting style in a way that felt as methodical as it was deadly. Baba Yaga would approve. | © Bithell Games / Good Shepherd Entertainment
After years of lackluster attempts, RoboCop: Rogue City (2023) finally gave us the badass RoboCop game we deserved. This wasn’t just another cash-in – it was a love letter to the original films, complete with brutal gunplay, slow but powerful movement, and hilariously stiff RoboCop dialogue. Playing as Alex Murphy, you stomped through crime-ridden Detroit, delivering cold, hard justice with a deadpan one-liner before unloading an entire clip into some unfortunate thug. The game nailed the retro-futuristic feel, the satirical tone, and most importantly, the power fantasy of being an unstoppable cybernetic cop. Was it a flawless game? No. Was it pure RoboCop fun? Absolutely. Your move, creep. | © Teyon / Nacon
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When Hollywood meets the gaming industry, the results can be hit or miss. While some video games based on movies turn out to be forgettable cash grabs, others become cult classics, faithfully adapting their cinematic counterparts while delivering thrilling gameplay. From action-packed blockbusters to animated adventures, the best movie-based video games successfully capture the essence of their films while offering a fresh interactive experience.
In this article, we rank the top 20 movie-based video games of all time, considering factors like gameplay, storytelling, graphics, and how well they honor their source material. Whether you’re a fan of superhero sagas, sci-fi epics, or animated favorites, these games prove that movies and video games can be a perfect match.
When Hollywood meets the gaming industry, the results can be hit or miss. While some video games based on movies turn out to be forgettable cash grabs, others become cult classics, faithfully adapting their cinematic counterparts while delivering thrilling gameplay. From action-packed blockbusters to animated adventures, the best movie-based video games successfully capture the essence of their films while offering a fresh interactive experience.
In this article, we rank the top 20 movie-based video games of all time, considering factors like gameplay, storytelling, graphics, and how well they honor their source material. Whether you’re a fan of superhero sagas, sci-fi epics, or animated favorites, these games prove that movies and video games can be a perfect match.
