10 Best Animated Adaptations Of Video Games

Fans have been waiting for the upcoming Netflix animated series Sonic Prime since the beginning of 2021, based on the beloved Sonic the Hedgehog franchise and scheduled to release sometime this year. To help make the wait easier, video game fans should check out some of the preexisting animated adaptations of games, which include multiple Sonic shows.

Because companies have been making these animated adaptations since the ’80s, it can be difficult to decide which game-based shows and movies to watch. Out of the hundreds of examples that exist, certain adaptations, such as the Netflix Castlevania series, stand out among the rest.

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Rockman EXE (2002 – 2006)

Based on the Mega Man Battle Network series, Rockman EXE is the longest Mega Man anime, with a total of 209 episodes over the course of five seasons. Though the first two seasons were officially dubbed into English under the title MegaMan NT Warrior, the rest only has fan-made English subs. Similar to the games, the anime takes place in a world where everything is connected to and controlled by the internet, which includes cars, ovens, and doors.

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To help navigate this complicated network, people own handheld devices known as Personal Terminals or “PETs,” which contain virtual beings called NetNavis. The story follows Netto (Lan) Hikari, his NetNavi Rockman (MegaMan), and their friends as they battle viruses, people, aliens, and more to protect both the virtual and real worlds.

Resident Evil Animated Films (2008 – 2017)

Although the live-action Resident Evil films are notoriously terrible, the lesser-known computer-animated films are actually enjoyable and highly underrated. Currently, there are three films in this series, which include the 2008 Resident Evil: Degeneration, the 2012 Resident Evil: Damnation, and the 2017 Resident Evil: Vendetta. Though each film has a unique self-contained plot, they all take place within the same continuity as the games.

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Leon S. Kennedy is one of the main protagonists in each entry, but other characters such as Claire Redfield, Ada Wong, Chris Redfield, and Rebecca Chambers show up as protagonists depending on the film. While the plots aren’t the most original or complex, they all provide the same fast-paced fun as the more action-focused game entries such as Resident Evil 4.

Persona 4: The Animation (2011 – 2012)

While there’ve been multiple animated adaptations of games within the large Megami Tensei franchise, most fans would agree that Persona 4: The Animation is one of the best examples. Based on the original 2008 PS2 game Persona 4, the anime follows a high school student named Yu Narukami who moves to the small rural town of Inaba for a year. Shortly after he arrives, however, mysterious murder cases begin happening, which seem to be connected to a world that’s located inside TVs.

Using their “Personas” to fight the creatures known as “Shadows” within the TV World, Yu and his friends must work together to solve these incidents. Although there was also a 2014 anime titled Persona 4: The Golden that’s based on the 2012 PS Vita rerelease Persona 4: Golden, this first anime is often considered better because it adapts the source material fairly faithfully and adds some details that enhance the story rather than detract from it.

Pokémon: Origins (2013)

Although the main Pokémon anime, which has been ongoing since 1997, is based on the games, the anime largely tells its own story that’s separate from the source material. If fans want an anime series that adapts the plots and mechanics from the games, then they should check out the 2013 four-episode mini-series, Pokémon: Origins, which follows the plot of Pokémon Red and Blue.

Within the Kanto Region, the protagonist, Red, goes on a journey to catch Pokémon, fill out the Pokédex, battle Team Rocket, defeat his rival, Blue, and become the region’s champion. Besides adapting the plot, the anime also includes accurate gameplay references and many Generation 1 Pokémon. After this series, two other short shows, Pokémon Generations and Pokémon Evolutions, were released that also adapted the other games.

Steins;Gate (2011)

Over the years, there’ve been several excellent anime adaptations of visual novel games, such as Higurashi When They Cry and Fate/stay night. But, the best and most critically acclaimed example is still the 2011 anime series Steins;Gate, which is based on the original 2009 visual novel. Like the original game, the anime follows a self-proclaimed “mad scientist” named Rintaro Okabe, who discovers a way to time travel by sending text messages to the past.

Because some content had to be cut out and the interactive gameplay elements couldn’t be replicated, the anime lost some of the emotional impact that the game had. But, the overall anime is still well-executed, which is why it received extra episodes, a film, and a sort-of sequel anime titled Steins;Gate 0.

Carmen Sandiego (2019 – 2021)

One of the most popular and influential edutainment game franchises is Carmen Sandiego, which began with the 1985 educational mystery game Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? Since then, the franchise has had multiple games, shows, and more, which all focus on the titular international thief, her adventures across the globe, and the people who try to catch her. Of course, this includes the latest Netflix adaptation simply titled, Carmen Sandiego.

While most installments in this franchise focus on the players who work for A.C.M.E. as they try to catch Carmen and her henchmen, Netflix’s show instead centers on Carmen’s origin story. As a Robin Hood-esque character, Carmen steals from the evil organization known as V.I.L.E to give back to the rightful owners, while also trying to uncover her lost past.

DOTA: Dragon’s Blood (2021 – )

After the success of the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) Defense of the Ancients (DOTA), which was a community-made mod for Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, Valve acquired the intellectual property and began an entire franchise starting with DOTA 2 in 2013. Now, this sequel is the basis for the currently ongoing Netflix epic fantasy series DOTA: Dragon’s Blood.

While witnessing a battle between the demon Terrorblade and an elder dragon, known as an Eldwurm, named Slyrak, the Dragon Knight Davion merges his soul with Slyrak. Despite having spent his whole life as a dragon hunter, Davion must now use his new dragon powers to stop Terrorblade from collecting dragon souls and using them to recreate the universe.

Sonic X (2003 – 2006)

While there’ve been multiple animated shows based on the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, the anime Sonic X is often considered the best series, which consists of three seasons that contain a total of 78 episodes. As Sonic, Tails, and Amy are fighting against Doctor Eggman to save Cream and Cheese, a robot accidentally shoots at the seven Chaos Emeralds and the resulting “Chaos Control” blast teleports everyone from their planet to Earth.

After befriending a human boy named Chris Thorndyke, Sonic and his friends try to recover the Chaos Emeralds while also acclimating to this new world. Though the writing isn’t always the best, the hilarious plotlines, fun characterizations, and connections to the games make the anime a worthwhile experience.

Castlevania (2017 – 2021)

Primarily based on the 1989 action platformer Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse, Castlevania is a Netflix animated series that follows vampire hunter Trevor Belmont, magician Sypha Belnades, and Dracula’s dhampir son Alucard as they hunt down Dracula in order to save the people of Wallachia from Dracula’s murderous revenge. The show also includes Alucard’s backstory from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and characters from Castlevania: Curse of Darkness.

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Besides having beautiful animation and excellent voice acting, the show also adds some new plot details that were not in the original games, which creates a deeper narrative. After the success of this series, Netflix is now working on a sequel titled Castlevania: Nocturne.

Arcane (2021 – )

Based on the massive League of Legends universe, Arcane is an animated series that’s also a prequel to the ongoing MOBA game. As tensions between the rich city of Piltover and the poor undercity of Zaun continue to escalate, two sisters named Vi and Powder, who is later named Jinx, are torn apart by the dangers of the developing arcane technology.

With an engaging story, gorgeous animation, impactful characters, and an excellent soundtrack, Arcane is a series that’s more than a simple adaptation. Instead, the strong plot, detailed world, and new characters lead to an ongoing show that stands on its own.

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