10 Best Video Games Based on TV Shows, Ranked

July 9, 2026 - 22:54

Video game adaptations of TV shows have a mixed reputation, but when they work, they can capture the spirit of the source material better than almost any other medium. Here is a look at ten of the best video games based on television series, ranked for how well they honored the shows and stood on their own as games.

At the top of the list is Telltale's "The Walking Dead." This episodic adventure game focused on character-driven choices and emotional storytelling, far surpassing most licensed titles. It took the zombie survival premise of the show and made it deeply personal. Close behind is "GoldenEye 007" for the Nintendo 64. While based on the James Bond film rather than a TV show, it set the standard for first-person shooters and remains a landmark in multiplayer gaming. For fans of animated series, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge" is a modern beat-em-up that perfectly recreates the look and feel of the 1987 cartoon. Its co-op gameplay and chiptune soundtrack are pure nostalgia.

Other strong entries include "The Simpsons: Hit & Run," which offered an open-world Springfield with driving and missions that felt like an extended episode. "South Park: The Stick of Truth" translated the show's crude humor and RPG mechanics into a surprisingly polished adventure. "Batman: The Telltale Series" gave players control of Bruce Wayne's detective work and moral choices, while "LEGO Marvel Super Heroes" (though based on comics) captured the tone of the animated shows. "Alien: Isolation" drew from the film but also the TV series "Alien" for its tense, survival horror atmosphere. "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" let players relive the anime's major battles in an open-world action RPG. Finally, "The Last of Us" (based on the HBO series) is a rare case where the game inspired the show, but the game itself remains a masterpiece of narrative design.

These titles prove that when developers respect the source material and focus on good gameplay, TV show adaptations can be just as memorable as the shows themselves.