Video games and movies are an escape from reality, transporting us to new worlds where we experience life through the eyes of the onscreen characters. When you play a video game, you decide what the main character does and how the story plays out. Active participation is what separates video games from movies.
Many video games are actually based on popular movies, and whilst some flop, others are major successes. When done correctly, video games based on movies transport us to our favorite worlds, allowing us to live out the onscreen action as if we were in the leading role. This article looks at some of the most memorable video games inspired by movies.
GoldenEye 007—Nintendo 64 (1997)
The influence of gaming on movies is undeniable; likewise, films have often served as inspiration for video games. The James Bond-inspired Nintendo 64 classic video game GoldenEye 007 is one example of this phenomenon. Although almost 25 years have passed since the game was released in 1997, it remains a fan favorite. The game was so popular that a remake might be in the works.
This movie tie-in has stood the test of time as one of the best in history. It introduced a generation of console gamers to first-person shooters as they took on the role of James Bond, shooting their way past thugs and thwarting criminals in their path. It was also a prelude to online gaming, allowing friends to play against each other in the four-player split-screen mode.
Alien: Isolation—PC, Mac, Consoles (2014)
Inspired by Ridley Scott’s Alien, this survival horror game put gamers in the shoes of Ellen Ripley’s daughter Amanda 15 years after the events of the Alien movie took place. As the name suggests, Alien is all about isolating you, the player.
The game sends you on a mission to find the flight recorder that contains information about Ripley’s fate on the Seegson Corporation Ship. This game isn’t a guns-blazing shooter; instead, your goal is to creep around the ship’s corridors quietly as you do your best to outrun the Xenomorph, using tools to deter but not defeat it.
Silent Hill—PlayStation, Game Boy Advance (1999)
The movie of the same name inspired the second survival horror video game on our list. This video game uses psychological horror to hook gamers on its stories and is still one of the most popular games of the late-90s to early-2000s era. Your job is to guide the main character, Harry Mason, through the desolate fictional American town of Silent Hill as he searches for Cheryl.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order—PC, Mac, Consoles (2019)
As gamers know, there are a ton of mostly mediocre (some downright bad) Star Wars-inspired video games. However, every now and then, a gaming studio puts together a game inspired by the space opera that’s worth a serious investment of time. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is that game. For Star Wars fans who’ve dreamt of wielding their own lightsaber, this is the Star Wars game to choose.
The action takes place between Episode III and Episode IV, with gamers taking on the role of Cal Kestis. This Jedi Padawan lives under the constant threat of the Great Jedi Purge. Since you’re a Jedi in this game, your character comes with a customizable light saber and powers from the force. You get to travel to various planets, find secrets, and cross paths while battling bosses.
Marvel’s Spider-Man—PS4, PS5 (2018)
Whether you’re a fan of the comic or the movie, this is one of the best superhero games available on a console. You get to swoop and swing through Manhattan as you play your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man in this action-packed game. The perfect city skyline is breathtaking and serves as an ideal backdrop for your adventure.
