10 Video Games Hollywood Should Adapt After 'The Legend of Zelda'

1 week ago 16

From 2012 steampunk computer game 'Dishonored'

Published Feb 15, 2026, 12:41 PM EST

Video game adaptations are generally seen as quick cash grabs with little substance. They're generally pretty disappointing, with very little done to appease the fans of the source material. In recent years, however, some have come out that have proven they don't all have to be bad, with some movies and TV shows being faithful and entertaining for returning fans and newcomers alike.

Recently, The Legend of Zelda has been a popular title. The Nintendo franchise has been going on since the 80s, and is set to receive a film adaptation very, very soon. The hype train has already departed, with fans excited about the casting and the prospect of a beloved and classic franchise finally getting a proper adaptation. Once that's over, though, there are so many other video games that definitely deserve the same treatment.

The Legend of Zelda

Release Date May 7, 2027

Writers Derek Connolly

Producers Shigeru Miyamoto, Avi Arad

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth

Link
Bo Bragason

Princess Zelda

10 'Dead Space' (2008)

A figure wearing a space suit in Dead Space

Dead Space is a survival horror classic that really made waves in the market when it was released. The story takes place on a distant mining rig out in deep space, which has arrived on a distant planet in search of resources. What they find instead are the Necromorphs, a parasitic race of extra-terrestrials which are nearly unkillable. They quickly wipe out the station's staff, eventually trapping protagonist Isaac Clarke on board.

There's a lot of cool concepts in this game, from the telekinetic rig Isaac carries to the creative weapons. On top of that, the game addresses some really serious concepts about humanity's place in the universe, meaning it's not just action-packed, but it's deep, too. And of course, being a horror game, it's suitably scary, especially considering the fact that Isaac is entirely alone for the majority of the game. While two animated companion films were released, these are more supplementary material rather than a proper adaptation. A lot of fans have been asking for an adaptation of the game, and it's not hard to see why.

9 'Darksiders' (2010)

The Darksiders series takes place after the Seven Seals of the Apocalypse are broken, and the end of the world has come. Heaven and Hell have begun fighting a war with each other, and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are caught in the middle. Each game in the series has players control a different horseman. It starts off with War, who is later followed by Death, Fury, and Strife. Each has their own unique personality and weapons, as well as their own fighting style and magical abilities.

The games are incredibly cinematic, featuring fights with immense creatures from the pits of Hell and the Kingdom of Heaven. The games also feature a little bit of gallows humour, as one can imagine, and there were even some major celebrity cameos in it. Mark Hamill, for example, voiced War's companion, a spirit known only as The Watcher. The first game is equal parts beautiful and epic, and though it would most certainly be a high-budget project, it really does need a proper adaptation.

8 'Bayonetta' (2009)

Bayonetta is a hack-and-slash series known for its over-the-top action. The titular protagonist, Bayonetta herself, is an immortal witch from a mysterious order that frequently battles against rogue angels, demons, or other fantastical creatures, utilizing her motorcycle, handguns, and... her hair? That's right, Bayonetta's hair can literally be used as a weapon in this, and she has an even more monstrous form that is so much cooler than her human visage.

The action sequences in this game are highly cinematic, especially when Bayonetta fights large angels or demons. Like that time she fought Sapientia, a massive angelic sea monster, by racing down a whirlpool on an improvised surfboard. There's just so much cool factor in this game, and a hefty amount of girl power, too. This would be a great action flick to just kick back and shut your brain off for a while, because the plot isn't super, super deep, but it's fun anyway.

7 'Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons' (2013)

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a short and sweet game that can be easily finished in one sitting. It's only about two and a half hours long--perfect movie length. This is fitting because the game was actually curated by a Swedish filmmaker by the name of Josef Fares. The game centres on two protagonists: older brother Naia, and younger brother Naie. Or at least, that's what their names are presumed to be, since everyone in the game speaks a made-up language.

The story is pretty simple: the boys' father falls ill, causing them to embark on a quest to collect the sap from the Tree of Life in order to heal their father. While this is a seemingly one-dimensional premise, the story is profoundly emotional, with one of the most heartbreaking endings in any video game ever. The depth of this story combined with its gorgeous visuals and emotional impact would make it the perfect candidate for a video game-to-movie adaptation. Perhaps even Josef Fares himself could get in on it.

6 'Soma' (2015)

A corpse is found with a messy, biomechanical growth growing from it

Soma is a horror game with a really complex plot, but it's worth every second. The protagonist is a man living in Toronto, Canada, who volunteers to be part of a neurological experiment. He falls asleep in the process, and when he wakes up, he has been transported decades into the future, where he is now in an abandoned laboratory at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, with a spiffy new robot body.

Over the course of the game, it becomes apparent that humanity is largely gone, and that the world has largely ended. The goal of the player is to find out what happened to them, why, and what the next course of action is. The other robots encountered in the game have by and large "lost their minds," if you will, and present a challenging group of enemies to evade. Moreover, the ending is deeply profound and philosophical, to the point that it can trigger a full-blown existential crisis. This is an underrated horror game that is just screaming for a chance at the big screen.

5 'Concrete Genie' (2019)

Ash and his paintings in Denska in 'Concrete Genie'

Concrete Genie is a video game that fosters creativity, individuality, and kindness with its family-friendly story. The PlayStation exclusive is set in a fictitious American city that has been overcome by an amalgamous force simply called "The Darkness," which is released after an oil tanker spill. The Darkness has drained the town of its colour and thrust its denizens into perpetual gloom. Ash, a young boy who is frequently the target of bullies, finds a magic paintbrush in the town's lighthouse, which allows his drawings to come to life.

Concrete Genie actually has the players draw out their own creations using the DualShock 4's motion controls, with the player primarily using the paintbrush to make "genies," colourful companions who serve various purposes that help Ash navigate the town. This would be a perfect Studio Ghibli movie, and a perfect kids' movie, too. It's whimsical, fun, and emphasizes the importance of imagination and art, a message that grows even more crucial with the rise of AI.

4 'Oxenfree' (2016)

Jonas and Alex stand in a cave and stare in awe at the triangular temporal rift that has just opened above their heads

Oxenfree is a horror-thriller with a really rich and rewarding story. The plot follows five teens who take a short annual trip to an island town just off the coast of the state of Washington, to hang out and reminisce. However, the group hears rumours before going that bringing a transistor radio to the island has some weird effects if tuned into specific frequencies. Naturally, that's what they try, which opens a tear in the space-time continuum, releasing temporal beings beyond their understanding.

While technically a horror, it feels more like a psychological thriller. Still, the game is absolutely excellent, and hits just the right spots to make the viewer feel tension, sadness, and even anger, at times. The cast features lovable and hateable characters, and even one who is kind of polarizing--some love him, some hate him. In any event, the story is rich and heartfelt, and pretty unique to boot. This would make a fantastic movie, and there's no question about it.

3 'Star Wars: The Force Unleashed' (2008)

star-wars-the-force-unleashed-ultimate-sith-edition.jpg

If there was ever any piece of Star Wars media that was begging to be canon, it's Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The game and its sequel were made non-canon when Disney purged almost all material made prior to its acquisition of LucasArts. The story is set between the prequels and the original trilogy, following Darth Vader's secret apprentice, who is never mentioned by name, but is listed in the files and in promotional material as "Galen Marek." Galen Marek was played by actor Sam Worthington, who later went on to voice Darth Maul in canon Star Wars material.

Vader's apprentice is being trained to overthrow the Empire along with his master, but he later deviates from the Dark Side, choosing to become a Jedi. Fans have been begging Disney for this game to be made canon, even though there are some aspects of it that would clash with the current continuity. However, if it were reworked just a touch, it could work. It's also very cinematic, and would make perfect movie material.

2 'High on Life' (2022)

HIgh on Life is one of the most bonkers video games you will ever play in your life. The series opens up with a race of aliens invading Earth, because they enjoy converting humans into a drug that acts as a stimulant, hence the title. A young human at the heart of the invasion finds an unexpected companion in an anxious, socially awkward, talking gun that the aliens have left lying around. The gun doesn't really like the aliens much, so he begins giving the player instructions on how to defeat the aliens.

The game's concept was actually thought up by Justin Roiland, who famously co-created the hit animated sci-fi sitcom Rick and Morty. Roiland himself actually voices the aforementioned talking gun, which is comically named "Kenny" rather than some high-tech alien name. As one can imagine, the game includes a lot of surreal, outrageous, and quirky humour at just about every possible moment. It's not just fun to play, it's hilarious, crazy, and wildly unique. This would be a perfect action-comedy film, although it would certainly have to be R-rated.

1 'Dishonored' (2012)

Dishonored has commonly been discussed by netizens as a perfect candidate for a movie adaptation, but there has yet to be any official interest in bringing it to the big screen. The action/stealth RPG takes place in a high fantasy world filled with magic and strange creatures, though the story is pretty confined to one specific corner of it. It is set in the city of Dunwall, a heavily industrialized city with many steampunk elements. Players control Corvo Attano, who serves as an officer of the Empress' personal guard. He also happens to be the secret lover of the Empress, with the two having a young daughter together named Emily.

Following Corvo's return to the city of Dunwall, a conspiracy unravels, with masked assassins killing the Empress, kidnapping Emily, and throwing Corvo in prison. After breaking out of prison, Corvo begins his quest not just for vengeance, but to rescue his daughter and clear his name, with a little help from his training, and from the magical powers granted to him by a mysterious figure known as The Outsider. This game isn't just cinematic, it's action-packed and story-driven, with a really unique aesthetic that would do really well on the big screen. There's a reason netizens want this to become a movie so badly.

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