Prime Video’s 10/10 Sci-Fi Fantasy Anthology Is the Perfect Weekend Binge 2 Years Later

Adapting a video game well has long been difficult. Early films like Resident Evil succeeded at being an action-packed story, but didn’t resemble their source material in a significant way. Only in recent years have these adaptations achieved the fanfare they deserve. Prime Video has had some success with video game adaptations, starting with Jonathan Nolan’s Fallout. The series has the benefit of Nolan’s pedigree from Westworld mixed with the fervor over the Bethesda video game.

Not resting on its laurels, Prime Video brought to life video games and franchise favorites in the anthology series, Secret Level. Across 15 short episodes, the animated series creates new stories that could nestle easily in the lore of these IPs. For some viewers, this will be the only adaptation their favorites will ever have, and it does not disappoint.

‘Secret Level’ Uses Animation to Deliver Concise Stories

While fans are waiting for Henry Cavill to deliver his highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000 series, they can turn their attention to Secret Level. The series was created by Tim Miller, the talent who brought Love, Death & Robots to Netflix. These animated shorts that are emotionally complex seem to be the sweet spot for the creative. Only one out of fifteen of these episodes focuses on Warhammer, but it scratches the itch of those looking for more content.

The short episode is simple, following the Space Marine, Sergeant Metaurus (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), who reflects on recruiting a small boy who seemed to know no fear. Years later, the Marines face a Chaos sorcerer on a mission to destroy a relic. This is the best way to introduce the lore of Warhammer to the uninitiated. Beautifully animated with minimal dialogue, it avoids overwhelming mythology while teasing what further stories could be in this world.

The episode, “And They Shall Know No Fear,” represents the best parts of this series. Secret Level easily introduces potential new fans to these worlds while satisfying a loyal fanbase. Many famous franchises are also included in the series, such as Dungeons & Dragons, Sifu, Exodus, Pac-Man, and The Outer Worlds. This type of animation and careful storytelling helped viewers connect instantly with Netflix’s Arcane.

Something as simple as League of Legends gave rise to a heartbreaking series about fascism and sisterhood. Similarly, Secret Level takes a familiar arcade game, Pac-Man, and delivers a surprising and even horrifying story about the hungry yellow orb. These captivating episodes also attracted the talent of voice actors and live-action performers alike. Keanu Reeves, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emily Swallow, Kevin Hart, and Laura Bailey are just some of the artists who brought these characters to life. The final episode shows even more video game cameos, including characters from God of War, Helldivers, and Shadow of the Colossus.

The show's success led Prime Video to greenlight a second season. There is no concrete release date yet, but it has garnered a lot of interest. Fans want to see if their favorite stories will get representation in the beautiful animated series.