10 Best Movie-Based Video Games

This is one of Ubisoft’s best titles. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Chengdu, this one is based on the movie adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s series of graphic novels. While the original, released in 2010, was delisted in December 2014, the Complete Edition (a re-release with all the DLC) came out in January 2021.

Just like the movie and graphic novels, Scott must defeat Ramona Flowers’s Seven Evil Exes, over the course of seven stages. However, the game allows you to play as Ramona, Kim Pine, Stephen Stills, Knives Chau and Scott’s roommate Wallace Wells. The soundtrack was composed by Anamanaguchi, who did a collaboration with Vocaloid Hatsune Miku in 2016.

3. The Warriors

Developed by Rockstar and released in 2005, The Warriors is based on the titular 1979 movie. It is an action-adventure beat ‘em up with stealth elements. Players take on the role of one of up to nine characters from the movie. However, one is playable during missions while the rest are controlled by a computer.

While similar to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Manhunt and Red Dead Revolver, The Warriors has amazing character depth. While the characters have similar movesets, they have distinct variations regarding combat, and each character has their own strengths which set them apart from each other.

4. Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Released on the PS2 in 2004, this game is based on the second film of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy which starred Tobey Maguire. It was also released in 2004 for the GameCube and Xbox. The PC version of Spider-Man 2 has a very different gameplay system and story than the console versions. Spider-Man 2 takes place in New York City, and Spider-Man goes on various missions to progress through the main story. One of those missions is a series of pizza deliveries.

5. Alien: Isolation

This 2014 title is set 15 years after the events of the 1979 film, and the game’s protagonist is Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda. The game is focused on stealth and survival horror, and players must be quick-witted to avoid hostile human survivors, androids and, worst of all, the main antagonist, the Alien (the Xenomorph, which is also referred to by the game’s characters as “The Creature”).

6. Ratchet & Clank (PS4 Reboot)

Ratchet & Clank for the PlayStation 4 is essentially a tie-in to the titular film. Both came out in 2016. The gameplay is similar to the original Ratchet & Clank, but there are elements from other titles in the series including: strafing, weapon upgrades and weapons. The story is radically different, with Captain Qwark in prison and Ratchet wanting to join the Galactic Rangers.

7. The Mummy Demastered

The Mummy Demastered is a Metroidvania developed and published by WayForward in 2017. This is based alongside the events of the film, which is a reboot of the entire Mummy franchise. In The Mummy Demastered, you play as a Prodigium soldier who must defeat Princess Ahmanet and her monsters. Upon dying, players must retrieve any lost items from a zombified version of themselves, making it stand out from other Metroidvania titles.

8. Kung Fury: Street Rage

The original Kung Fury is a free indie title that comes with a film tie-in that you can watch for free on Steam. The definitive version of the video game is available on Steam via Arcade Paradise. Both star Kung Fury, a detective who must save Miami from Adolf Hitler.

9. GoldenEye 007

This game is one of the Nintendo 64’s most well-known titles. Released in 1997 and based on the 1995 film GoldenEye, it’s a first-person shooter, as well as one of the most speedrunned games out there. In GoldenEye 007, James Bond must save the world from former 00-Agent Alec Trevelyan, General Arkady Ourumov and Xenia Onatopp, who aim to use an experimental satellite weapon.

10. Mad Max (2015)

Mad Max was released on the same day as Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. While Mad Max wasn’t a public relations dumpster fire like MGS V: The Phantom Pain, it was a breath of fresh air compared to most of its contemporaries. While most open-world titles had relatively empty environments, Mad Max has plenty to do. From salvaging cars for their parts to fighting enemies through vehicular combat, Mad Max is one of the best movie-based video games out there. It is based on the Mad Max universe rather than one specific movie, particularly the 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road.

Some honorable mentions for good titles include: Scarface: The World is Yours; Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic; X-Men Origins: Wolverine; Aladdin for the SNES and Sega Genesis and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, released in 2003.