10 Video games that need a movie adaptation (and who should make them)

So apparently EVERY game from Call of Duty to Space Channel 5 is getting a movie adaptation now and I cannot speak to the quality of video game movies (it is getting better) but I can speak to video games that are good bases for a silver screen endeavor, here are 10 video games that deserve to be movies and who should make those movies come to life.

Saints Row - Edgar Wright:

Now the most recent entry in the Saints Row franchise may have not fared too well with critics but the original 4 games still carry a lot of fervor amongst gamers. The second mission of Saints Row the Third where you’re positioned over a penthouse with Kanye West’s ‘Power’ playing in the background is a badass moment that deserves to be on the big screen and who better to bring it to life than director of Baby Driver Edgar Wright. Just like his directing style, Saints Row serves as a parody game of open world shoot em ups such as GTA or Prototype and Edgar Wright's films never shy from satiricy and comedy. The perfect balance of action and comedy is rich in the DNA of both director and IP so I find it hard to see anyone else more akin to the task of directing a Saints Row movie.

Portal - Charlie Booker:

A mind bending tale riddled with sci fi and sarcasm, now am I talking about Portal or Black Mirror? Charlie Booker’s CV of sci fi satire short films with Balck Mirror is exactly what a portal movie would need. I would direct people to watch Black Mirror Episode titles ‘15 Million Merits’ as an example of what I believe a portal movie should be like. A fun sci fi adventure that is also a very well written criticism of working life and social class.

Hotline Miami - Derek Kolstad:

Now at first many may be wondering why Hotline Miami, of all things, would need a movie as the story plays second base to the arcadelike gameplay, but that’s exactly the reason why. The story Hotline Miami is there just enough that you can take a few more creative liberties when adapting it to film and who better to adapt a neon filled action adventure with great violence than the creator of another neon filled action adventure with great violence in the creator of John Wick Derek Kolstad. The club scene in the first film and the desert scenes in the most recent film John Wick Parabellum are perfect displays of why Kolstad is the only choice in bringing a Hotline Miami film to the silver screen.

Little Nightmares - Laika:

In 2017 Little Nightmares took the world by storm with its unique artstyle and tense gameplay. Very heavily inspired by stop motion animation the likes of Coraline and Corpse Bride it feels fitting that Laika, the team that inspired Little Nightmares, to take on a Little Nightmares movie. But it needs to have zero dialogue. Little Nightmares works because of it’s minimalistic storytelling. It’s not secondary to the game, it just follows the Rian Johnson rule of storytelling ‘show them 2 + 2, but don’t tell them it equals 4’.

Sifu - Gareth Evans:

The Raid is a cult hit film that really gathered a following for its unapologetic fight scenes and little to no cuts on the action. It was unlike anything seen in the western action space and has slowly seeped its style into western action films ever since. Gareth Evans once famously said ‘If I see a nice room I just want to destroy it’ and that’s what we NEED for a Sifu game. Also it should star Julie Estelle because anyone who DOESN’T pick the female protag in Sifu is kinda basic.

Persona 5 - Marc Webb:

Now yes I am aware that there are a few animated outings for the Persona franchise but a team of charismatic teens who help save the world with mind jumping powers feels like perfect fodder for the big screen. With the right cast and script this film could be a hit the likes of the Sonic the Hedgehog films. It just needs the right director and that IS Marc Webb. Superhuman action? He directed the Garfield Spidermans. A cute love story? 500 Days of SummerI is exactly that (even if he claims otherwise). Marc Webb has experience with big hero movies and portraying interpersonal relationships on screen so there are few directors with the skills and ability to show both in equal fitting on screen.

Bioshock - Guillermo Del Toro:

Rumours of a Bioshock are like rats on the London Underground, always there and never seem to go away. But if these rumours were to come to fruition I think that Del Toro is the perfect guy for the job. On set design alone, the man is unmatched and the aesthetics of The Shape of Water line up incredibly well with that of Bioshock.

Spec Ops The Line - Denis Villeneuve:

For those who played Spec Ops: The Line know exactly what ‘The Line’ is and, without spoiling the game, THAT is the very reason why this game deserves a movie. I’m not the biggest fan of military cinema but Sicario 1 & 2 are some of the best because of how messy they allow themselves to be. Spec Ops as a story was so ahead of it’s time that it actually caused quite a stir. The main menu of the game even features a burning American flag in 2012! A story that has even more impact today than it ever had before, it’s the perfect time for the Spec Ops story to be brought to a wider audience.

Oxenfree - Christopher Nolan:

A titillating tale ot time travelling teens that is aware of the user playing the game is honestly what you'd expect if Christopher Nolan himself made a game. The Oxenfree movie or tv series has more than chance of existing considering that netflix now owns the IP and definitely need to bring it to more audiences. If you haven’t played this game you are missing out, it’s one of the greatest narratives ever told. No hyperbole.

Deadspace - James Cameron:

So the Deadspace animated movies are… there and they’re… movies, but the series has so much potential. Sci fi horror has seena downfall as of late but Jordan Peele’s Nope gives me hope that interest in the Sci-Fi horror genre is still alive. Now the immediate thought would be to go to the king of Sci-Fi horror himself Ridley Scott to direct but I feel that Scott’s directing works better with minutiae than big set pieces which the Deadspace franchise needs. Terminator and Aliens are prime examples of films that embody the Deadspace ethos and also have most likely inspired the creation of the game in the first place.