The industries of gaming and film have coexisted happily for decades.
Prior to the gaming boom that began in the 2010s, the most common interaction between these two was gaming spin-offs. In other words, film releases that gained enough popularity could usually expect two outcomes: a sequel and a game release. Back in the 1990s, consoles like the Dreamcast and Nintendo 64 ushered in a new era of the game-film relationship.
Today, the tides have turned. Now that gaming has become one of the cornerstones of the entertainment world, they’ve started to steer filmmaking. In other words, games that generate enough interest and hype can expect full-length productions—or even multi-season TV show spinoffs.
If you’re new to gaming, this might be how you learn about popular new games. But what about finding games that are based on popular franchises? Here’s a list of game suggestions based on popular film franchises—which doesn’t include official spin-offs.
Indiana Jones
As a brainy yet flawed hero, Indiana Jones has helped produce some of the most memorable video game franchises in the world. Think you can name a few? Let’s start with a casual example in virtual slots. As casino favorites, online slots are short and sweet—but heroes like Rich Wilde add a dose of cinematic action.
Rich Wilde serves as a recognizable hero in slot hits like Rich Wilde & the Book of Dead, along with Rich Wilde and the Pearls of India. But if slots are too short-form for you, then start with more elaborate action-adventure hits. Lara Croft’s Tomb Raider is a well-known hit—but if you want a more modern take, look into Uncharted starring Nathan Drake.
Jurassic Park
Compared to other popular film franchises, Jurassic Park has done a great job of releasing popular and playable video games—especially when it comes to the new Jurassic World releases. However, Jurassic Park fans can also sink their teeth into other great hits.
Parkasaurus lets players step into the shoes of Jurassic Park staff—but crafting the perfect dinosaur zoo is a lot more difficult than most think. The simulation includes challenges like resource management and, of course, dinosaur care. Other games like Monster Hunter Stories take a more narrative-based look at the life of dinosaurs—and their caretakers, of course.
Marvel
Like Jurassic Park, Marvel’s team has helped design and release fantastic video game spinoffs. In this case, we’re recommending official Marvel games—it’s hard to find substitutes for well-known superheroes. And here, the options are pretty staggering.
The highest-rated Marvel game is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, which is great for players of all experience levels. Lego Avengers is another celebrated hit and is a great choice for those who also enjoy Lego content. But one of the most recent and innovative projects from Marvel is its Marvel Snap collectible card game.
To succeed, players must slowly build a deck that’s based on superheroes and their powers. Over time, as their deck grows with heroes and various moves, they can take on more skilled opponents. For those who don’t have an interest in traditional video games, Marvel Snap is a great option.
Fast & Furious
In terms of the highest-grossing films of all time, the Fast & Furious franchise comes out in the top five. Part of the reason for this ongoing popularity is the interest in going fast. Racing, similar to superheroes and their larger-than-life foes, has a broad appeal that makes it riveting for audiences around the world.
Unsurprisingly, the world of racing video games is just as popular. In fact, racing simulations are some of the most-played games in the world—from short-form mobile games to expansive video game franchises to almost-real simulations.
Traditional gamers will enjoy releases like Assetto Corsa, Forza Horizon, and Need for Speed. But if you want a highly realistic racing simulation that includes steering wheels, pedals, and more, start working on an iRacing setup. The most competitive racer can even earn money from competing against other players on the virtual platform.
