With cutting-edge graphics and moving storylines, video games are getting increasingly cinematic these days. For decades, films too, have been adapted into games, most of which turned out to be duds or mere marketing tricks. Of course, there can be exceptions, like Sega's Alien: Isolation and EA's The Godfather, but generally, games based on films have had polarizing reactions.
The vintage atmosphere and iconic characters from certain Hollywood classics lend themselves to effective world-building and creating some visually-rich gaming environments. Hence, it would make sense if gaming studios focused on these classic movies to target cinephiles and others just looking for something different.
Psycho (1960)
Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho revolutionized the slasher genre and even for those who haven't watched the film, there is a good chance they know how the famous "shower scene" plays out. The scream queen, Marion Crane, is murdered in cold blood by the antagonistic Norman Bates early on in the film.
A video-game adaptation could make for an engaging survival horror (with elements of a stealth game), in which players could take on the role of Crane. Instead of being an outdated damsel in distress, Crane's objective would be to survive Bates in the minimalistic and desolate landscape of the Bates Motel. Elements from Psycho's sequels could be used to add more story arcs and characters.
Ben-Hur (1959)
Ben-Hur is riddled with several Christian metaphors, but the reason why film geeks remember it the most is its high-budget chariot race. This race plays out for nine minutes and is widely regarded as one of Hollywood's best action sequences.
An ancient racing game is a concept that has hardly been explored in the otherwise-oversaturated genre. A Ben Hur-style chariot race would make for an interesting game. Not only could it include speed and maneuver tactics, but also Road Rash-like foul play at times (as the original featured Messala's blade-covered chariot to disable his competitors).
King Kong (1933)
Hollywood's original King of Monsters deserves a colossal video-game reboot. While Peter Jackson's modern adaptation inspired a critically-acclaimed video game by Ubisoft, another King Kong game could be a fitting tribute to the 1933 original. A black-and-white format with the main monster resembling the stop-motion-animation of its time would make for an unconventional gaming style.
The first few levels could be set in the forests of Skull Island, as the human characters discover King Kong. And of course, the final stages could be set in New York. Like the Ubisoft game, players could have the option to play as both Jack Driscoll or King Kong.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
In more ways than one, Pulp Fiction does feel like a neo-noir take on Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series. It has enough potential for a violence-filled and drug-fueled storyline, with diverse, hyperviolent characters. Each mission or side-quest could be around a particular area in the city and the protagonist could work under or against gangsters, boxers, hoodlums, and so on.
Needless to say, the GTA-like open-world style and Quentin Tarantino's creative influences would ensure a wide range of Easter Eggs and a memorable soundtrack.
The Birds (1963)
Going back to Alfred Hitchcock, The Birds was one of the pioneering films in the so-called 'monster' or 'natural horror' genre. The premise is simple. A small town is attacked by hordes of deadly birds for no apparent reason, but it's Hitchcock's stylish direction that makes the film a classic.
A video-game of the film could easily follow a first-person survival approach. Players would need to stealthily hide from the killer birds, as well as kill them too, when necessary. The birds' character and sound design could be vastly improved from the original film, to create chilling jumpscares.
Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
George A. Romero revolutionized the zombie genre with his independent horror Night Of The Living Dead. Seven people are trapped in a local farmhouse and face the brunt of several undead corpses. This simple yet effective plot could be expanded upon in a game.
Now, there are several visceral, and gory zombie action and survival games. But a Night Of The Living Dead game could take a more atmospheric, old-fashioned approach with its zombies and violence. By recreating Romero's low-budget film sets and zombies, a more offbeat take on the genre could be achieved.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey would make for an extremely philosophical game with surreal audio-visual concepts. It is a heavily experimental film to adapt to a space exploration or strategy game, but with the right creative minds, the game would be an enthralling experience for sci-fi aficionados.
Nevermind the gameplay, even the cutscenes would be dramatic and orchestral in scale. Stages involving HAL and the monoliths would find players using their intellect and decision-making to solve mind games.
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly (1966)
Red Dead Redemption showed audiences the marketability of the Western genre if executed well. So, if an actual Western classic was to be remade for a game, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly would arguably be the best pick. Players could switch between the three titular characters and engage in quests and missions pertaining to each of these self-styled vigilantes in the Wild West.
The ultimate goal of the game would be to find a treasure bounty, as shown in the Spaghetti Western. As the central characters are brash, violent gunslingers, the shooting missions would test the player's speed and aim, especially in the one-on-one gun duels and standoffs.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
While there are several memorable movies centered around the impact of the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now is probably the most haunting and introspective. As the war ends, Captain Willard undergoes a psychological dilemma, as he passes through several East Asian countries, realizing the futility of the armed conflict. His final mission is to neutralize a rogue American general called Kurtz, a man who further adds to Willard's confusion.
A game adaptation of Apocalypse Now could be an open-world survival game, as Willard explores the wilderness in the aftermath of the war. Unlike other military games, this could succeed in giving players a less glorified and more realistic portrayal of the soldiers on both sides.
The Great Escape (1963)
The Great Escape's title is self-explanatory. It's a story of British Commonwealth soldiers attempting to escape their German POW camp. Rather than engaging in full-blown World War action, the film attempts a slow-burn approach, as the protagonists figure out various strategies before making their escape.
A strategy/action game could be developed based on the film's premise, as players smuggle tools, dig tunnels, and work out strategies to outsmart their German captors. The adrenaline-heavy finale of the film could be reenacted towards the game's final stages and players could ride a motorcycle like Steve McQueen, heading towards their own freedom.