With the growing popularity of shorter, more serialized television shows—commonly known as "mini-series," viewers can now get a similar experience from the small screen that they originally had to visit their local movie theatres for. But, among the many adaptations from film, books, and comics, one medium that has very few adaptations in TV is that of video games.
While there are exceptions out there, video games haven’t really gotten a fair shake in any live-action medium, let alone TV. This is a shame, as most modern games could work on television, and one genre of gaming well-suited for TV is that of horror.
Killer7 (2005)
Killer7 may not be an outright "horror" game, but it sure is a disturbing experience, to say the least. Cleaner Garcian Smith, ex-cop Dan Smith, thief Coyote Smith, Lucha libre wrestler MASK De Smith, sniper KAEDE Smith, hooligan Con Smith, and silent assassin Kevin Smith—no, not that Kevin Smith—are all projections of the mysterious Harman Smith.
When a supernatural terrorist unit known as Heaven Smile starts making moves, it's up to the seven assassins to put them all in the ground. Mixing surrealism with action, Killer7's hypothetical TV show could give Harman's projections more depth and character while expanding on its horror elements.
Manhunt (2003)
Rockstar Games are well known for the Grand Theft Auto franchise, but what they are perhaps more infamous for is another franchise set in the same universe. Though everyone talks about the button-pushing sequel, it is the original Manhunt that feels more suited to television.
The game about a death row inmate participating in the making of a grandiose snuff film in order to see his wife and kids could make for an interesting storyline, as well as serve up some social commentary. The violence that made Manhunt the bane of violent media activists's existence now wouldn't seem out of place on a streaming service.
Five Nights At Freddy's (2014)
Loved by many, reviled by just as many, its undeniable that Five Nights At Freddy's has crafted a legacy that MatPat from Game Theory is still trying to unpack seven years later. A film adaptation has been on life support for a number of years, so perhaps it is time to do something new with the inhabitants of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.
Though the game is called Five Nights At Freddy's, there are actually seven nights, so a studio could at least get a seven-episode season out of the game. Not to mention that the show could go a long way to explain the confusing lore of the series.
Dark Souls (2011)
If horror equals panic and dread to a consumer, then the Dark Souls series comes pretty close, even if its horror status is a bit suspect. What makes Dark Souls truly scary is the sense of fear that any random fight could be your last.
It doesn’t matter how good you are, you will die at least a few dozen times. Shows like Game of Thrones and The Witcher are keeping the fantasy genre alive on television, so the idea of a television show that adapts the understated lore and overwhelming dread of Dark Souls is quite tantalizing.
Clock Tower (1995)
Dread and psychological terror are all swell, but, every once in a while, you'll find yourself in need of a good old slasher flick. With that being said, in video games, no franchise fits the moniker of “slasher” more than Clock Tower.
Starting off with a classic Super Nintendo game, as well as a pretty solid PS1 entry, the series petered out after that but still has a loyal following. With Scream having received three seasons, it seems like a good time for The Scissorman to dust off the giant shears and terrify a new generation who may not be familiar with his games.
Outlast (2013)
Considered one of the most disturbing games of all time, Outlast has gotten under the skin of players since it came out. Journalist Miles Upshur attempts to navigate an overrun asylum, and the game then thrusts players into uncomfortable scenarios that will etch themselves into their memory banks.
With your camera being an important mechanic in the game, a show based on the games could be told in the found footage format, which is rare for television. It might not last long, but it certainly would a memorable experiment.
I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream (1995)
The works of the late Harlan Ellison are certainly dour, even his Star Trek episode "City On The Edge Of Forever" couldn't escape this. His most iconic work, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream, is perhaps best remembered for its mid-90’s point-and-click adaptation.
Set in a world where a super-computer known as AM has wiped out all but five people on the planet, those five people are sent into scenarios that highlight their failures. Taking on an anthology format, each scenario could play out as a season, with each season telling this dark, sinister story.
Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines (2004)
Initially hurt by a buggy launch as well as a release date that put it into competition with Half-Life 2, Bloodlines, based on the Vampire: The Masquerade tabletop series, received a following soon after its release. Taking place in a vampire-ridden alternate California, the player is forced to explore the paranormal subculture that hides underneath The Golden State.
Though the ins and outs of vampire society take center stage, more creepy-crawlies lie in wait within this sinister world, making it that much more fun to explore. Perhaps it’s time this universe was explored in a TV series now that a sequel is finally upon us.
Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem (2002)
Eldritch horror is a difficult subset of western horror to nail down. The idea of being insignificant in a universe of things that would drive most men mad is a compelling concept, but one that is so easily done poorly. One of the many times it was done well was in the game Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem.
Published by none other than Nintendo, the game’s narrative focuses on the many people whose lives have been affected by The Tome of Eternal Darkness. Though mostly popular for its fourth wall breaking sanity effects, Eternal Darkness’ story is definitely worth exploring, and a show based on the events of the game could certainly be gripping.
Silent Hill (1999-2014)
Fargo, True Detective, American Horror Story. All excellent, all anthologies, all perfect models for what a Silent Hill show could look like. Though it has seen a severe drop in both quality and relevance, the series still remains alive in the minds of gamers. If one were to really think about it, there isn’t really an overarching narrative for the series.
It’s just the small town of Silent Hill, the people who visit it, and the horrors they find. An anthology series could be a ratings smash if Konami would just sign off on it. Castlevania worked, so why not do Silent Hill next?