You Won’t Believe These 8 Epic Video Games Based on Books That Blew Our Minds!

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Summary

  • Dune: Spice Wars sets a new standard for book-based games, delivering fans an immersive experience.
  • Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments offers compelling mystery stories perfect for gamers.
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt showcases how video game adaptations of novels can be exceptional.

It seems that there’s an abundance of games inspired by movies, tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), and various other topics, yet it’s quite surprising how few games are derived from books. Interestingly, many of the games based on literature are among the best in the gaming industry.

Regardless if they’re reinterpretations of beloved fantasy tales or fresh takes that breathe new life into the original texts, video games and books pair exceptionally well together. The list below showcases these adaptations not only for their artistic merit but also for the quality of the gaming experience.

8. Dune: Spice Wars

One Eye on the Shai-Hulud

The tale of Dune was once infamously known as unadaptable. But with the new films, that notion appears to have been debunked completely. Fortunately, the gaming industry has chosen to seize the opportunity and the outcome is “Dune: Spice Wars”.

In the challenging realm of 4X strategy gaming, Dune: Spice Wars stands out as an exceptionally crafted addition that holds its own against established titles, offering a rich blend of gameplay and lore that is sure to captivate fans of Frank Herbert’s novels. This game presents a fresh perspective on Arrakis, paving the way for a new generation of Dune games.

7. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments

Elementary

A multitude of stories about Sherlock Holmes are incredibly versatile when it comes to adaptation. Structured as individual case studies, they have already graced our screens through numerous films and series, yet their intriguing nature makes them a perfect fit for creating engaging mystery video games.

Crafted by Frogwares, renowned for turning novels of this period into immersive crime narratives ideal for gamers seeking rich storylines without significant time commitment, “Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment” stands out as their finest achievement. This game offers a captivating array of cases, a faithful portrayal of the book’s characters, and a strong foundation for a future video game series to build upon.

6. I Have No Mouth, And I Must Scream

Existential Horror

Many books could potentially be transformed into video games, but Harlan Ellison’s short story “I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream” isn’t one of them due to its brevity, limited number of characters, and the fact that the characters cannot physically resist the overpowering authority of the supercomputer AM.

In the 1990s, The Dreamers Guild managed something extraordinary – they didn’t just transform the novel into an adventure game, but enriched it further by providing detailed histories and personalities for each character. This creation was so remarkable that Harlan Ellison himself endorsed it, and now, after nearly three decades, it’s making its way onto consoles.

5. Parasite Eve

The J-Horror Representative

When video game enthusiasts consider adaptations from Japanese media, they often focus on anime and manga as the main sources. However, Japan boasts a rich and flourishing literary world that is equally worthy of recognition, and “Parasite Eve” serves as an excellent demonstration of why more people should explore Japanese literature.

The game essentially continues the storyline from Hideaki Sena’s initial novel “Parasite Eve,” where biological structures rebel against their creators – us. This intriguing concept is well executed in the game, offering a potent blend of elements typical of Japanese horror from the late 90s and traces of “Resident Evil.” This blend makes it an irresistible treat for fans who cherish that era of gaming.

4. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

The Dark Lord Rises

In contrast to some other books, the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy has provided a rich playground for video game creators. Written by J.R.R. Tolkien, these fantasy novels are deeply respected due to their significant role in shaping our modern understanding of what a fantasy novel entails. It’s hard to envision how games like “World of Warcraft” or “The Elder Scrolls” would appear without the influence of “Lord of the Rings”.

As a devoted fan, I must admit that while the novels are magnificent, they are quite extensive. That’s where games like “Shadow of Mordor” shine. They are set in the same captivating world as “The Lord of the Rings,” delve into crucial aspects of the narrative, yet avoid the need to encompass a colossal epic. Instead, they offer a more intimate, personalized tale. It’s a brilliant adaptation of the source material and could very well be the best game ever created within the “Lord of the Rings” universe.

3. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl

Radioactive Rave

Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, a surge in popularity for video game development occurred across countries such as Ukraine and Poland, as an entire new demographic became captivated by games they previously couldn’t experience. Although it took several years to unfold, we are currently experiencing that resurgence in Eastern European game development, and the first S.T.A.L.K.E.R game marked the beginning of this exciting era.

According to the novel “Roadside Picnic” by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, the game “S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl” is a grim survival game that takes place in the area around Chernobyl. This game emphasizes survival mechanics and atmosphere over other aspects, creating a distinctive and beloved vision of a future contaminated by nuclear disaster. This vision continues to influence games even today.

2. Metro Exodus

Out of the Dark

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve noticed an interesting trend in the English language market: Russian novels generally don’t make a big impact beyond the classics. However, there’s an exception when it comes to post-apocalyptic fiction, especially the Metro series penned by Dmitry Glukhovsky. These books have served as a robust base for one of the most memorable post-apocalyptic shooter trilogies in recent gaming history.

Metro: Exodus, which initially emerged from the confined Moscow metro tunnels, stands as the pinnacle of its series. It refines its gripping gameplay to a polished perfection, offering an awe-inspiring apocalypse ripe for exploration. This masterpiece ranks among the best shooters ever crafted, and it’s a testament to Glukhovsky’s original novels that brought it into existence.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Legendary Monster Hunter

Amongst the surge of video game developers in Eastern Europe, none have achieved such high esteem and recognition as CD Projekt Red. This is already remarkable, but what makes it even more noteworthy is that CDPR gained this recognition through an outstanding adaptation of the relatively unknown Witcher novels penned by Andrzej Sapkowski.

It’s challenging to envision Geralt and his band of monster-slaying companions staying unnoticed if not for CDPR’s groundbreaking trilogy. The trilogy, particularly The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, has earned its place among the greatest RPGs in history, often hailed as one of the best ever made. Remarkably, this masterpiece was based on a book that many English-speaking individuals were unfamiliar with prior to the game’s release, demonstrating the incredible potential for video game adaptations of novels.

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2025-05-10 04:08