Relationships between different forms of media have always been a part of the entertainment environment. Novels, comics, and movie adaptions have long been working together successfully, as demonstrated by hits like the films in the MCU. While among the newer entries to the arena, video games illustrate a level of potential still on the rise.
This two-way street is becoming more popular by the year, where horror could be among the most natural fits. So where have we seen this play out, and why is this relationship in horror specifically so well-poised to take off in the coming years?
From TV and Movies to Gaming
The origins of TV and movie horror finding its way into gaming came from simple franchising efforts. Video games built to capitalize on the popularity of horror movies have been a popular pursuit for decades, breaking out into the public eye back in the 2D era. Here, titles like Friday the 13th for the NES and Texas Chainsaw Massacre for the Atari 2600 provided home players a way to experience the horror. Although most of the horror came from the poor quality of these early games, it wouldn’t always be the case.
Direct modern games inspired by horror franchises like Alien: Isolation and, ironically, the 2017 Friday the 13th game later proved critical and commercial darlings. This success also extended into the world of slot games, with top-rated titles like Resident Evil (inspired by the movies and not the games) finding a home among popular slot libraries. Indirectly, other slot games like Blood Suckers 2 would borrow heavily from decades of horror vampire cinema. Whether playing on mobile, desktop, or console systems, all these games give game players a new way to enjoy the horror film media they loved.
And From Gaming to TV and Movies
As video gaming evolved as a medium, its ability to tell engaging stories grew. Role-playing games set this stage decades ago, but for the mainstream to become more popular, it was action and adventure games that proved the biggest cross-over hits.
Standout early efforts were the Resident Evil series of films, which raised the bar significantly over early gaming to movie adaptations. Of course, no piece of media has even enjoyed success in both gaming and TV as the recent series The Last of Us.
First arriving on the PS3 back in 2013, The Last of Us proved a smash hit from developer
Naughty Dog, deftly weaves engaging gameplay with a well-written and well-acted story.
Rereleased on the PS4 and then PS5, the 2023 television series became the first gaming-to-
television adaption to receive worldwide acclaim.
With the success of The Last of Us, horror games are seeing translations in the mainstream, finally worthy of their origins. No longer are smaller but still great efforts like the first Silent Hill films are confined to a niche audience, as our hobbies and passions become shared like never before. The natural appeal of horror across all mediums and its capacity for interpretation leave it as one of the most adaptable genres, and as other mediums have shown, that will never change.
With that in mind, what are your favorite games that you’d like to see made into movie/TV shows, and vice versa? In the next few years, a successful crossover might be more likely than you think.
