5 games that deserve The Witcher treatment on Netflix

The Witcher is only the start

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It’s no secret thatThe Witcher Netflixshow has been a massive success for theTV streaming service, with millions of viewers worldwide andthe beginnings of a long-lasting franchisein the works. WithThe Witcher season 2on the way in 2021, Geralt of Rivia is here to stay.

While technically an adaptation ofThe Witcher books– by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski – it’s the series of games that has thrust its characters into the popular imagination, and it won’t be the last timeNetflixattempts it, either.

Success creates imitators, and we can count on the algorithms guiding Netflix’s programming decisions to lead to more video game adaptations for the small screen in the coming years.

You might say it’s already happening, with the brilliant anime adaptation of Castlevania (also on Netflix), and a Halo TV seriesfinally, it seems, on its way. But there’s likely a lot more to come, with gaming culture creeping into the mainstream more than ever before – and the likes of Cory Barlog, game director ofGod of War, tweeting aboutthat franchise’s suitability.

With that in mind, we’ve brought together 5 games we think deserve the same treatment asThe WitcherTV show – aside fromGod of War. Netflix, take note.

1. Bloodborne

A dark, gruelling take on Victorian London with shadowy magic, meat-cleavers, and deformed creatures roaming its haunted world. We only ever seem to visit this period of the UK’s history for reboots of Sherlock Holmes, butBloodborneoffers a rich, strange interpretation of the city – perfect for a horror-filled miniseries in the vein of American Horror Story.

Another Dark Souls-esque game by FromSoftware, Bloodborne is brutally difficult to play, and being able to watch its events unfold sounds significantly easier too – if likely just as harrowing. A TV adaptation would also help to expand its audience beyond its life as aPS4exclusive.

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2. Mirror’s Edge

The 2009 game was one of the most imaginative titles of thePS3/Xbox 360generation, putting you in the deft shoes of a ‘runner’ tasked with carrying packages across a heavily-surveilled city. With an iconic color palette, plenty of action, and the rousing spirit of rebellion, it’s a perfect fit for television.

It would need a lot of sky-scraping set-pieces to feel like a Mirror’s Edge game, and could easily be subsumed within the demands of the Hollywood blockbuster through a traditional theatrical release. With a good 10-20 episodes to breathe, though, its story could really shine.

3. The Last of Us

The best argument forThe Last of UsTV show is also the worst one: since it basically feels like anHBOminiseries already, why bother adapting it?

There’s a glut of zombie content out there these days, especially with The Walking Dead and its various spin-offs refusing to put its characters to rest. But nothing beats The Last of Us’ storytelling – which is what made it ourbest game of the decade– and we still think Naughty Dog’s franchise would translate seamlessly to the small screen. Maybe a sequel set in the far-off future, to avoid retreading too much ground?

4. Metro 2033

Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light and Metro Exodus offer a blisteringly bleak take on post-apocalyptic Russia – which is technically alreadygetting adapted for a movie, but its claustrophobic tunnels and terse exploration would make for a brilliantNetflix show. This isn’t a world you want to zoom through too quickly, and a 90-minute runtime just doesn’t feel like enough to do it justice.

We would have given this spot toFallout, but given the franchise’s damaged reputation afterFallout 76, there’s probably work to be done before fans are willing to accept a television spin-off.

5. Untitled Goose Game

The goose may have gone viral, but we won’t stop honking in its name until the goose has saturated all corners of modern pop culture. Make the show, you cowards!

Honestly, though,Untitled Goose Gamewould make a wonderful kids’ cartoon – whether Netflix spins it as a horrible goose learning to get along with its human neighbors, or just causing chaos in little 10-minute segments. It would certainly get us through the day.

Henry is a freelance technology journalist, and former News & Features Editor for TechRadar, where he specialized in home entertainment gadgets such as TVs, projectors, soundbars, and smart speakers. Other bylines include Edge, T3, iMore, GamesRadar, NBC News, Healthline, and The Times.

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