6 Outstanding Video Game Shows to Jump Into After ‘Fallout’
Finished Fallout and need to quench your thirst for TV shows based on video games? Here are the best–and where to stream them.
Fallout landed with a splash on Prime Video, proving once and for all that video game adaptations don’t have to be the cinematic equivalent of a hammer and nail to the groin. To be fair, gone are the dark days when anything based on gaming was either an unmitigated disaster or an Uwe Boll production (hint: both are the same thing). Since Fallout dropped all its episodes in one go, it’ll be a while until the second season arrives. Until then, though, here are six sensational shows based on video games to tide everyone over until the post-apocalyptic comedy drama returns.
Mortal Kombat: Legacy | Max
Despite contrary belief, Mortal Kombat isn’t only about beating an opponent to a bloody pulp then forcing their head to explode out of an orifice. There’s a story there–or at least some semblance of one. Director Kevin Tancharoen took his shot at greatness by pitching his self-financed short film Mortal Kombat: Rebirth to Warner Bros. In return, the studio gave him the green light to achieve a flawless victory in the form of micro web series Mortal Kombat: Legacy. Across two seasons, the fantastical lore and zany characters receive a reimagining and modernized update that creates more legitimate reasons for everyone choosing to fight in this tournament of death. The show features the likes of Michael Jai White as Jax Briggs, Casper Van Dien as Johnny Cage, Jeri Ryan as Sonya Blade, and Marc Dacascos as Kung Lao.
Castlevania | Netflix
Anyone who has played the Castlevania video games knows it’s all about the Belmont family and their never-ending bitter feud with the king of bloodsuckers, Dracula. The Netflix adaptation follows Trevor Belmont who is the last of his heroic bloodline. Together with a few brave individuals, he embarks on a quest to stop Dracula and his toothy goons before they destroy all of humanity. The animated series borrows heavily from anime influences and Ayami Kojima’s designs for the game, while never being shy of dropping buckets of blood and ludicrous gore on screen. Castlevania boasts a terrific voice cast, including Richard Armitage as Trevor Belmont, Graham McTavish as Dracula, and James Callis as Alucard.
The Last of Us | Max
Look at this: Another property where people wander around in a post-apocalyptic setting and avoid zombies who aren’t called zombies. Here’s the difference, though: The Last of Us knows how to hit in the feels with a genuine heartfelt relationship between the lead characters, Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsay). Their journey across the American wasteland is as much about them learning to have faith in humanity once again as it is about their own survival. The first season largely follows the same plot as the first video game in the series. If further episodes are anything like The Last of Us Part II, though, the internet might implode from all the drama about to unfold.
Arcane | Netflix
Set in the League of Legends universe, Arcane explores the complex relationship between sisters Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (Ella Purnell), who find themselves at odds because of their differing ideologies. While the imaginative steampunk aesthetic lures the viewers in at first, they stay along for the ride because of the multilayered and poignant storylines. Binge-worthy and unforgettable, Arcane appeals to both gamers and non-gamers alike. It even received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program in 2022. With Season 2 on the horizon for late 2024, now is the perfect time to experience the compelling series that more than deserves all its flowers.
Twisted Metal | Peacock
The Twisted Metal video games don’t have much of a storyline. Instead, it’s pure carmageddon as everyone picks a vehicle to wreck and combat others on the battlefield. The streaming series channels the wacky spirit and doubles down on the outrageous hilarity of the premise by injecting it with enough of a storyline to keep the narrative moving as fast as the vehicles. In this show, an amnesiac milkman John Doe (Anthony Mackie) heads out on the ride of all rides to drop off a mysterious package. Along the way, he encounters a number of opportunists and plain weirdos, such as the homicidal clown Sweet Tooth (portrayed by Samoa Joe but voiced by Will Arnett). Ultimately, Twisted Metal proves to be campy, over the top, and big dumb fun for everyone.
Gangs of London | Prime Video
Not many people realize Gangs of London is based on a video game. That’s mostly because the original game was released in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable, and didn’t exactly set the gaming world on fire. However, there’s no need to be familiar with the video game as the series more than introduces itself as the perfect cross between Peaky Blinders and Sons of Anarchy. As the name implies, the show revolves around the different gangs in London as well as the political (and violent) turmoil between them. The Raid director Gareth Evans serves as a co-creator and occasional director of the series, which means the action scenes are simply on another level of brutality. Gangs of London stars Sope Dirisu, Joe Cole, and Michelle Fairley.