There are a plethora of genuinely great and terrifically terrible video game adaptations of TV shows. From Australian soaps to crime-based dramas featuring ducks, some video game adaptations just don’t make the cut when it comes to quality, or even representing the show it's based on. However, while not every video game based on a TV show is great (and let’s be honest, the two mediums don’t really work together the majority of the time), sometimes the games just about manage to nail certain elements perfectly.

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Whether it's characters, world-building, style, or even just the general atmosphere, sometimes it's just enough to replicate the feel and tone of a show. While the plots, gameplay, and graphics may come across as a tad shoddy, some TV show-based video games actually manage to get the best bits right. From feeling like the captain of the Starship Enterprise to comically crashing into everything you see in Springfield, these video games based on TV shows may not be perfect, but they absolutely nail the atmosphere.

Updated January 30, 2023, by Gabrielle Huston: TV show video games aren't super common, and can definitely vary in quality. Is it just a money-grubbing scheme by a company trying to make a quick buck off of an already popular franchise, or do the people behind the scenes really seem to care about the world they're developing and working in? We've updated this list with a few more of our favorite examples of video games based on television. Enjoy!

15 Ben 10: Protector Of Earth

Ben 10 feels like one of those shows that everyone knows about. It’s the Minecraft of children’s TV from the early 2000s. Its huge popularity spawned many spin-off shows, live-action movies – no, seriously – and, of course, video games. Ben 10: Protector of Earth is perhaps one of the most faithful and enjoyable Ben 10 video games thanks to its gorgeous visuals, excellent recreations of the aliens, and the ability to play with a friend.

Ben 10: Protector of Earth has been ported to various platforms, but it plays the best on PlayStation 2. While it only features five of Ben Tennyson’s ten alien forms, it does a fantastic job of recreating them and their abilities. Rolling around as Cannonbolt as your friend burns your enemies to a crisp as Heatblast simply never gets old. For a children’s TV show video game adaptation, Ben 10: Protector of Earth is pretty great.

14 Nickelodeon: All-Star Brawl

This entry is a little bit of a cheat. Nickelodeon: All-Star Brawl is the Super Smash Bros. clone that took the world by storm. Letting you play as characters from across Nickelodeon’s supreme roster of cartoon characters, this stage-fighter is a lot of fun. Its gameplay is pretty solid, with each character playing differently from one another, and the sizeable roster means there’s a lot of replayability to be had.

However, what makes it such a special game is just how perfectly the developers have managed to capture each character’s personality and their respective shows. The stages look great, with suitable music accompanying them, and the various characters are all represented fantastically. Suffice to say, Hugh Neutron has never looked any better. They also all have moves that represent facets of their show, which is a lot of fun to see. While it’ll never reach the heights of Super Smash Bros., Nickelodeon: All-Star Brawl is pretty phenomenal.

13 Game Of Thrones (2012)

Game of Thrones really took the world by storm when it came out. You couldn’t go two feet without overhearing someone talking about this amazing new show. Well, now that it’s been and gone – and is frankly far too long for most people to binge – those who’re craving to relive the glory days of fantasy TV may want to check out the 2012 game by the same name. Is it good? Not really. Does it absolutely nail the tone, themes, and story of the show? 100 percent.

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We’ll be honest with you. This 20-hour-long RPG is a bit rough around the edges. It takes an extremely long time to get going, with its plot only really kicking in around the fifteen-hour mark. However, it has a lot of features that really make it feel like you’re living the show. Its narrative is suitably dark, the show’s great cast of characters make appearances, and its finale is so perfect you’ll wish the rest of the game had been that good. If you’re willing to put up with some so-so visuals, a lot of dialogue, and a convoluted yet interesting combat system, then Game of Thrones (2012) is absolutely for you.

12 Desperate Housewives: The Game

Yes, this is a real thing. Honestly, we couldn’t believe this existed either. We’re not sure anyone thought Desperate Housewives needs a video game, but here we are. The thing is, it’s really good. Surprisingly so. Releasing back in 2006, this life-simulation game is similar in gameplay to The Sims. However, it’s far more story-driven and features the many wonderful characters from Desperate Housewives.

You’ll create your own character – with limited customization options – as well as your family, and then move into Wisteria Lane. Perhaps the best part of Desperate Housewives: The Game is its recreation of Wisteria Lane. Each of the character’s houses has been fairly faithfully replicated, as have their character models. You’ll find yourself smiling as you walk into Bree Van de Kamp’s house and see her ornate furniture neatly laid out. There are some decent minigames to play – including poker, which is honestly perfect – and secrets to uncover. Frankly, if you love Desperate Housewives, you’ll adore its video game adaptation.

11 Adventure Time: Pirates Of The Enchiridion

While Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion may not have been the most spectacular of RPGs, it does absolutely nail the tone, humor, scale, and look of the show. Its ability to recreate the original show’s gorgeous art style - as well as bring back its impressively talented voice cast - makes fans of Adventure Time feel far more immersed in its open world. On a purely superficial level, Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion looks the part, right down to popular locations being almost entirely recreated.

It also manages to incorporate a lot of the character’s in-show abilities within the context of the game. Jake will enlarge himself or alter parts of his body to protect his allies and Marceline can even turn into her Why-wolf form. It is clear that the people who made the game are huge fans of the show that understand its humor and heart, as a lot of it carries over into the game’s script. Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion retains a lot of the comical genius from the show, and makes each of its core cast feel authentic. Sure, it wasn’t an overly great game and suffered from its simplicity and attempts at appealing to a younger audience. However, for the most part, it truly captures what makes the show so perfect in the first place.

10 24: The Game

24: The Game is a bit of an oddity. Released back in 2006, 24: The Game offers fans of the show an entirely original story set within the 24 universe. While the game itself isn’t 24 hours long, its narrative does manage to capture the intensity and urgency that the show so expertly displays. Most of the cast reprise their roles and do a fairly decent job of it too - especially Big Boss Kiefer Sutherland - and the dialogue is as frantic as ever.

You’ll also experience everything from stealth sections, action-packed shootouts, and even fairly impressive car chases, all of which resemble moments from the show quite well. This is in large part due to the show’s cinematographer returning to help with cutscenes and the overall appearance of the game. Dialogue options, emergent gameplay, and a huge amount of ambition also make each segment feel more authentic and allow you to really get into the shoes of Jack Bauer - his feet must really hurt after running around for 24 hours straight. Overall, while being a mostly unpolished experience, there’s so much ambition, charm, and attention to detail here that it honestly feels like an extension of the show as opposed to a separate entity.

9 Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds is generally considered to be a decent adaptation of the show. It’s an original story featuring a range of playable characters including the fan-favorite Spike - Buffy the Vampire Slayer would be nothing without him, just saying. However, more importantly, the game manages to capture the adolescent quippy humor and over-the-top nature of the show in a concise and rarely rushed way.

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For those who enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the action and not the dialogue - the three of you out there - then fear not as the game absolutely nails it. Watching as vampires explode into dust or as Buffy herself roundhouse kicks a series of baddies in the face is perpetually riveting. You’ll also get to explore a lot of the most iconic locations and meet up with minor and major characters from various episodes. It’s amazing how accurately Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds manages to capture the magic and charm of the show within a linear, video game setting.

8 Lost: Via Domus

It's no secret that Lost is a great TV show. While certain elements of it may be a little contrived (and those later seasons were, well, a little iffy), for the most part, Lost is seen as the poster boy for early 2000s high-end TV drama. So, it made perfect sense for Ubisoft to develop a video game based on the beloved TV show. Right? Well, aside from butchering the gameplay just a bit, Lost: Via Domus is a great example of a video game based on a TV show that does the show justice.

Featuring familiar elements from the show such as a “previously on” segment before the start of each chapter or episode, incredibly iconic music cues, and now legendary settings, Lost: Via Domus manages to get the atmosphere of the show spot on. While it isn’t always fun to play, the fact that you get to explore the campsite from the first two seasons, visit faithfully recreated locations, and explore the mysterious jungle all while avoiding the infamous Black Smoke Monster is a genuine treat.

7 Bill Nye: The Science Guy - Stop the Rock!

Many of us remember growing up with Bill Nye the Science Guy teaching us how white light actually contains all the colors of the rainbow or the way that plants can turn sunlight into food. When your teacher rolled in that big television on wheels, or booted up the dusty projector, you knew you were about to have a good day. This educational title brought that love of learning to video gaming!

In Bill Nye: The Science Guy - Stop the Rock!, a huge meteoroid is about to crash into Earth! Thankfully, a team of expert scientists developed a computer program named MAAX (Meteoroid and Asteroid Exploder) to control laser satellites in the atmosphere and blow up the meteoroid. Not so thankfully, MAAX soon gains sentience and demands that the scientists solve seven "science riddles" to prove they deserve to be saved! As the latest addition to the team, you need to help the scientists solve these puzzles.

6 The Walking Dead: The Game

You could pretty much slot any Telltale game in this list, and it would count. Telltale nailed the formula for taking an established franchise and expanding on it in their own unique and creative way. With the likes of Game of Thrones, Batman, and of course The Walking Dead getting the Telltale treatment, fans of these iconic franchises were in for a treat.

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The Walking Dead: The Game, however, is a magnificent video game that not only offers a compelling and emotional experience in its own right but perfects the many phenomenal elements from the show and comics. Featuring familiar characters, settings, and storytelling, The Walking Dead: The Game manages to capture the atmosphere and brutally dark tone of the series all while offering a similarly bleak yet captivating narrative for the player to experience.

5 Steven Universe: Attack the Light

Steven Universe: Attack the Light was a mobile roleplaying game based on the television show Steven Universe. The story for the game was even written by the show's creator, Rebecca Sugar! In it, you travel with Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl across several worlds, solving puzzles and collecting treasures as you go.

If you enjoy the game, you'll be pleased to know that it's actually the first in a trilogy! The next entry was Steven Universe: Save the Light, and the last was Steven Universe: Unleash the Light. While the first was mobile exclusive, the second two are also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, and macOS.

4 South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Once again, Ubisoft threw their hat in the video-games-based-on-TV-shows ring and made South Park: The Fractured But Whole. This superhero extravaganza utilizes the characters and humor from the popular animated show to create a brand-new narrative. It also includes a plethora of references for hardcore fans to spot. When it comes to nailing the feeling and tone of a show, South Park: The Fractured But Whole is practically the guidebook.

Its art is, of course, directly inspired by the original show’s visual style. The characters and their oftentimes crude sense of humor feel familiar and oddly comforting while the game’s over-the-top narrative and set pieces could snugly fit right in between any of the show’s episodes. There’s a lot to love here, even if you’re not a fan of South Park, but when it comes to representing the show you’re based on, South Park: The Fractured But Whole truly does an excellent job. You don’t need to look much further than the game’s title to see why.

3 Star Trek: Bridge Crew

Have you ever wanted to travel through space, fight aliens and bravely rescue those in need? Do you have what it takes to command a crew of people who may mess around 50 percent of the time? If you answered yes to both of those, then you’ll be perfect for the VR epic, Star Trek: Bridge Crew. Once again published by Ubisoft, Star Trek: Bridge Crew is the understandably critically acclaimed VR title that sees you and your friends man the bridge of a starship.

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Of course, putting yourself directly into the video game is going to help substantially with immersion. However, what makes Star Trek: Bridge Crew such an incredibly faithful representation of the best elements of the shows is the level of interaction you have with your crew members and the ship itself. The visual style, sounds of the ship, and the adventure you’ll undertake all feel as if they were ripped straight from an episode of the show, making the experience fulfilling even if you don’t enjoy the minute-to-minute gameplay. However, it is fair to say that if you’re a fan of Star Trek then you’ll likely feel right at home in Star Trek: Bridge Crew.

2 Dalek Attack

Dalek Attack is a game based on the popular British television show, Doctor Who! It came out in 1992, so this entry is a bit retro, but for the time it was a great hommage to its television counterpart. It was set in four global cities - London, Paris, New York, and Tokyo - as well as Skaro, the Dalek homeworld.

As the player, depending on the system you were on, you could choose between playing the second, fourth, fifth, or seventh Doctor. If a second player joined you, they played as Ace, a companion of the seventh doctor. You'll work your way through the various levels until you reach the creator of the Daleks himself, Davros, starring as the game's final boss.

1 The Simpsons: Hit & Run

The Simpsons: Hit & Run needs no introduction. Played on practically every PS2 ever owned, The Simpsons: Hit & Run offered an expansive and colorful recreation of the beloved city of Springfield all while throwing reference after reference at you.

It features a plethora of incredible cars, memorable characters, jokes, and of course locations from the series. However, the art style and over-the-top sense of humor are what make it such a faithful adaptation. While a lot of video games based on animated TV shows utilized a similar art style as The Simpsons: Hit & Run, it absolutely perfected it and used it to great success. It took the iconic look of The Simpson’s animation and recreated it in 3D, making it a timeless classic that is still enjoyed today.

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