A lot of video games are adaptations of books, TV shows, movies, etc. It’s hardly surprising — we live in an age of adaptations, where we’re almost guaranteed to see our favorite stories in two different media. Not every story can be adapted, as much as we might like, but we can dream! Here are 5 books that should, hopefully, one day have a video game adaptation.
Graceling Series by Kristin Cashore
The books in this series take place in the same world, but they don’t have to be read in order. It follows different protagonists per book with many recurring main characters, including several Gracelings, people born with extreme skill and are identified by their heterochromia. There’s Katsa, a Graceling with the power of survival; Fire, a human monster both feared and adored; Bitterblue, a young queen trying to rebuild the kingdom her Graceling father nearly destroyed; and more.
Exploring these stories and the wider world they’re set in would make a great video game. The visuals, the open world, the magic, the political intrigue — exploring it ourselves would be fun. Following each character as they go through their story would give a new perspective
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Following Aelin and the other characters would be so much fun. We’d get to see what different creatures, like the Valg, look like, see the incredible fights, and totally immerse ourselves in the world. Playing as the different characters and using their abilities would probably be the best choice, but it could also be wonderful to make an original character who gets thrown in the ring.
Each book could have its own game since having it all in one game might be overwhelming. There’s so much to see and explore, and lots of opportunities for side quests and adventures, that the possibilities seem endless.
The Lunar Chronicles Series by Marissa Meyer
This series is full of fascinating places and people, and while the descriptions are wonderful, actually seeing them ourselves would be so much better. Seeing what Luna looks like, how letumosis impacts people in different stages, and looking at the cool character designs would be a next-level experience.
Not to mention that with the world-building, there’s a lot more to explore. We only see some parts of the Earthen Union, and areas not included in the series could be unlocked as post-game content. Plus all the history could be investigated.
Aurora Teagarden Series by Charlaine Harris
This collection of murder mystery novels would be perfect for a video game adaptation. Aurora, “Roe,” Teagarden is an amateur detective, and cases seem to find her, whether it’s people she knows who have been murdered or her stumbling across a corpse. Going through and solving these mysteries sounds like a perfect puzzle game.
The novels are loosely connected, each one could be a chapter in a game. As one finishes, the next mystery is unlocked. It would also be nice to explore Lawrencetown, Georgia, small as it may be. For so many murders to happen here, there must be something worth exploring, especially the town’s history.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
This one might be a little trickier, but it has potential. It would probably be a simpler game than the others on this list, following the book plot and little else. But the story is such a classic that viewing it from a new lens would be good enough.
It would be nice to play as other main characters, such as Bertha, and get their perspective as best as possible. Since the novel is from Jane’s point of view, readers don’t know as much about the other characters, and exploring it would be an exciting addition.
Hopefully, more books will have video game adaptations. Narrative video games have strong stories and powerful messages. Using books as a template for this would not only support gamers by giving them more things to enjoy, but it might introduce a reader to something new. Just like books, games can also help keep our minds sharp, oftentimes requiring calculated moves. As we wait for adaptations of our favorite novels, we can challenge our minds with current games, such as the online solitaire games you can play now on Taveki!
Click here for an article on video games with storylines that could be books.
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