Video games, movies, TV shows and comic books have a very complicated relationship to say the least. Since the dawn of digital gaming, the adaptation of all these forms of media have been attempted – MANY of them becoming absolute failures. However, every blue moon, someone actually sticks the landing and delivers. Let’s take a look in no particular order what licensed games actually got it right.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
The Simpsons (<– BUY HERE!) is the longest-running animated TV show in history, with a long list of video game adaptations—and with the sole exception of the arcade game, none of them were any good. The developers of this title didn’t just want a run-of-the-mill tie-in. They wanted it to feel fleshed out, with a story written by the show’s staff, all the original voice actors, classic gags, and a fully realized Springfield to explore and cause all sorts of cartoon mayhem. At its core, it’s basically a GTA clone, but it absolutely owns it. Over 20 years later, it still holds up—and it’s STILL not available on modern consoles. Whoever’s in charge of this, please re-release it!
Alien: Isolation
A true survival horror experience. Ripley’s daughter, Amanda, hears word that the black box from the doomed Nostromo has been recovered. Eager to find out what happened to her mother, she accepts a job on the space station Sevastopol. When she and the crew arrive, they find things have gone a tad downhill—malfunctioning android Working Joes, paranoid survivalists, and of course, a bloodthirsty Alien looking to make a meal out of you. An immersive atmosphere, intentionally slow pace, and stellar stealth mechanics and enemy AI make this one of the most genuine horror titles of the last generation.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Matt Stone and Trey Parker decided they were tired of all the half-baked South Park games and wanted to make something special—with a real hands-on approach. This feels like you’re literally playing an episode of the show. Stick of Truth has a rich fantasy backdrop, hilarious writing, all your favorite characters, and sharp turn-based gameplay. It perfectly captures the atmosphere of kids making the most of their playtime—in the most hilariously absurd South Park twist possible.
Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
I dare say—it might even be better than the movie it’s based on. Peter Jackson set out to deliver the ultimate King Kong experience, not just on the big screen but on consoles too. This wasn’t just another lazy tie-in; it aimed for quality and wasn’t afraid to deviate from the source material to improve pacing and presentation. You alternate between playing as Jack Driscoll in a survival horror FPS and Kong himself in a beat-em-up brawler. While Kong is clearly the main event, the FPS sections are surprisingly polished and pack real tension and excitement. The island—no matter who you’re playing as—feels genuinely alive, teeming with dangerous creatures and a lost, hostile tribe. Hands down, one of the best movie tie-in games ever made. And yet… still not available on modern consoles. Fix this immediately.
The Room
Yes—THAT Room. I know it’s just a fan-made flash game, but holy heck did these guys knock it out of the park. Everything you love about the movie is here: love, betrayal, infidelity, bizarre characters with even weirder dialogue… and spoons. The 8-bit music, the boss fights, and the attempts to fill in the blanks of the film’s nonsensical narrative are fan service done right. This game is free, and you should play it immediately—unless you’re a little chicken. CHEEP CHEEP CHEEP! Play it here –> https://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/547307