Multiplayer Games That Deserve Their Own TV Show

Netflix has been on a roll releasing shows based on popular video game franchises, producing excellent shows such as Castlevania, The Witcher, Tomb Raider, and even Arcane, based on the long-enduring MOBA League of Legends. With the source material being a multiplayer with little story to be found while playing, its production came as a shock to fans, but most shocking of all was the sheer quality of the show.

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Arcane blew everyone’s estimations out of the water, as the show was rich with complex characters, a gripping story and sublime visuals. So now the only question is, what multiplayer game could be next in line for the Arcane treatment, and how will it measure up against such an astonishing show?

8

Grounded

A Borrowers-Like Story

Those familiar with The Borrower’s or Studio Ghibli’s Arrietty will know all about how hard life can be for the littlest people, and Grounded takes that in a whole new direction by having the shrunken characters placed in a back garden to fend for themselves against the towering fauna and the now deadly ordinary garden insects.

Though it places a focus on multiplayer gameplay, there are story beats that could act as the basis for a Grounded adaptation, such as the reasons why the characters were shrunk in the first place. And with giant insects as the main enemy, showrunners could keep it a light-hearted experience, or drive it straight into horror territory.

7

Dead by Daylight

If a Movie is Possible, Why Not a Series?

Blumhouse have stepped up to the challenge of adapting this highly successful horror asymmetrical multiplayer into a movie, which is proof enough that Dead by Daylight could be adapted for the screen. And if a feature-length movie is possible, then surely a limited series is also in the realm of possibility.

With so many characters in the roster, part of the struggle would be picking whose story to tell, but this is where Dead by Daylight could benefit more from a TV series than a movie, as it could serve as an anthology to tell the story of each survivor and their specific killer. Fans are treated to some of their lore in the backstory and through short trailers and videos, but a full episode length could do their stories justice.

6

Vampire Survivors

An In-Depth Exploration of the Belpaese Family’s Uprising

It has been some years since popular vampire shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Vampire Diaries and True Blood graced television screens, leaving quite a noticeable hole in the market. Though the renaissance of vampire media might quite possibly be over, there is never a shortage of vampire fans who are always thirsty for more.

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As such, the popular multiplayer game Vampire Survivors could fill in this void, with its collection of intriguing boss design, and the struggle between the Belpaese family and the evil overlord Bisconte Draculo serving as the centerpiece for the plot, with one dramatic final confrontation between the two.

5

A Way Out

A Compelling Prison-Break Story

A Way Out was an in interesting game in the way it featured split-screen co-op even for those that were playing together online, harkening back to those good old days of couch co-op. Two prisoners, Vincent and Leo, decide to team up to try and escape prison, and must work together in order to be successful. Co-op gameplay includes situations such as one prisoner distracting a guard while the other can lift whatever item they need to proceed.

Adapting A Way Out into a TV show gives the chance for more buddy-prisoner shenanigans between Vincent and Leo, and could even mimic the split-screen visuals for certain scenes, as an homage to the original game.

4

Left 4 Dead

The Market for Zombie Shooters Remains a Rich One

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Left 4 Dead

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November 17, 2008

If there is one thing certain in life, it’s that there will always be a demand for zombie media. From the original undead horror movie Night of the Living Dead to the pop culture smash hit The Walking Dead, zombies are never out of fashion, and each new movie, show, or game just reignited the passion for the genre, the fans as insatiable as the shuffling undead.

By far the most popular and successful multiplayer zombie game is Left 4 Dead, an easy game to just hop in and enjoy with friends for a few hours before hopping back out. The story is limited, but this could be a boon to showrunners who want to try their hand at crafting their own narrative for the world of the game, and the plucky survivors who find themselves in the midst of it. And seeing the special zombies created for a live-action show would be a joyous experience.

3

Vampire: the Masquerade – Bloodhunt

White Wolf’s IP Oozes Intriguing Lore

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September 7, 2021

Bloodhunt is a bit of a misnomer for this game, as in VtM lore a bloodhunt is called against a single kindred for crimes they committed against the masquerade, rather than a free-for-all among vampire kind. It was an unexpected game among fans of this TTRPG IP, as they were expecting another RPG long before a multiplayer title. Still, it is widely enjoyed among die-hard fans and those who have never interacted with the World of Darkness before, and this has the potential for adaptation.

The setting of Prague is an interesting choice, with its classic architecture suiting a dark and moody vampire story well. It could follow the bloodhunt angle, with characters modeled after the kindred from the game on the hunt for one particular kindred, who must outlive the vampires hunting them, the SI agents setting up barricades, and even the red mist, which was used in-game to limit the mp as time went on.

2

Hunt: Showdown

Wild West Shows are Sorely Lacking

Though there are a slew of western movies available to watch, there is quite a noticeable restricted number of western shows, and Hunt: Showdown could very well change that. Though it;s far from the formula of ordinary spaghetti westerns, its differences are what could make it all the more intriguing. Rather than collecting bounties for wanted criminals and taking part in pistol duels, players of this game hunt down monstrous bosses, or each other depending on the game mode.

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It is the former that would benefit an adaptation more, as there is a potential for a story surrounding a group of outlaws who are continually on the lookout for bigger and badder monsters to hunt, which could lead to the group losing members as they finally find a contract they can’t breeze their way through on a storm of bullets.

1

Baldur’s Gate 3

An Immersive Plot Perfect for Binge-Watching

Baldur’s Gate 3 may not solely be a multiplayer game, as it is perfectly enjoyable when played alone, but it does work best when enjoyed with friends, as it emulates the feeling of a game of Dungeons and Dragons. Everyone gets to create their hero, everyone gets to be the main character, and everyone collaborates during combat and puzzles to guarantee victory.

With such an amazing story and strong cast of characters with flaws to make them interesting and realistic, Baldur’s Gate 3 could act as the new D&D show fans have been waiting for. Though a cartoon was released back in the 80s, it hasn’t aged all that gracefully, and Baldur’s Gate 3 could pave the way to a new and improved show based on the tabletop RPG. The groundwork has already been laid down, now all that is needed is a competent showrunner to get it up and running, and the cast to reprise their roles.

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