Games Where The Story Is Continued In Other Media

Video games are known for their ability to tell rich, immersive stories that stick with players long after they finish. But sometimes, the best way to tell a story isn’t through a game. As the saying goes, ‘the medium is the message,’ and some stories are just better suited to other formats. Developers often find that branching out into novels, TV shows, or even movies gives them a chance to expand their worlds in ways a game can’t.

Related

10 Video Game Environments That Deserve Their Own Spin-Off

Here are the best video game environments that should have a spin-off!

Whether it’s diving deeper into a character’s backstory, exploring new perspectives, or just giving fans more time in a world they love, shifting to a different medium can breathe new life into a story.

9

Infinity Blade

Infinity Blade: Awakening And Infinity Blade: Redemption

Infinity Blade

Systems

Released

December 9, 2010

Engine

Unreal Engine 3

The Infinity Blade series began as a mobile RPG, drawing you into its cycle of battles through a derelict castle, culminating in a final showdown with the immortal God King. Its intuitive touch-based combat and compelling narrative were so successful that the series expanded to include arcade ports, sequels, and even literary tie-ins penned by renowned author Brandon Sanderson.

Sanderson’s novellas served as a narrative bridge between the games, enriching the world-building and character arcs while addressing the story gaps left by the gameplay. As a passionate gamer, Sanderson embraced the chance to contribute to the series, experimenting with a fresh genre and storytelling medium while immersing fans deeper into the Infinity Blade universe.

8

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Assassin’s Creed: The Golden City

Released

November 10, 2020

Engine

Ubisoft Anvil

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

Expand

The Assassin’s Creed series has inspired numerous spin-off novels, most of which either retell the events of the games or explore the backstories of key characters. However, The Golden City, written by Jaleigh Johnson, stands out as it fills a narrative gap between the epic stories of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Assassin’s Creed Mirage.

Related

The 10 Best Mods For Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Here are the best the mods you need to try out in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla!

Set in 867, the novel follows Hytham, a member of the Hidden Ones, as he embarks on a mission alongside his mentor, Basim Ibn Ishaq, to investigate a plot orchestrated by the Order of the Ancients. While Hytham outwardly supports Basim in the mission, his true intent is to uncover the depths of his mentor’s loyalties, setting the stage for the events that will eventually unfold in Assassin’s Creed: Mirage.

7

Batman: Arkham City

Batman: Arkham City – End Game

Batman: Arkham City – Armored Edition

Action-Adventure

Open-World

Systems

Released

November 18, 2012

Engine

Unreal Engine 3

ESRB

T For Teen // Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence

Expand

Batman: Arkham City – End Game is a one-shot comic that serves as an epilogue to the events of Batman: Arkham City. This six-chapter story explores the aftermath of the Joker’s death, revealing the lingering impact of his twisted schemes and the chaos his absence leaves behind. As Gotham’s criminal underworld descends into a power struggle, Batman faces new challenges, including Harley Quinn’s grief-fueled vendetta and the final echoes of the Joker’s devious plans.

While the ending of Arkham City is satisfying in its own right, End Game expands on the Joker’s lasting influence over Gotham and Batman’s psyche. It provides a poignant and fitting conclusion to the Clown Prince of Crime’s legacy while seamlessly setting the stage for Harley Quinn’s DLC in the Arkham City universe.

6

Life Is Strange

Life Is Strange Comic Series

Released

January 30, 2015

Developer(s)

Dontnod Entertainment

Engine

unreal engine 3, unreal engine 4

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol

Expand

Life is Strange introduces Max Caulfield, a photography student who discovers her ability to rewind time after saving her best friend, Chloe Price. The duo embarks on a journey to uncover the truth behind Rachel Amber’s disappearance, unraveling a dark conspiracy within Arcadia Bay. With multiple endings shaped by your choices, the game’s narrative resonates deeply with its audience. The comic book series picks up after the game’s events, expanding the world and continuing the story.

Related

9 Comic Books That Deserve A Video Game Adaptation

Many comic books lend themselves to video games. The resulting gameplay would be unique, immersive, and filled with adventure.

Initially planned as a four-part miniseries, the Life is Strange comic series exceeded expectations, growing into 23 issues across five volumes and six story arcs. Set a year after the destruction of Arcadia Bay, the comics follow Max and Chloe as they return to their hometown after a brief stint in Seattle. Together, they confront the remnants of their past while grappling with the evolving nature of Max’s powers.

5

Kemono Friends

Welcome To Japari Park

Kemono Friends originally started as a mobile game set in Japari Park, a vast zoo where the animal residents are transformed into anthropomorphized girls called ‘Friends’ after a mysterious substance known as Sandstar erupts from a nearby volcano. The Sandstar not only turns animals into friends but also spawns dangerous creatures called Ceruleans. The Friends, led by the park guide Mirai, fight to protect Japari Park from these monsters and restore peace to the park.

The anime series Welcome to Japari Park picks up after the events of the game, focusing on Mirai and Serval as they work together to create a series of fun and informative videos for park visitors. Each episode highlights a different habitat within Japari Park, introducing various Friends and their unique adaptations. Amidst their mission, Mirai and Serval often find themselves caught in humorous and wacky situations, all while retelling their adventures and the efforts to protect Japari Park from the Ceruleans.

4

Final Fantasy 15

Final Fantasy 15: The Dawn Of The Future

Final Fantasy 15

Released

November 9, 2016

Engine

luminous engine

ESRB

T for Teen: Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence

Expand

Final Fantasy 15 was an ambitious undertaking, but at the time of its launch, it was far from complete. To address this, the developers continued to expand the narrative through a series of DLCs, with character-focused episodes designed to fill in the gaps and provide deeper context to the story.

Unfortunately, several planned DLCs were canceled before they could be released, leaving critical parts of the story untold. Not wanting these important elements to fade into obscurity, the developers turned to a new medium. Enter Final Fantasy 15: The Dawn of the Future.

This novel compiles the content originally planned for the canceled DLCs, giving fans the closure they were waiting for. It not only wraps up the story but also introduces an alternate ending. This revised conclusion takes a more bittersweet approach, offering a narrative of redemption and hope in place of the original’s tragic finale.

3

Tales Of Crestoria

Tales Of Crestoria Manga

Tales of Crestoria was a mobile RPG that introduced players to Kanata Hjuger and Misella, two characters branded with the Stain of Guilt. This mark labeled them as sinners, condemning them to be hunted by Enforcers, despite their actions being driven by love and protection. Like other Tales of mobile titles, Crestoria featured appearances from legacy characters across the series, allowing fans to see favorites interact with the game’s original cast.

Related

Every Tales Of Game In Chronological Order

The illustrious Tales Of series has been around for a long time, spawning multiple new entries and games, with the latest being Tales of Arise.

However, the game’s service was discontinued in 2022, with developers citing difficulties in meeting critical expectations. Despite this, the story’s devoted fanbase still yearned for a conclusion. To provide this, Tales of Crestoria was reimagined as a manga. Written by Jun Kumagai and illustrated by Tsubaki Ayasugi, the manga retold the story without including legacy characters, instead presenting Crestoria as a stand-alone narrative that allowed its original cast to shine.

2

Final Fantasy 7

Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children

Released

January 31, 1997

Engine

Unreal Engine 4

ESRB

T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

Expand

Final Fantasy 7 is one of Square Enix’s most iconic and beloved titles, achieving instant success upon launch and spawning an expansive metaseries. This extended universe includes additional games, animated features, and short stories, all set in the richly detailed world of Gaia. Among these, one of the most notable and enduring entries is the movie Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children.

Set two years after the events of the original game, Advent Children explores a world still reeling from the aftermath of Meteorfall. A mysterious illness known as Geostigma has swept across Gaia, even affecting Cloud Strife, who has retreated into isolation.

The story follows Cloud as he confronts the Remnants of Sephiroth, three enigmatic brothers who claim to embody fragments of the legendary villain. Their goal? To locate Jenova’s remains and bring about a second Reunion. It’s up to Cloud and his allies to stop their plans, confront lingering grief and guilt, and search for a cure to Geostigma before it’s too late.

1

.Hack//Infection

Project .Hack

.hack//Infection

Action

RPG

Adventure

Fighting

Systems

Released

June 20, 2002

Developer(s)

CyberConnect2

Publisher(s)

BNE Entertainment, Bandai

Engine

dot hack

ESRB

t

Expand

The original four .hack games spawned a massive universe that led to the creation of Project .hack, an alternate history based on the original games that was later transfered to .hack Conglomerate. The universe centers around an MMORPG called The World, which players access using high-tech headsets. You investigate strange happenings within The World, which send players into a mysterious coma.

What began as a single, four-game series quickly spun into additional games and media. Much of the media doesn’t continue the exact story arc from each of the games, but tells independent stories that build the overarching narrative of the series and provide additional insight to many of the characters.

For example, .hack//Sign is an anime series that follows the adventures of Tsukasa, a player suffering from amnesia. The series sheds light on the creator of The World and the AI, Aura. It even introduces Sora, a powerful Player Killer whose player would later go on to embody Haseo, the protagonist of .hack//G.U.

Next

8 Game Series With The Best Spin-Offs

These series do spin-offs correctly.