In the fledgling years of the video game industry, titles based on films were all the rage. In fact, the idea of selling products that advertised each other (movies and coinciding video games), was a fairly new and advantageous marketing scheme. Over the years, quality games based on films became fewer and further between.
Despite all of that, there are still renowned video games to this day that were inspired by a cinematic foundation. And while there are plenty of terrible video games based on film properties, there are also a number of “diamonds in the rough.” That’s an Aladdin reference which will be totally relevant shortly.
Updated on July 04, 2025, By Rigoberto Ruiz:In 1982, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark was the first movie to be adapted into a video game for the Atari 2600. Since then, many popular movies have had video game adaptations that coincide with their movie releases. As the range of titles continually expands, we’ve added some more to this list.
2016
Sony
Ratchet and Clank is a unique movie tie-in game that also acts as a reboot and remake of the series' first game. Before the movie, Ratchet and Clank was an ongoing series focused on third-person action, a fictional animal, and his robot companion.
The movie took heavy inspiration from the original 2002 video game but added more development for its characters, which was translated into this version.
Environments are re-imagined beautifully on the PlayStation 4, while gameplay is chaotic as ever. While Ratchet and Clank is aimed at a younger audience, if you choose the hardest difficulty, it is reminiscent of the game’s past.
2005
Lucasfilm Games LLC
Star Wars: Episode 3 for PlayStation 2 and Xbox was released during a torrent of Star Wars video games. Although Lego Star Wars and Battlefront 2 outshine it, Episode 3 focused on making one of the best lightsaber combat systems that still holds up.
Story mode focuses on Obi-Wan and Anakin, where you can level them up as the story progresses and earn experience. Cutscenes from the movie are included between game segments. Episode 3 also included a multiplayer versus mode, where lightsaber combat shines, as characters like Mace Windu and Count Dooku all have distinct fighting styles and animations.
1992
1993
Capcom
In 1993, Aladdin was released for the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis, each with a different version. While Sega had better animation, the Super Nintendo had better gameplay due to its development by Capcom.
Capcom’s Aladdin played as any other ‘90sCapcomgame, with great platforming while providing great visuals and sound design. While both versions are great, the Super Nintendo version is supreme as a platformer.
1991
Midway
Midway released a first-person light gun shooter based on the hit sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day to accompany the movie. The arcade cabinet used two submachine guns, one for each player, mounted onto the cabinet. Each gun could swivel up and down and side to side.
Like Midway’s magnum opusMortal Kombat, T 2 uses a digitized rendition of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Patrick as the T-800 and T-1000, respectively. The gameplay consists of gunning down Skynet cyborgs while they shoot machine guns and throw grenades at you.
1979
Rockstar
The Warriors is about a street gang from New York on their way back home to Coney Island as other rival gangs hunt them down as they are framed for a murder. You control different members of The Warriors as you brawl against rival gangs and cops.
The Warriors follows the movie beat for beat, as many cutscenes are remade with 3D models. Additional story moments include backstories of many of the gang members that further flesh them out not seen in the movie, such as the formation of The Warriors and motivations for minor characters.
1985
2010
TelltaleGames
In Back to the Future 3, Marty successfully saves the life of Doc Brown, the creator of a time-traveling car who was stuck in the year 1885. Now in the present day, Marty comes to terms with living in the moment, while Doc disappears again at an unknown time.
Back to The Future: The Game is set six months after Back to the Future 3, where Marty is bored without Doc. As everyone accepts his death, Doc orders the time-traveling car to find Marty and retrieve him, thrusting Marty into another adventure. The game is an excellent what-if story that can act as a Back to The Future 4, carrying the same tone and story beats as the movies.
2009
EA / Activision
Based on the movie of the same name, X-Men Origins: Wolverine focuses on the backstory of X-Men’s famous mutant, Wolverine, before he became a student of Charles Xavier. You play through flashbacks when Wolverine was a weapon of war, hacking and slashing through hoards of soldiers.
Wolverine feels excellent to control as he shreds through enemies with all the blood and gore intact. The combat feels great, as Wolverine has signature moves like lunging and drilling claws. Origins is one of those unique cases wherethe game is better than the movie.
2003
Electronic Arts
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King was a unique case as it launched before its movie release, spoiling the movie for many fans. The story follows many beats from the film, so much so that cutscenes transition from the movie to video game cutscenes seamlessly, which is still impressive.
Return of the King shines with its co-op mode, where another player can join you as you fight through scenes from the movie. The gameplay consists of hack-and-slash fighting mechanics as you charge through armies reminiscent of the Dynasty Warriors series.
1995
1997
Nintendo
GoldenEye 007 is many great things, and is mostly known for its innovations in the FPS genre. GoldenEye pushed the genre forward as many FPS games resembled Doom and this was more unique, especially in multiplayer.
Other than an in-depth campaign that mostly followed the film, GoldenEye featured a great split-screen multiplayer deathmatch mode, a first of its kind. On the Nintendo 64, four players can face each other using characters and weapons from the movies.
2002
2004
Activision
Spider-Man 2 is the first great superhero game that made you feel like the hero you were playing. Spider-Man 2 improved upon Spider-Man as you could finally explore an expansive open-world Manhattan setting with great web-swinging mechanics.
Although we have had many Spider-Man games throughout the years, Spider-Man 2 introduced the blueprint of an explorable New York. The story is mostly faithful to the movie, but it also adds characters like Black Cat and Mysterio, who add a lot to the story.
