If there’s something that all gamers can agree upon, it’s that video game movies are generally pretty atrocious. This has been the case going all the way back to Super Mario Bros. in 1993, and it’s just as true today. Typically, the best we can hope for is something mediocre but technically proficient, such as Prince of Persia, Resident Evil or Tomb Raider; never has there been a truly great adaptation that transcends the genre and becomes an excellent film in its own right.
At least, not yet. It’s only a matter of time before some filmmaker can figure out how to take a popular game, absorb what works about it and then adapt that on screen in a way that doesn’t feel forced or inconsequential. Looking ahead at the next few years, there are plenty of candidates that could actually become big hits both with critics and fans alike, and many even have the potential to surpass their original source material.
From movies based on games with rich stories, to ones based on games with no story whatsoever, here are 10 upcoming film adaptations that look like they’ll blow us away.