Summary
- Mad Max offers post-apocalyptic open-world adventure with stunning graphics and engaging vehicular combat.
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine delivers brutal hack-and-slash gameplay with combos reminiscent of God of War and Devil May Cry.
- Lord of the Rings: Return of the King provides faithful hack-and-slash gameplay with cooperative play and varied character options.
Since the beginning of video gaming history, the stories of the silver screen have had a huge place in the hearts of gamers. Starting with Raiders of the Lost Ark on the Atari in 1982 and continuing to this very day, movies have found a place in the video game landscape, for better or for worse.
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After E.T. The Extraterrestrial almost crashed the video game industry, licensed tie-in video games have found themselves being looked down on by some. However, a select few games rise to the top and are incredible games in their own right. Here are some of the best licensed tie-in games of all time.
10 Mad Max
Driving Through An Open World
Mad Max
- Released
- September 1, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Studios
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Open-World
A grand-scale open-world adventure set in the post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max, this 2015 release borrowed the best features from a collection of other popular games. Although the story doesn't follow established films, fans of George Miller's universe will see plenty of familiar elements.
Graphically, the game is stunning, and while the narrative is nothing special, the developers managed to adapt Arkham Asylum's free-flow combat system to fit the gritty world perfectly. Vehicular combat and a car that can be endlessly modified and upgraded make the world of Mad Max spring to life and toss fans of the franchise into the desert plains of the nuclear winter.
9 X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Simple Brutal Hack And Slash
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
- Released
- May 1, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Amaze Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PSP, Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PC
X-Men Origins: Wolverine was a less-than-stellar film, but the team in charge of adapting the film into a console game definitely went out of their way to put the slash back into 'hack and slash'. Borrowing combos and flashy attacks from the likes of God of War and Devil May Cry, while ensuring that fans of the character feel the animalistic rage of Logan carries over into gameplay, the combat was well-received by players.
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The edition that was released on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC was subtitled Uncaged Edition and unleashed Wolverine's attacks in bloody violence that led to the game being stamped with a Mature rating.
8 Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Co-operative Adventure With The Fellowship
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
- Released
- October 31, 2003
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- EA Redwood Shores
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox
- Genre(s)
- Hack and Slash, Action
Perhaps the most faithful licensed tie-in game, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was a huge achievement after the previous game in the series. Fans of the trilogy were given a huge number of possible playable characters in each segment: Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli take on the main combat challenges, while Sam and Frodo are also playable for segments that feel much more intense and difficult.
The gameplay takes on a standard hack and slash format, using a variety of attacks to break through enemy blocks, cleave through hordes of Sauron's dark forces and leveling up to unlock better abilities and progress. The ability to take on levels with a partner in local co-op makes this adventure worthwhile for any fantasy fans.
7 Spongebob Squarepants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
Cartoon Collectathon
Spongebob Squarepants: Battle For Bikini Bottom
- Released
- November 10, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Publisher(s)
- THQ
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance, GameCube, PC, PS2, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- 3D Platformer
SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom is a gleeful exploration of collectathon gameplay as well as a love letter to the classic cartoon. Easter eggs that reference jokes from the series are dotted throughout the many levels that players can take on, and while swapping between characters and using different abilities to progress is simple, there are seriously challenging platforming challenges for players who look a little deeper into the game.
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These jumping puzzles are opportunities for tightly controlled 3D platforming that can be rare to find outside some of the most beloved games in the PlayStation 2 generation. Thankfully, this game has received a remaster in recent years to allow fans to get their hands on it to this day.
6 The Warriors
Faithful Adaptation In A Boisterous Beat 'Em Up
The Warriors
- Released
- October 17, 2005
- ESRB
- M // Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Toronto, Rockstar Leeds
- Platform(s)
- PS2, PS4, PSP, Xbox (Original)
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure, Beat 'Em Up
A big release by none other than Rockstar Games, The Warriors almost immediately gained a cult following. Fans of the game still call for a remake or remaster of the brawling beat 'em up. For any lovers of the original 1979 movie, the game is a must-play, giving more insight into the origins of the gang and the main characters as well as letting players branch out and explore the gritty New York City setting.
Planting stolen goods on crooked police officers, fighting in combo heavy combat with rival gangs and battling their way to the final scenes taken from the film, players are likely to get lost in the story, whether they are new to it or whether this is their hundredth exploration of The Warriors' world.
5 Peter Jackson's King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
Immersive Survival Shooter
Peter Jackson's King Kong
- Released
- November 17, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- PS2, Microsoft Windows, Linux, PSP, Xbox (Original), Xbox 360, Nintendo Game Boy Advance
King Kong is the definition of a hidden gem. Indulging in an immersive gameplay loop that switches between first-person shooting and third-person brawling, Kong has players taking on the character of Jack Driscoll with a minimalist HUD and fighting their way onto Skull Island. Fans will switch to third-person gameplay to fight massive creatures as the hulking gorilla himself.
While the story can be a little bare-bones, the gameplay is so reactive and complex for such an early game, and the graphics are of such high quality that, when paired with the original cast of the film reprising their roles as voice actors, it can be easy to fall into the world of this otherwise underground game.
4 Disney's Aladdin
A classic 2D platformer tie-in
Disney's Aladdin
- Released
- November 11, 1993
WHERE TO PLAY
- Publisher(s)
- Virgin Interactive, Capcom, Disney Interactive
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Nintendo Game Boy Color, Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Genesis, SNES
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
The first Disney film to have one of its tie-in games make this list, Aladdin is a perfect blend of nostalgia and quality gameplay for any fans of the classic animated movie. With very different versions for both the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis, the side-scrolling platformer sees the titular character making his way through stages formed around the market of Agrabah, the Cave of Wonders and the Palace.
Players can jump onto the heads of enemies to defeat them and should navigate the tricky platforming segments to collect gems, apples to throw at obstacles and golden scarabs that can lead the way to secret stages where the Genie will reward players with extra lives and bonuses. Even featuring carpet ride segments and boss fights, Aladdin is simplistic but a masterfully done tie-in to an amazing film. It is important to note
3 Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay
FPS Prequel Prison Break
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay
- Released
- June 1, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Starbreeze Studios
- Platform(s)
- Xbox (Original), PC, PS3
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Using a game as a prequel to the movie it pairs with is a unique idea matched to the style of Pitch Black. Vin Diesel returns to reprise his role of Riddick in a prison break narrative that seems to be a send-up of other FPS adventures like Half-Life. Using stealth, brawling with fists and later unlocking a group of guns, players will make their way through the guards and security of a maximum security prison.
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Developed as an extension to the established story and used as an opportunity to show the character in a different light, fans of the Riddick franchise will love getting their teeth stuck into this classic action game.
2 Star Wars Arcade
Tie-ins at the arcade
- Released: May 5, 1983
- Developer(s): Atari, Inc.
A relic of the earlier licensed tie-in games from the arcade era, Star Wars (1983) was an arcade cabinet that has left a long legacy. Coming in both stand-up cabinets and sit-down cockpit simulators, Star Wars has players take on the piloting of an X-Wing in the trench run of the Death Star in the original Star Wars film.
While the graphics are quite primitive, players get a sense of real speed as they tilt their ship to avoid incoming fire and enemy ships and fire their own lasers to try to take out any TIE-Fighters and gun turrets that they can. Fondly remembered and one of the first games that fans were able to get truly immersed in the world of, Star Wars deserves its place high on this list.
1 GoldenEye
A timeless FPS on console
GoldenEye 007
- Released
- August 25, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
GoldenEye 007 is still a revered game, constantly talked about and remembered as a pinnacle of local co-op, fast-paced FPS gameplay and realism. While it has aged, the licensed game sold the third most copies of any Nintendo 64 game. Fans of stealth FPS games will find plenty to do in GoldenEye 007, where they are tasked with taking out particular enemies or saving hostages. A whole slew of different weapons can be used alongside simple close combat, but players who go about their missions too loudly will quickly find themselves overwhelmed by foes.
The multiplayer is still infamous for allowing players to face off in deathmatches in split screen while letting players choose their character. GoldenEye is the golden standard for how to adapt a film for a licensed tie-in game.
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