Rotten Tomatoes has compiled a guide ranking TV series adapted from video games based on critic scores. The list highlights successes like Arcane and The Last of Us alongside some disappointments. It also notes promising upcoming projects in the genre.
Adapting video games for television has proven more successful than films in recent years, according to Rotten Tomatoes' latest guide. Series from platforms like Netflix and HBO have garnered strong critical reception, with examples including adaptations of League of Legends, The Witcher, Castlevania, and Cuphead. Prime Video's Fallout and HBO's The Last of Us have met high expectations from viewers and critics alike.
Not every adaptation has fared well, however. Netflix's Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness received a low score on the Tomatometer, as did its live-action follow-up featuring Lance Reddick. Other underperformers include The Witcher: Blood Origin and Sonic Prime. Paramount+'s Halo impressed critics to some extent but drew criticism from long-time fans of the original games.
The guide features detailed critics' consensuses for top-ranked shows. For instance, Arcane's second season is described as "expansive in scope while hurtling towards the endgame at a rollicking pace, a supremely satisfying capper to an epic saga." The Last of Us earns praise for "retaining the most addictive aspects of its beloved source material while digging deeper into the story, bingeworthy TV that ranks among the all-time greatest video game adaptations."
Fallout's second season is noted for "successfully expand[ing] its post-apocalyptic world to deliver everything audiences could want from a video game adaptation, including sumptuous visuals and riveting performances." Other strong entries include multiple seasons of Castlevania and The Witcher, with the latter's third season called a "fittingly fond farewell" to Henry Cavill's portrayal of Geralt.
Looking ahead, several projects are in development, such as series based on Tomb Raider, Splinter Cell, God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Twisted Metal. This trend suggests continued growth for video game-to-TV adaptations on streaming services.
