The 10 Best Video Games Based on Movies

Movie tie-in's are rarely a pretty sight but now and again we get a game that does the movie justice, or even improves upon it.
Movie tie-in's are rarely a pretty sight but now and again we get a game that does the movie justice, or even improves upon it.

Video games based on movies are usually disasters. However, there is the odd instance in which the game turns out surprisingly great. Today we're going to countdown 10 of the best video games based on movies. Let's check out those rare gems!

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The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay (Xbox)

Serving as a prequel to the 2004 movie, The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay was met with critical acclaim. As one of the highest rated games on this list, TCOR drew comparisons to Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell, Far Cry and Half-Life - not bad. The graphics were great, the gameplay fun and well balanced between action and stealth, and Vin Diesel's voice acting was awesome. Diesel is a huge gamer himself, and he always impresses when he gets behind the mic.


Spider-Man 2 (PS2/Gamecube/Xbox)

Potentially the best Spider-Man game ever made, Spider-Man 2 was loosely based on the movie of the same name. The open-world was full of things to do and, most importantly, fun to web-sling around. I mean, you can't tell me you didn't climb to the top of the Empire State Building, leap off, rush towards the ground and shoot a web at the last second. Then repeat. It was pure fun, something other Spidey games have often failed to replicate. The only other title that could be argued better than this, although is not a movie tie-in, was the PS1 Spider-Man classic. We deserve another great Spider-Man game, it's been 11 years.


The Warriors (PS2/PSP/Xbox)

Another somewhat forgotten gem, The Warriors was an incredible game from Rockstar Games. Based on the cult classic movie, The Warriors came out of nowhere but what a game it was. If you've ever played Rockstar's Bully, then you know exactly how The Warriors plays. The two games were built on the same engine and it was a really fun engine for combat. The Warriors was defined by its fighting and marked the first time in a game that I was able to pick up a brick or a glass bottle and hit enemies with them. There were many amazing moments in this game, from the blackout to the art gallery fight and every crazy moment in between. 


GoldenEye 007 (N64)

There isn't much to say about this game, considering how iconic and beloved it is. For many, GoldenEye epitomizes the days of the N64. If nothing else, this game perfected local multiplayer and is played to this day.


The Godfather (PS2/PS3/Xbox/360)

The Godfather game was a truly amazing gangster simulator. Coming in the years between GTA: San Andreas and GTA IV, The Godfather scratched our perpetual itch to cause crime and mayhem. But in all seriousness, the game used retold the story of the original movie but from a new perspective and featured great gameplay mechanics, including interrogation, fun combat, and smooth driving. The sequel was pretty great too.


Toy Story 2: Buzz Lightyear To The Rescue (PS1)

This one may comes as a surprise to many but Toy Story 2 on PS1 was a very fun game. Playing as the awesome Buzz Lightyear, you get to navigate various nostalgic locations from the Toy Story 2 movie like Andy's bedroom, Al's Toy Barn, and the airport. Each level had numerous missions and you could travel between each location as you please in order to gain more stars and progress.


Batman Begins (PS2/Xbox/Gamecube)

This game will probably be the most surprising, but Batman Begins is incredibly underrated. For reasons I can't comprehend, this movie tie-in wasn't well received when it came out but it had so many fantastic features. For example, you could intimidate you enemies, scaring them or taking them out 1 by 1, making the remaining goons more afraid of you, until the last guy sat crying in the corner.

You could also hide in the shadows, hang from wires, stealth attack and drive the batmobile. Importantly, Batman Begins perfectly captured the feeling of the movie, a fundamental necessity that most movie tie-ins fail to deliver. It's truly a shame the Arkham series never adopted the intimidation system from this game.


Disney's Aladdin (SNES)

Coming out a year after the classic movie, Disney's Aladdin was a very pretty 2D side scroller and a great platformer. Back in a time when every game was a 2D side scroller, and every popular movie got a tie-in, Aladdin stood out for being legitimately good and is still pretty fun today.


Ghostbusters: The Video Game (PS3/360)

Acting as a true sequel to Ghostbusters II, the game takes place 2 years after the movie and features most of the original cast reprising their iconic roles. This game was exactly what it needed to be: "a love letter to Ghostbuster fans," to quote Greg Miller of IGN. The game received great reviews and rightfully so, it was an incredibly faithful adaption and better than any true third movie would have been.


Anything By Lego

OK, so this is a little bit of a cop-out but I felt that the Lego games deserve a shout-out. I could easily have chosen Lego Star Wars, Lego Harry Potter, Lego Lord of The Rings, Lego Indiana Jones or Lego Pirates of The Caribbean, however they're all pretty similar, so it would have been very hard to choose. TT Games always do a wonderful job with the movie properties it takes on and each game manages to feel authentic, despite having the Lego look. Any Lego movie game is worth playing and soon you will be able to get your hands on Lego Jurassic World and Lego Marvel's Avengers, so get ready for more movie awesomeness!


So there you have it, 10 of the best video games based on movies. Of course, there are many we didn't get to, such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, King Kong, Batman NES, etc. (See how I managed to work in a few honorable mentions there?)

So what do you guys think the best games based on movies are? Do you agree with the games listed here? Or do you think Batman begins was a load of crap? Well, let us know in the comments below! You know you want to.


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