Top 5 Video Games Based on Action Films

The general consensus on video game-based on movies is: they’re not very good. The reason for this often lies with the rush to time the game’s release to coincide with the movie itself. But sometimes there are exceptions.

Here are five of the best movie-related video games out there:

5. Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay

2004’s Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is a rare example of the game being superior to the actual film. Released on the original XBOX console, you play the title character and your job is to escape from a futuristic prison. This game is a mix of shoot ‘em up, platform and stealth – it meshes these different gameplay mechanics with great style. And talk about graphics that still hold up great 10 years later!

4. Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2 came out in 2004 as a tie-in with the second Tobey Maguire film in the series, which was then at the height of its popularity. Yet this game is anything but a hollow cash-in. It was the first Spider-Man game to master the ability to attach webs to building, rather than the sky, which made it both realistic (well, at least when comparing it to the comic book) and a blast to play. This remains the best superhero game out there, despite recent competition from Batman: Arkham City and the Batman online slot at Royal Vegas.

3. GoldenEye 007

When GoldenEye 007 was released in 1997, it was the Nintendo 64’s flagship game. It would also quickly become the focus of many teenagers’ attentions. But far from wrecking social lives, the multiplayer mode inspired mates across the world to gather round their TVs and join in the fun together. While the gameplay is now a little dated, this brilliantly designed game set the standard for first person shooters for years to come. Definitely a game changer. No pun intended.

2. X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Uncaged Edition

2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Uncaged Edition was everything fans had hoped for in the film of the same name. Yet while the film was a relative failure in commercial and critical terms, the game itself offered gruesome executions, visible wounds that healed in real time and awesome finishing moves.

1. Blade Runner

1997’s The Blade Runner video game was so far from a cash-in on the film that it was actually released 15 years afterwards! Harrison Ford did not want the makers to use his likeness, so instead you play rookie Android hunter, Ray McCoy. This PC game was billed as “the first real time 3D adventure game” and its design is so impressive that it still holds up today – just think how it looked in 1997! Its gameplay is also fantastic, with its 13 possible conclusions offering players hours of fun as they replay the game again and again.

So there you have it. Our list for the five best movie-related video games. We’re sure there are some great titles out there we may have missed. Feel free to comment below with your own favorites.