5 Bizarre Video Games That Were Adapted From Prestige TV Shows

Licensed video games have been a fixture of the medium since its inception, but there have been some truly bizarre adaptations released for PC, consoles, and mobile platforms, particularly the games based on Prestige TV series that fail to live up to their inspirations. Like Elevated Horror, the exact definition of what makes a Prestige TV series is a matter of debate, but there are certainly shows that have aspired to tell meaningful stories and uphold a high standard of quality. The video games based on these licenses do not always have the same standards as their source material, unfortunately.

A few fortunate Prestige TV shows have had a relatively smooth transition to the gaming medium, like Telltale’s adaptation. Many well-regarded TV series deal with subject matter that might be difficult to adapt to most conventional video game formats. It seems obvious that a rushed, cash-grab product might harm a show’s good reputation, but that has not prevented some strange missteps. Prestige TV series often fueled water cooler conversations at the time of their release, but many of their game adaptations were largely forgotten, which in some cases is for the best, given their poor production values.

One of the first shows recognized as Prestige TV was HBO’s, a beloved series that eschewed the glamorous portrayals of the Mafia in films like for a gritty look at New Jersey mobsters and a distinct focus on the psychology of its characters. While many still debate the exact meaning of the series’ infamously abrupt ending, or its allusions to supernatural forces at work, hardly anyone brings into a discussion of the show. was a 2006 game, released only on the PlayStation 2, telling a non-canonical side story.

prequel film,, would have offered an easier route to a game adaptation, but that film did not release until many years after .

Where the same year’s game captured the movie’s tone, was largely disappointing. The game has a 42 Metacritic score, mostly attributed to its