Every Video Game Show Releasing In 2026 & Beyond

Hollywood has been trying to turn popular video games into movies for many years. While early attempts, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, weren’t very successful, recent adaptations have greatly improved in quality, especially over the last decade.

Video game adaptations don’t always succeed, and 2025 wasn’t a great year for them, with few truly standing out. However, there’s reason to be optimistic! Many more gaming-inspired shows are coming soon, giving us plenty to anticipate in the years ahead.

The Last of Us: Season 3

HBO’s 2023 series, The Last of Us, was initially hailed as one of the best video game adaptations ever created, praised for staying true to the original game and also adding compelling new elements. However, the mixed reactions to season 2 have created uncertainty about the show’s overall legacy.

Season 3 is going to be huge, and it’s officially happening! The current plan is to release it in 2027. Whether the show will continue after that is still unknown, but it’s already one of the most eagerly awaited adaptations, and it’s sure to generate a lot of buzz.

Fallout Season 3

With such a dedicated fanbase, creating a Fallout TV series centered around brand new characters was a risky move for Prime Video. However, it’s proven successful – the first season was an immediate hit, and season 2 has broken records for live-action video game adaptations.

Even though the current season is still airing, the show was already renewed for a third season before it even began. With its diverse appeal and a cast of compelling characters, this series has the potential to run for many years. It’s quickly becoming a major competitor to The Last of Us in the world of video game adaptations, so season 3 is expected to attract a large audience.

The Witcher: Season 5

Although it began with a lot of excitement, The Witcher has become somewhat divisive among viewers. Still, it’s one of the most popular shows based on video games. Interestingly, the Netflix series is actually based on the original books, not the Witcher video games, though it does take inspiration from those games in terms of themes and ideas.

Although many viewers would like to see a fresh start for The Witcher TV show, a reboot doesn’t seem likely in the near future. Fortunately, a fifth and final season has already been filmed, so fans will eventually get a conclusion to the story, whether they’ve enjoyed the series or not.

Devil May Cry Anime Season 2

The Devil May Cry anime, which premiered in 2025, didn’t gain widespread attention, but it surprisingly earned a nomination for Best Adaptation at The Game Awards. While critics generally liked it more than fans, the nomination – and perhaps a lack of strong contenders – helped secure a second season for the show, which has a lot of appealing qualities.

Unlike many other shows on this list, the next season of Devil May Cry already has a confirmed release date: May 12th, 2026. This is a little over a year after the anime first aired, hinting at a possible yearly release of new content. This regular schedule should appeal to both existing fans of the game and new viewers.

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch Season 2

The Splinter Cell series has been quiet for a long time, with its last original game released in 2013. Fortunately, fans got a new installment in 2025 with Splinter Cell: Deathwatch on Netflix. It delivered a fun and interesting story within the Splinter Cell universe, and while it didn’t generate huge buzz, it was a well-made addition to the franchise.

The show successfully blended the classic stealth gameplay fans love with the exciting, fast-paced action of movies like John Wick, creating a unique feel. Strong acting performances further boosted its appeal. It’s no surprise the series was quickly picked up for another season, as the first season of Splinter Cell: Deathwatch ended with hints of more story to come. We can likely expect season 2 within the next one to two years.

Secret Level Season 2

Since the popular animated anthology series Love, Death + Robots debuted on Netflix in 2019, Amazon Prime Video launched its own similar series in 2024, focusing on video games. The show, called Secret Level, featured dedicated episodes based on games like Mega Man, Warhammer 40,000, and Pac-Man, and also included brief appearances from PlayStation favorites such as God of War and Ghost of Tsushima.

While the initial idea wasn’t fully polished, the project was generally very successful, boosted by the involvement of stars like Keanu Reeves, Kevin Hart, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Because there’s potential for many more games in the series, season two became highly sought after, and Amazon has officially approved its production – which is great news for gamers.

New Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Show

Trigger/CD Projekt

As a huge fan of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners – seriously, it’s one of the best video game adaptations I’ve ever seen – I was thrilled to hear they’re making a follow-up! We don’t know much yet, but considering how the first season ended, I’m guessing it’ll focus on a brand new crew of characters. It makes sense, and honestly, I’m already excited to see where they take the story next.

It’s uncertain if a potential sequel to Netflix’s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners can match the quality of the first season, but it’s expected to be very popular. While there’s no confirmed release date yet, viewers will probably be willing to wait, given how much praise the initial season received.

Arcane Spinoff

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Video game adaptations aren’t new, but Arcane, based on League of Legends, really set a high standard for them, making more spinoff shows almost inevitable. While details are still unclear, Netflix has confirmed that at least one additional spinoff is officially in development.

Following the success of Arcane, which raised the bar for animated series, future shows have a lot to prove. Considering how long it took to make the second season of Arcane, it’s unlikely the studio will hurry production on its next story set in the Runeterra universe, meaning we probably won’t see it until after 2026.

Ghost of Tsushima Anime

I always felt a Ghost of Tsushima TV adaptation was going to happen – the story is just too good. And honestly, an anime series feels like the perfect way to tell it. It gives them the freedom to really lean into the brutal combat the game hinted at, while also giving them enough room to build out the world and characters. The cool part? They’re actually basing the story on the game’s multiplayer mode, which opens up a ton of possibilities. I’m genuinely excited to see how this plays out.

The anime adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima is scheduled to premiere on Crunchyroll in 2027. If it’s as good as the original game and its sequel, it could be a major hit – definitely something to watch for next year.

God of War

With its intense action and compelling stories rooted in mythology, God of War is often cited as a perfect candidate for a TV or movie adaptation. So, when Amazon announced that a God of War show was actually being made, it immediately sparked a lot of excitement and speculation about what it might be like.

So far, we only know the new story will draw from Norse mythology instead of Greek mythology, and fans have mixed feelings about this change. While Norse mythology is potentially more popular with players, the Greek myths are deeply connected to the main character, Kratos, and his history, so it’s a risky move for the creators.

Despite this, the creators have assured fans that the God of War show will stay true to the original games. With filming scheduled to begin in 2026, we might see the series on Prime Video as early as next year.

Far Cry

The Far Cry series has had its ups and downs. While Far Cry 3 made it a major success, Far Cry 6 didn’t perform as well. Despite this, Ubisoft is still investing in the franchise and has given the go-ahead for a new anthology series to air on FX.

Noah Hawley and Rob Mac are heading up the new Far Cry series. While the franchise has been adapted before – including a not-very-successful movie in 2008 – this FX show has the potential to be much better. The series’ anthology format will give it the flexibility to evolve with audience preferences if it continues beyond one season, so it’s definitely worth watching.

Mass Effect

Despite having faced challenges over the years, Mass Effect remains a major gaming franchise, so it’s no surprise a TV series was considered. The sci-fi setting lends itself well to television, and with so many compelling characters and interesting places, the show has huge potential.

BioWare, the team creating the series, has announced it will tell a brand new story set after the events of the original trilogy. This gives them a lot of freedom with the plot. Currently, they plan to start filming in 2026, with the hope that it will be released before the next Mass Effect game and help strengthen the franchise.

Live-Action Tomb Raider

Most people, even if they don’t play video games, recognize Lara Croft and Tomb Raider. The franchise has been gaining a lot of attention recently, with a Netflix animated series and two new games on the way. Amazon’s Prime Video is also working on both a Tomb Raider show and a movie, but the live-action series has run into some problems during development.

Sophie Turner will play the main character, but the project, headed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, hasn’t progressed much lately. Although there’s talk of filming beginning in January, the situation is still uncertain.

As a huge fan of video game adaptations, I’m still really excited about the Tomb Raider series Prime Video is developing. Unless they announce a cancellation, I’m hoping we get some solid news about it soon – it really feels like one of the most promising gaming shows in the works right now.

Gears of War

There’s been a lot of discussion about a potential Gears of War movie, with actors like Dave Bautista and Terry Crews often mentioned as possible cast members, though no official announcements have been made. In addition to the movie, an animated series is also being developed, but it’s planned to be released after the live-action film.

It’s still unclear if the upcoming projects will use the same cast, but an animated series will give the violent world of Gears of War a chance to truly shine, as Netflix isn’t afraid to show intense content. While it may be a while before it’s released, fans have a promising new show to anticipate.

Assassin’s Creed

With over ten games exploring various points in history, the Assassin’s Creed franchise offers a rich foundation for its upcoming TV series. Netflix is developing the show as a fast-paced thriller centered around conflict between two opposing groups, and Johan Renck is directing.

Although Ubisoft and Netflix first made a deal back in 2020, it’s taken a while for anything to come of it – which might be concerning. However, it looks like they’ve been investing more money into the project recently. It’s still unclear whether the series will be based on the classic or newer games, but if it gets the core elements right, it could be a major hit.

A Plague Tale

With two successful games already out and a third on the horizon, A Plague Tale is a surprisingly overlooked story-driven series that would lend itself beautifully to a TV show. The story takes place in France and centers on Amicia and her little brother, Hugo, who has a mysterious condition that connects him to the Bubonic Plague – the devastating Black Death.

The upcoming TV show will likely cover the stories from the first two A Plague Tale games – a moving but often harsh story about family and dealing with loss. While some changes will be made to fit the TV format, if Focus Entertainment can successfully capture the heart of the games, this adaptation has the potential to be a surprising success.

Life Is Strange

In 2015, Square Enix and Dontnod Entertainment found great success with Life is Strange, a truly unique game that led to multiple follow-up titles. Though its style isn’t for all players, the original game was very popular, so it’s somewhat surprising it’s taken this long for a television adaptation to emerge.

A decade after the game’s release, Prime Video revealed plans to create a Life is Strange show based on the story of the first game. Because the original game resonated with players for so long, the live-action adaptation has the potential to be equally impactful, if it remains faithful to the source material.

Beyond: Two Souls

Elliot Page, famous for their work in television and movies, also starred in the 2013 video game Beyond: Two Souls. Now, that story-driven game is being adapted into a TV series, and Elliot Page will be a producer through their production company, Pageboy Productions, which recently obtained the rights from Quantic Dream.

It’s frustrating that details are scarce and there’s no news on when this project will be released. However, given David Cage’s strong commitment to adapting Beyond: Two Souls, we can expect the show to stay true to the game’s beloved story, which makes it a promising adaptation.

Overcooked Reality TV Show

Now that Prime Video is reportedly considering a reality show based on Fallout, it appears they’re following the trend of adapting video games for new audiences. However, Netflix and A24 have already started this with their own projects. One example is Overcooked, a fast-paced and often frantic cooking game where players work together to prepare meals under intense pressure and in challenging environments.

Turning this idea into a TV show could be really funny. Imagine watching contestants work together or against each other while trying to cook, with everything going crazy around them – it’s sure to be lighthearted and entertaining. It’ll be interesting to see how it all comes together when Overcooked finally airs.

Minecraft the Animated Series

With Minecraft being one of the best-selling video games ever, it’s no surprise Netflix decided to create an animated series. The recent success of The Minecraft Movie in theaters proves how popular the franchise still is, and this new animated show has the potential to be a big hit with kids and teens.

Because the game is so open-ended, the show could take many different directions – from self-contained, fun episodes to a long, detailed story arc. Now that it’s been announced (around mid-2024), we’re hoping to hear more updates soon and see what the creators do with the world of Minecraft.

Adaptations That May Still Be In The Work

With so many new games coming out every year, it’s expected that some would be adapted into other media. While we’ve heard about a few adaptations in development, many projects have been canceled without much notice. And there are still others whose future is uncertain.

The original System Shock was very popular in the 1990s, and it seemed like the franchise was making a comeback when a TV series was announced in 2021. The release of a revamped game in 2023 only increased excitement. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been much news about the TV show since the initial announcement, so it’s unclear if it’s still being made.

Obsidian Entertainment hoped to build on the popularity of Grounded before the online game officially launched. However, a sequel hasn’t resolved the status of a potential TV show adaptation, leaving it uncertain – much like the planned TV series for the beloved game My Friend Pedro, which also hasn’t moved forward.

Like many other announced video game adaptations, Skull and Bones hasn’t received significant updates in years. Given the game hasn’t been as successful as Ubisoft expected, it’s possible the project could be cancelled without much announcement.

Lots of TV shows are now based on video games, and there are many exciting projects planned for 2026 and the years after. While some of these shows seem guaranteed to be popular, others might not ever come out, which makes the successes we see even more remarkable.

2026-01-07 01:15