Although some top game shows that materialized have kept people entertained, sometimes, the retro games inspired by TV shows have gone even further, and have gone on to do extremely well – on occasion being even more successful than the original series that inspired their production!
It’s always a treat to be able to play characters you love, and being able to explore the world that the series is set in, in even more depth and detail, is a feature that is exclusive to video games. The chance to unlock parts of the world that you only saw glimpses of in the series, or getting to play as characters you wish had gotten more screen-time is always something to look forward to, and a lot of games aim to bring you closer to the universe of the show. To read more about some of the top games that were inspired by TV shows, keep reading below!
The Simpsons: Road Rage
Starting off with a classic, The Simpsons: Road Rage was one of the first games to be developed from The Simpsons and was released in 2001. Featuring all the main characters like Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart as well as others, players are required to drive around Springfield picking up and dropping off passengers, in order to pay back Mr. Burns and get rid of the radioactive buses that he had created. Although the game starts off with relatively limited characters and vehicles, these are unlocked as the game progresses and missions are completed. Have a look at a full list of all playable cars here! Being one of the first games to be developed from the TV show, it was certainly a treat to play.
The Simpsons: Hit & Run
Following on from the first game was the even bigger success The Simpsons: Hit & Run and knowing that it was inspired by the Grand Theft Auto series, it makes sense as to why the gameplay style was such a big hit. Expanding on Road Rage, this time all sorts of bizarre things were occurring in Springfield, with crop circles, surveillance vans, and an ‘improved’ version of Buzz Cola being just some of the things turning up out of nowhere. Players set out to investigate all these mysterious incidents in a more open-world setting and as the name suggests, have to do a bit of dodging from the police too!
South Park: The Stick of Truth
The South Park TV show first debuted in 1997, and 12 years later, the first video game went into development. The Stick of Truth follows the same 2.5D perspective that the TV show features, making it feel all the more familiar, and players were able to explore even more of the town accepting quests and interacting with characters along the way. Playing as ‘New Kid’, players could really feel like a new character in town. With the help of Butters, Cartman and others, you are able to progress through the game unlocking new areas and abilities, furthering your progression.
The Flintstones
Developed in 1993, The Flintstones was based on the beloved TV show and the action game featured 24 levels, across which players had to complete a total of 7 tasks in order to beat the game, which included finding Wilma’s lost necklace as well as finding Pebbles while fighting off enemies with Fred Flintstone’s trusty club.
Following the original game, another Flintstones game was produced in 1994 too, this time based very closely on the live-action film from the same year. Set in 2D, as was common then, players could control Fred Flintstone with the goal of rescuing Wilma, Pebbles, Bam-Bam, and Barney from the oh-so-familiar Cliff Vandercave.
Dragon Ball Z
Based on another popular TV show, there have been Dragon Ball Z games developed since as early as 1986, spanning all the way till 2020. A lot of these games ran alongside the series, giving players the chance to play as Goku on many different occasions.
One of the most popular and earlier games in the franchise, Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku really propelled the game world of Dragon Ball forward, and playing as Dragon Ball characters, players were able to recreate energy attacks seen in the show with new skills being learned as the game progressed forward. Character transformations, like Goku turning into a Super Saiyan, were also introduced in this game, and it would become the foundation skill for all games in the future.
Inspector Gadget
Another oldie but a goodie, the Inspector Gadget series inspired a whole bunch of video games to be developed, with each offering different playstyles and plots for players to enjoy. Gadget & the Gadetinis was one of the more popular titles released for the PS2 in which the newly promoted Lieutenant Gadget must fight crime against the forever evil Dr. Claw and his minions. The Gadgetinis, assistants of Inspector Gadget are also playable characters who are smaller versions of Inspector Gadget, each with their own skillsets that can help players on the way when on missions. It certainly was an appealing game for children who were fond of the TV show!
