The number of really good licensed games has grown significantly in recent years. Sometimes they are based on films or series, sometimes on books and comics. Below we present you five recommendations for PC (Steam) and the current consoles that perfectly meet the core of their template.
The games on this list are really good in one respect in particular: they manage to transfer what their original represents into the game medium. This is not a ranking, so the order is purely random.
1. The Witcher 3
Developer: CD Project RED | Release: May 19, 2015 | Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox One/SeriesX, PS4/5, Switch
The Witcher 3 – PS4 trailer
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Yes, The Witcher is definitely not an insider tip. But that’s not what this is about. The video game series is based on the novels and short stories by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.
And Polish is the key word: The Witcher 3 is heavily based on the country’s myths and legends, as well as European folklore. Uninspired clichés are the exception here. In this respect, the game is not influenced by the fantasy mainstream, but instead follows the path of the books. It tells an adult story in a dark universe full of violence, racism and poverty.
In addition, many of the numerous side quests are similar in terms of narrative structure to the short stories that Sapkowski wrote. True to the motto: Short, creative stories that will be remembered and give the universe and its characters a narrative foundation. In addition, these characters are vividly written and the dialogues seem authentic. The fact that you voluntarily sink hundreds of hours into the game proves that the world from the books is fascinating and keeps you interested.
2. Alien isolation
Developer: Creative Assembly | Release: Oct 7, 2014 | Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox 360/One/SeriesX, PS3/4/5, Switch, iOS, Android
Alien: Isolation – Launch Trailer
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The author of these lines is a real scaredy cat. While I love horror films, gaming always makes me think twice about subjecting myself to the experience. In the case of Alien Isolation, I dared to use the controller. I was still scared in many places, especially since the game does a wonderful job of conveying the atmosphere of Ridley Scott’s first Alien film.
This means: constant fear of running into the alien. Whenever you hear his approaching footsteps, your pulse increases. The beeping noise of the motion detector drives you crazy.
You can only save at fixed points in the level; you will die often. This further increases the fear of being caught by the alien. If that happens, death is almost inevitable. The game thus creates a serious threat that is in no way inferior to the alien from the film.
The fact that the game is based on part 1 of the film series and not the much more action-packed second part is a great strength. If you were to fight the alien with the Gatling gun at the ready, the appeal of the horror game would be lost.
3. Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order
Developer: Respawn Entertainment | Release: November 15, 2019 | Platforms: PC (Steam), Xbox One/SeriesX/S, PS4/5, Stadia
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order – Launch Trailer
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Star Wars has produced some good games now. Just think of Bioware’s role-playing games or the Battlefront series. One of the more recent games is Jedi Fallen Order.
It tells the story of the young Padawan Cal Kestis and is set after the end of Episode 3 of the film series. That in itself isn’t really revolutionary, but the game manages to tell the story of its protagonist with great staging and a lot of emotion. Fallen Order is as tragic as it is dramatic, although heartwarming aspects like our little companion BD-1 are not neglected. The perfect package of Star Wars.
The game world, which is actually quite linear, uses a lot of environmental storytelling and is reminiscent of classic Metroidvania in the best sense. One of the highlights is certainly the fights and their gameplay. Armed with a lightsaber, protagonist Cal Kestis takes on numerous opponents. The fights are reminiscent of the Souls games and are similarly tough. Cutting through the masses of enemies is incredibly fun and makes us feel like a real Jedi. So it’s exactly what you’d expect from a game with “Jedi” in the title.
You can find more good licensed games on the next page.