The Best Games Based on Movie Franchises

Movie tie-in games haven’t always had the best reputation. We’ve all seen the rushed release that was made just because a movie was doing well at the box office. The licence is there, the actors are there, and somehow the actual game is the weakest part.

It doesn’t always turn out that way though. Some movie franchises have become excellent games because developers found something interesting to do with the world rather than just recreating the movie. Even slots have taken the same approach with several big-screen favourites, giving some of these franchises another way to reach players.

Indiana Jones Goes on an Adventure

There are already plenty of famous adventure games, so Indiana Jones and the Great Circle could have easily ended up feeling like just another Uncharted copy. Instead, it works because it really does feel like Indiana Jones. There are ancient puzzles, combat and plenty of exploration, with the story fitting into the movie timeline.

Jurassic Park Brings Dinosaurs to the Reels

Jurassic Park has inspired plenty of games. The Jurassic Park slot from Games Global is based on the original 1993 movie and uses familiar dinosaurs and scenes throughout the game. There are dinosaur-themed free spins and a T-Rex feature, so the movie isn’t just being used for the artwork. That’s what makes a licensed slot work. You should be able to recognise the franchise, but the theme also needs to have some connection to what actually happens during play.

Alien Makes a Great Horror Game

Alien: Isolation gets what makes the original movie scary. You’re not an unstoppable action hero with an endless collection of weapons. Most of the time, you’re trying not to be found. The Xenomorph’s AI is a big reason why it works. It reacts to what you do, so hiding in the same spot over and over isn’t a great plan. The situation becomes tense and frustrating at times, but that’s exactly what makes the game so fun to play.

Robocop Works In Two Very Different Formats

RoboCop is an interesting case because it has both a video game and a slot.

RoboCop: Rogue City makes Alex Murphy the star of a slow first-person shooter with RPG elements. You don’t move like a typical shooter character, but that actually makes sense for RoboCop. He feels powerful without being a standard action hero.

The RoboCop slot by Playtech uses the same source material in a totally different way. It uses the character and familiar visuals as the base for reel gameplay and robotized features. If you’re looking for a slots game online version of your favourite video games, this a good example of a franchise being adapted without just repeating what the movie already did.

Jumanji Turns the Board Game into a Slot

Jumanji has always had a game at its core, so a slot adaptation actually makes a lot of sense. The Jumanji slot from NetEnt uses the board game concept for its bonus feature, with players moving around a board to unlock different rewards. It doesn’t try to recreate the entire movie. Instead, it takes one of its most recognisable ideas and makes it part of the gameplay.

Ghostbusters Gets Its Own Reel Adventure

The Ghostbusters slot from IGT is based on the original 1984 movie and includes Stay Puft-themed free spins, stacked and locked wilds and other familiar touches. It’s a good fit for a slot because Ghostbusters already has a strong visual identity. The characters, ghosts and Stay Puft Marshmallow Man are instantly recognisable, so there’s plenty for a developer to work with.

The Lord of the Rings Gets Even Bigger

Instead of retelling the Tolkien books or Peter Jackson movies, The Lord of the Rings Online was influenced by the movie trilogy and gives players a huge version of Middle Earth to explore. Years later, it’s still around and receiving updates. For a licensed game, that’s a pretty impressive run.