Top 15 Video Games Based on Books and Novels

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - August 8th 2025, 19:00 GMT+2

Ken Folletts The Pillars of the Earth — 15. The Pillars of the Earth (2017)

Adapting Ken Follett’s sweeping historical drama into a video game was no small feat, but Daedalic Entertainment pulled it off with surprising grace. *The Pillars of the Earth* plays more like an interactive novel than a traditional game – and that’s its biggest strength. With stunning hand-painted visuals, rich dialogue, and branching choices that affect the fate of Kingsbridge and its cathedral builders, it captures the slow-burn intensity of the original story. You’re not here to grind levels or rack up headshots; you’re here to be immersed in a tapestry of politics, faith, love, and betrayal. | © Daedalic Entertainment

The warriors 2005 msn — 14. The Warriors (2005)

Some games based on books struggle to find the right tone – not this one. *The Warriors* didn’t just adapt the 1965 novel by Sol Yurick; it smashed it together with the cult classic film adaptation and gave us an incredibly stylish, gritty beat-’em-up that felt right at home on the streets of a decaying New York. The game fills in gaps, expands the lore, and lets you brawl your way through a surprisingly emotional rise of the Warriors gang. What makes it shine is Rockstar’s knack for worldbuilding – the city feels alive, even if it’s just trying to punch you in the face. It’s an adaptation that understands its source and elevates it through gameplay. | © Rockstar Games

Cropped Dantes Inferno — 13. Dante’s Inferno (2010)

It’s not every day someone turns 14th-century Italian poetry into a God of War-style action game, but hey – this is gaming. *Dante’s Inferno* takes some very loose inspiration from Dante Alighieri’s *Divine Comedy*, reimagining the tormented poet as a scythe-wielding knight battling through the Nine Circles of Hell. Is it accurate? Not at all. Is it fun? Absolutely. The game leans hard into grotesque imagery, epic boss fights, and religious symbolism, making for a hellish journey that’s anything but boring. It may be more metal than literary, but it introduced a lot of players to a classic (even if they never opened the book). | © Electronic Arts

S T A L K E R — 12. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (2007)

Loosely inspired by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky’s sci-fi novel *Roadside Picnic*, this cult classic plunges you into a bleak and radioactive post-disaster wasteland. *S.T.A.L.K.E.R.* isn’t just a shooter – it’s an atmospheric survival experience packed with eerie anomalies, mysterious factions, and just enough lore to make your Geiger counter click nervously. It may not follow the book beat-for-beat, but the spirit of philosophical dread and unexplained phenomena is alive and well. The Zone is unforgiving, but that’s exactly what makes it unforgettable. | © GSC Game World

Cropped Golden Eye 007 1997 — 11. GoldenEye 007 (1997)

Rare’s *GoldenEye 007* wasn’t just a game – it was a revolution. Technically based on Ian Fleming’s classic spy novels and the 1995 film adaptation, it did more than put Bond on your screen. It defined what console first-person shooters could be. Beyond the movie plot, the game’s multiplayer mode became legendary in its own right, laying the groundwork for every local FPS deathmatch that followed. It may have been inspired by a book (and a movie), but it left a legacy all its own – oddjob, slappers only, and all. Even today, it’s remembered as a gold standard for how to do a licensed game right. | © Rare

ENSLAVED Odyssey to the West — 10. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (2010)

It’s not every day you see a dystopian action-platformer take creative liberties with a 16th-century Chinese novel, but *Enslaved: Odyssey to the West* pulls it off with style. Loosely inspired by *Journey to the West*, this game reimagines the ancient tale in a post-apocalyptic world filled with derelict machines and lush overgrowth. With strong character dynamics, motion capture work by Andy Serkis, and stunning art direction, it’s a criminally underrated gem. The emotional bond between Monkey and Trip drives the narrative with surprising depth. It may not be a direct adaptation, but the spirit of the source material shines through. | © Ninja Theory

Cropped parasite eve 1998 — 9. Parasite Eve (1998)

Part horror RPG, part cinematic thriller, and all kinds of weird, *Parasite Eve* is based on the Japanese novel of the same name by Hideaki Sena. Instead of simply mimicking the book’s plot, the game acts as a spiritual sequel – blending science fiction, biological horror, and RPG mechanics into a uniquely unsettling experience. It was one of the first games to fully embrace cinematic storytelling on the original PlayStation, setting the stage for future Square Enix narrative epics. With mitochondria-powered monsters and a haunting score, it’s hard to forget. Eve’s legacy might be dormant now, but fans still hope for a reboot. | © Square Enix

8. The Lord of the Rings Online (2007)

While there have been countless games set in Middle-earth, few dive as deep into the lore as *The Lord of the Rings Online*. This MMORPG lets you walk the lands of Tolkien’s universe in exhaustive detail – from the cozy hills of the Shire to the dark depths of Moria. Rather than retell Frodo’s story, the game cleverly runs parallel to the books, allowing players to forge their own adventures. Its commitment to fidelity, world-building, and respect for the source material makes it a fan-favorite even years later. It's a digital pilgrimage for Tolkien lovers. | © Standing Stone Games

Tom Clancys Rainbow Six Siege 2015 — 7. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege (2015)

While *Rainbow Six Siege* might not directly follow the plot of Tom Clancy’s 1998 novel, it’s part of a broader franchise inspired by his high-stakes military thrillers. Siege strips away the traditional campaign to focus on competitive, tactical multiplayer – a move that redefined the FPS genre. It emphasizes strategy, communication, and destruction-based gameplay, all underpinned by real-world counter-terrorism themes that echo Clancy’s tone. With a constantly evolving roster of operators and maps, the game has maintained a loyal fanbase for nearly a decade. It’s proof that a book-based franchise can evolve into something wholly its own. | © Ubisoft

Metro 2033 msn — 6. Metro 2033 (2010)

Based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s bleak and brilliant post-apocalyptic novel, *Metro 2033* immerses you in the radioactive ruins of Moscow’s underground subway system. This isn’t just a shooter – it’s a survival horror experience drenched in atmosphere, where bullets double as currency and danger lurks in every shadow. The game masterfully captures the tension and existential dread of its literary source, blending politics, horror, and Russian folklore into a gripping journey. Few adaptations feel as faithful and lived-in. With gas masks fogging up and mutants clawing at the door, you won’t soon forget it. | © 4A Games

World War Z MSN — 5. World War Z: Aftermath (2021)

While it shares its name with Max Brooks’ genre-defining novel, *World War Z: Aftermath* is more spiritual sibling than straight adaptation. The game swaps the book’s fragmented oral-history structure for frantic, third-person co-op action, pitting players against relentless zombie swarms that pour in like a tidal wave. What it lacks in narrative subtlety, it makes up for with sheer chaos. You’ll mow down infected across Rome, Jerusalem, and beyond, with squad tactics and upgradeable classes offering replayability. It’s a loose interpretation, sure – but one that taps into the same sense of global panic and survival. | © Saber Interactive

4. Lies of P (2023)

In a dark twist nobody expected, Carlo Collodi’s *Pinocchio* becomes a gothic Soulslike in *Lies of P*, one of the most stylish and imaginative adaptations of recent years. Instead of a wooden puppet on a simple quest to become a real boy, you’re now battling grotesque automatons in a Belle Époque nightmare inspired by *Bloodborne*. The game explores themes of truth, agency, and identity through brutal combat and branching narrative choices. It’s eerie, elegant, and surprisingly faithful to the book’s philosophical roots – with a healthy dose of violence and mystery thrown in. | © Neowiz Games

Alice Madness Returns — 3. Alice: Madness Returns (2011)

*Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland* has seen countless adaptations, but none quite as twisted and psychologically layered as *Alice: Madness Returns*. In this sequel to *American McGee’s Alice*, the titular heroine dives back into a warped version of Wonderland shaped by trauma, guilt, and fragmented memories. The game turns Lewis Carroll’s whimsy into weaponized nightmare fuel, blending gothic design with hack-and-slash combat and platforming. Underneath the bloodstained teacups and murderous tea parties is a poignant exploration of mental health and grief. It’s beautiful, unsettling, and entirely unforgettable. | © Spicy Horse

2. Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)

Inspired by Mike Pondsmith’s *Cyberpunk* tabletop RPG and lore-rich sourcebooks, *Cyberpunk 2077* brings the neon-drenched dystopia of Night City to vivid, high-tech life. While not a direct book adaptation, the game's roots in literary cyberpunk are undeniable – think *Neuromancer*, *Snow Crash*, or *Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?* Its open world is brimming with corpo conspiracies, body mods, and philosophical questions about identity, mortality, and transhumanism. Yes, its launch was rocky, but after years of updates, *Cyberpunk 2077* is now a narrative powerhouse – and one of the most faithful homages to cyberpunk fiction ever made. | © CD Projekt Red

Cropped The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt — 1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2015)

Let’s be honest: no list of video games based on books is complete without *The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt*. Building on the rich lore of Andrzej Sapkowski’s Polish fantasy novels, this masterpiece lets players embody Geralt of Rivia in a world full of monsters, moral ambiguity, and political intrigue. It doesn’t just adapt the books – it expands them, giving side characters like Yennefer, Ciri and Triss new life and complex arcs. With its emotional storytelling, branching narratives, and unforgettable quests (*The Bloody Baron*, anyone?), this is how you turn literature into interactive art. | © CD Projekt Red

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Books and video games may seem like very different mediums, but when they come together, the result can be pure magic. From sprawling fantasy worlds to chilling post-apocalyptic settings, some of the best games ever made were inspired by the pages of classic literature and bestselling novels. Whether you're a lifelong reader or a die-hard gamer, these adaptations offer rich storytelling, complex characters, and immersive gameplay that honor their source material while bringing something entirely new to the table.

In this list, we’ll dive into 15 of the best video games based on books and novels – highlighting how they turned beloved literary works into unforgettable gaming experiences. Whether you’ve read the original or not, these games are proof that sometimes the best stories start with a book.