Video game adaptations span far more than just TV. From Mario to Tomb Raider, so many of our favorite franchises have hit the silver screen — to middling results. For so long, video game movies have been seen as a bit of a curse. No matter where you look, there’s a Hollywood adaptation that seems to have lost the plot of a game series you grew up on.



Recently, however, it seems we’re at a turning point. The Fallout and Last of Us shows are great examples, but we’ve also seen an animated take on Castlevania, a gorgeous League of Legends side story in the form of Arcane, a Cyberpunk anime, and so much more. The world of gaming continues to expand, and the quality of these adaptations is only improving. Let’s discuss.



– David Silbert, Editor



The Punished Podcast Episode 21







David Silbert | Donovan Harrell | Sam Martinelli |  Gary Wilson | Vaughn Hunt







MP3 Download | Spotify | Apple Podcasts



Note: This episode contains swearing and sexual references.



Timestamps







* 0:00 – Introductions



* 7:15 – Adaptations: What Makes Them Work?



* 16:32 – Devil May Cry Deep Dive



* 25:50 – Why Video Game Adaptations Are Difficult to Get Right



* 34:22 – What Do “Good” Adaptations Look Like and Why



* 56:30 – Mediums: TV and Film



* 1:16:00 – Mediums: Board Games, Music, Books, and More



* 1:27:40 – Adaptations We Hope To See



* 1:30:18 – Outro: Best Adaptations We Recommend + What We’re Watching + Playing




Music Credits




* Opening Theme Song for Season 1 of Fallout (2024) on Amazon, composed by Ramin Djawadi



* Trailer for Netflix’s Devil May Cry (2025) anime, which featured Papa Roach’s “Last Resort,” with composition by Power Glove



* Mega Ran’s “Cloud Strife feat. ConSoul” (2021) from Black Materia: The Remake Album, featuring music composed by Masashi Hamauzu and Mitsuto Suzuki from Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)