The 10 Best Video Games From 1980s Movie Franchises, Ranked
Movie-based video games may not be as popular as they once were, but the ’80s inspired some truly memorable virtual experiences. The 1980s were the golden age of action movies. Terrific practical effects were everywhere, the movies were bloodier than they had ever been, and the explosions were bigger than ever. Moreover, the action was in the service of well-crafted films with interesting premises.
These films coincided with the rise of video games, and the gaming industry did not shy away from cashing in on the iconic blockbusters of the time. Even to this day, many of these franchises still receive new video games, and sometimes game developers win virtual gold.
ten Terminator: Resistance (2019)
In 2019, The terminator the film franchise was trying to take a new direction with dark fate erasing Skynet, John Connor and the classic Terminator look for Legion, Dani Ramos and the tentacle machines. Fortunately, Polish game developer Teyon knew what fans wanted and delivered a new FPS story set in the original Future War.
Players assume the role of original character Jacob Rivers, although they occasionally encounter John Connor and Kyle Reese. Players start with modern weapons like shotguns, but can later find the iconic purple plasma gun. DLCs were released every year, including Infiltrator mode with gameplay as a terminator.
9 RoboCop Arcade (1988)
Fans are often split on which is better RoboCop game, with the terrific cross-play RoboCop vs Terminator with great gameplay and smart story. However, the years 1988 Arcad RoboCope just edges that one.
Players assume the role of Alex Murphy, aka RoboCopas they battle through a multitude of levels based on the RoboCop film. The game merges tight beat-em-up and run-and-gun gameplay elements and is highly addictive due to its fast-paced levels. The game also features the digitized voices of the real actors and a first-person shooter mini-game between levels.
8 Back to the Future The Game (2010)
Back to the Future: The Game was an absolute delight for fans of a franchise that had otherwise produced very little content outside of movies. A series of cartoons of short duration and Back to the Future: The Journeywhich closed in 2007, were all they ever had.
Telltale Games’ graphic adventure offered fans an original story featuring Doc and Marty. The game is set in 1976, 1931, and 1986 and had an open ending, but no sequel was ever made. Along with being one of the only non-cinematic media available for the franchise, the game appealed to fans for the narrative choices the player could make throughout the experience.
7 Aliens Verses Predator 2 (2001)
Although the 2020s Predator: hunting grounds saw the return of iconic characters and settings, the best Predator game experiences can still be found in the Alien Verses Predator Series. The crossover franchise began with a Dark Horse comic in 1989 and has since expanded into games and movies.
The 2001 installment improved on its predecessors with improved graphics and a terrific asymmetrical multiplayer mode. Like other games in the series, Alien vs Predator 2 offers various game options; players could choose to be a Predator, Alien, or Colonial Marine battling for supremacy.
6 Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009)
While a third ghost hunters the film was finally released in 2021, 2009 Ghostbusters: The Video Game was the third part fans had always wanted to see. It features an original story with some unused concepts from the original film and undoes it Ghostbusters 3 script.
The original cast provided their voices and likenesses. This would be Harold Ramis’ last outing as Egon. In 2022, fans could finally get another good ghost hunters game in Freed Spirits developers from Friday the 13th: the gameand Predator: hunting grounds.
5 Rambo Arcade (2008)
The violence of Sylvester Stallone Rambo the sequels look like they were made for the video game. Like any movie-to-game franchise, there have been a few stinks over the years, but in 2008 SEGA delivered a satisfying light-shooting experience.
Like other light shooters, players move from scene to scene while experiencing the best scenes of Rambo 2 and Rambo 3. Mini-bosses, including helicopter attack and one-on-one battles, split gameplay with precise targeting and button hitting objectives. It was the most immersive way to live out Rambo’s action fantasies.
4 Die Hard Trilogy (1996)
1988 die hard launched an entire subgenre in its own right. The one man versus multiple terrorist concept was absolutely perfect for a video game. The two films that followed each amplified the scope of the previous one and presented John McClane with new challenges.
Probe Entertainment has respected the uniqueness of each film with the immensely popular Die Hard Trilogy. It was three games in one: a third-person shooter for die hardan FPS on rails for die harderand a driving game for With a revenge. While the game’s visuals and mechanics are showing their age today, this strain is still worth noting today.
3 Friday the 13th: The Game (2017)
This asymmetrical game gave players the chance to play as Jason Voorhees or the camp counselors. The game in Friday the 13th: the game features several graphical kill options, and the musical score will be familiar to fans of the film franchise.
Like the Advisors, players had to escape by vehicle or by calling the police while being hunted down by Jason. Alternatively, they could also go through the elaborate process of killing Jason. Unfortunately, the game was discontinued in November 2020 due to licensing issues.
2 Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992)
With the IndianaJones the films apparently end with those of 1989 Indiana Jones and the Last CrusadeLucasArts would provide fans with great stories through the game. To this day, many fans still consider Fate of Atlantis the truth India 4.
Released at the height of LucasArt’s golden age of point-and-click adventures, this one was a true gem of a game. A terrifically crafted story by Hal Barwood introduced iconic new characters and lore to a mystery that seen Indy travel the world. Although the point and click genre is not as popular today as it once was, this game is still worth revisiting due to its interesting story and dialogues.
1 Alien Isolation (2014)
After the original Extraterrestrial was released in 1979, Ellen Ripley became the most iconic female heroine of the 80s. That status was cemented with James Cameron aliens in 1986, which is arguably the greatest action movie of all time.
But Alien Isolation evokes the sci-fi horror elements of Ridley Scott’s original more than most action-packed video games based on the franchise. Players assume the role of Ripley’s daughter, Amanda, who finds herself trapped in Sevastopol Station while being stalked by a terrifying Xenomorph. The alien uses a unique AI mechanism to intelligently track down players, and unofficial VR mods allow the game to be enjoyed in an interactive first-person perspective.
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