If there was ever any doubt that video games could carry the same cultural relevance as TV and Movies, the last several years of adaptations should silence them. Some of the best shows in recent memory were adapted from video games, and many have become critically acclaimed.

If you're looking for a taste of how good storytelling has gotten in video games, here are 8 series that have been adapted from them.

The Last of Us

Max

If there's any studio suited for video game adaptations, it's Naughty Dog; the makers of Uncharted and The Last of Us. Their games already feel like cinematic masterpieces, and the show managed to live up to the expectation they set.

@credit: HBO

Fallout

Prime Video

Bethesda Game Studios was the last company many expected to get a great TV adaptation. While the games are great, every player decides their own destiny. The narrative isn't linear.

In the show, the world of Fallout is a character unto itself, and the series captured that world perfectly.

photography: Amazon

The Witcher

Netflix

Okay, so technically this is a book, adapted to a video game, adapted to a TV show. But Henry Cavil kills it as Geralt of Rivia. Up until he left the show, it was probably one of the best video game adaptations to date. It's no surprise that the show will end now that he has left, but we're still getting two more seasons. Liam Hemsworth has big shoes to fill, that much is for sure.

photography: Netflix

Resident Evil

Netflix

Not all video game adaptations are successful. If there's any game that's proven this, it's Capcom's Resident Evil. We've seen more adaptations of this game than pretty much any other, and each one has had varying degrees of success.

The latest show from Netflix is one of the less successful ones. It's been met with negative reviews and hate from fans. After two seasons, I won't be surprised if we see this one shelved.

photography: Netflix

Twisted Metal

Peacock

Twisted Metal is a good example of how an adaptation's tone should match the game. The show's characters are fun, quippy, and the camp was just right. If you're a millennial looking for a fun bit of nostalgia, it's a good watch.

photography: NBC

Castlevania: Nocturne

Netflix

Castlevania: Nocturne is an interesting one. It's a sequel to the original Castlevania animated series, which was adapted from a game that came out in 1993. Critics of the show score it highly, with a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. But audience scores are much lower. It particularly scored very low with fans of the original series. That's the risk you take when you try to do something different.

photography: Netflix

Halo

This is another game where the critical reviews are higher than the audience reviews. And to fans of the game, it's not surprising. Narratively, the show was good, but it had little resemblance to the game it was adapted from. Pedro Pascal's portrayal in The Mandalorian was closer to the original Master Chief character than Pablo Schreiber's.

photography: Paramount

Arcane

Netflix

Arcane is one of those shows that proves Animation should be taken seriously as a genre. Not only is it an exceptional video game adaptation, it's an incredibly well-written narrative. Not to mention a visual spectacle.

photography: Netflix