Games Based on Literature

Overview

While it could be argued that no small percentage of games is derived from such literary sources as Tolkien and Pratchett, this concept is about books that have more directly led to the genesis of a specific game, either through direct adaptation or significant inspiration. For obvious reasons, movie tie-ins that once originated in a book are not included here. For the opposite, where video games are adapted into novels, see Book Adaptation.

Examples

• Jungle King is based on Tarzan. Due to copyright issues, however, the title, graphics and art were changed to Jungle Hunt.
• The Tower of Druaga, and the Babylonian Castle Saga franchise in general, is loosely based on The Epic of Gilgamesh, the earliest known epic in history, as well as other elements of Babylonian literature and mythology, such as the Tower of Babel.
• The Romance of the Three Kingdoms series of strategy games are based on the 14th century Chinese novel of the same name. The novel has also inspired games such as the Dynasty Warriors franchise, Kessen II, and Destiny of an Emperor.
• Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei, the first game in the Megami Tensei series, was based on the novel Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei by Aya Nishitani. The novel is the first part of a trilogy, though the video game sequel Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II departs from the novel source to tell an original story.
• BioShock was vaguely inspired by Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged and makes several references to it, for example in the initials of the game's antagonist Andrew Ryan. The themes and views expressed by Rand are explored at great length and portrayed with quite a bit of criticism, though the game can be interpreted to suggest that Rapture fails for being taken to extremes rather than as the result of an inherently flawed ideology.
• Assassin's Creed, the first game in the franchise of the same name, was inspired in large part by the Vladmir Bartol novel Alamut, based on the history and mythos surrounding the medieval Islamic Assassins cult.
• Sun Tzu's Art of War and Julius Caesar's memoirs were among the inspiration for the Total War series of games, providing the underlying philosophy and tactics.
• Lovecraft of course is well-known for his influence on the survival horror genre, notably Alone in the Dark and even some direct adaptations involving monsters with excess tentacles.
• The Parasite Eve franchise was originally inspired by a horror novel, also called Parasite Eve, and written by author Hideaki Sena. The novel's storyline is not directly explored in the games, though the first game is presented as a sequel to that story.
• The first-person shooter The Wheel of Time is set in the same universe as, though not directly related to, the late Robert Jordan's fantasy novel series of the same name.
• The Witcher is an adaptation of the Polish novel series of the same name by author Andrezj Sapkowski.
• Alan Wake takes many of its thriller settings and horror genre tropes from the works of Stephen King, whose name is the first spoken words at the beginning of the game.
• The Sword Art Online franchise of manga, anime and games are based on a Japanese light novel series that began in 2002.