Videogame Adaptations of Books

Videogames that are either adaptations of or based on literature. Notes point to the work/s the game is based on. Notes not complete.

Alice: Madness Returns
Alice: Madness Returns
Loosely based on the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll.
American McGee's Alice
American McGee's Alice
Loosely based on the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Caroll.
Animorphs
Animorphs
Based on the children's science fiction book series of the same name by Katherine Applegate
Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed
Draws inspiration from the novel Alamut - Vladimir Bartol.
Dante's Inferno
Dante's Inferno
Based on Dante Alighieri's the Divine Comedy
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
note missing
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium
Story and universe are based on the book titled "The Sacred and Terrible Air" written by the lead writer of the game Robert Kurvitz. The book itself drew inspiration from a years long tabletop RPG campaign the author was part of.
Dynasty Warriors
Dynasty Warriors
Based on a Chinese novel series called Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Fahrenheit 451
Fahrenheit 451
Adaptation of the novel of the same name by Ray Bradbury.
Far Cry 2
Far Cry 2
Inspired by Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad and Red Harvest - Dashiel Hammett.
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Largely written by the author himself, Douglas Adams.
Ihatovo Monogatari
Ihatovo Monogatari
Based on the works of Kenji Miyazawa. The author himself makes an appearance in the game.
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream
Based on the book of the same name by Harlan Ellison.
James Clavell's Shogun
James Clavell's Shogun
Based on the book of the same name by James Clavell.
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth
Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth
Based on the book of the same name.
King James Bible
King James Bible
Adaptation of the King James' Bible.
La Abadía del Crimen
La Abadía del Crimen
Adaptation of the book Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco. Named differently since the developers didn't have the rights to use the original name.
Metro 2033
Metro 2033
Adaptation of the book of the same name by Dmitry Glukhovsky
Metro 2033 Redux
Metro 2033 Redux
Adaptation of the book of the same name by Dmitry Glukhovsky
Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus
Based in the Metro universe. Takes place near the last chapters of Metro 2035.
Metro: Last Light
Metro: Last Light
Based in the Metro universe. Takes place between Metro 2033 and Metro 2034.
Metro: Last Light Redux
Metro: Last Light Redux
Based in the Metro universe. Takes place between Metro 2033 and Metro 2034.
Mother 3
Mother 3
Draws inspiration from the trilogy written by Agota Kristof: The Notebook, The Proof and The Third Lie.
Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve
Acts as a sequel to the book of the same name by Hideaki Sena
Parasite Eve II
Parasite Eve II
Sequel to Parasite Eve.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Series based on the novels of the same name
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments
Based on the crime stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. The story isn't written by the author himself, rather in the same spirit of his works.
Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis
Sherlock Holmes: Nemesis
Also known as Sherlock Holmes versus Arsene Lupin. Uncertain if it's based on the book of similar name by Maurice Leblanc or its own standalone work.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
Inspiration is a mix of Arthur Conan Doyle's crime mysteries and H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos.
Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter
Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter
Based on the crime stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. The story isn't written by the author himself, rather in the same spirit of his works. Sequel to Crimes and Punishments.
Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy
Sherlock Holmes: The Mystery of the Mummy
Based on the crime stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. The story isn't written by the author himself, rather in the same spirit of his works.
Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring
Sherlock Holmes: The Silver Earring
Based on the crime stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. The story isn't written by the author himself, rather in the same spirit of his works. Acts as a prequel to The Mystery of the Mummy.
Spec Ops: The Line
Spec Ops: The Line
Game's plot is heavily based on Heart of Darkness- Joseph Conrad
Square's Tom Sawyer
Square's Tom Sawyer
Based on the novel by Mark Twain
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Anomaly
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Anomaly
Bases itself on the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
Bases itself on the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky
Bases itself on the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Bases itself on the novel Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky.
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes
a lot of sherlock games, not all logged for now
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six
Based on the book by Tom Clancy. Needs proof checking
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
Based on the Witcher books by Andrej Sapkowski
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Based on the Witcher books by Andrej Sapkowski
The Witcher
The Witcher
Based on the Witcher books by Andrej Sapkowski

11 Comments


1 year ago

MOTHER 3 is heavily based on The Notebook by Ágota Kristóf, a World War II novel.
Will be added, thanks for listing

1 year ago

Thank you for making such a great list!

1 year ago

Ihatovo Monogatari draws from the stories of Kenji Miyazawa, particularly Night on the Galactic Railroad

1 year ago

Very good list

1 year ago

Great List. Arguably Disco Elysium should be here, the world is partly based on a novel written by the main writer of the game
I'll look into it and add that as well, thanks a lot

1 year ago

wow great list!

11 months ago

really appreciate this list since its clearly so rare to find games based on literature in this way. that said, theres that new doom wad My House based on House of Leaves by Mark Danielewzki

11 months ago

There are a couple Goosebumps games I believe lol

8 months ago

@MultiGenre House of Leaves has been on my TBR for a long time, weird finding out it's had a game adaptation. I'll get to updating the list


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