I wish somebody would make an RPG video game version of these!
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I wish somebody would make an RPG video game version of these!

In this article, I will look at some tabletop RPGs, books, films and comics which I think would make great RPG videogames. I’ll explain what it is about the setting that I like and what style of RPG I think would suit it. First up, I’d like an RPG version of Dune.

1) Dune

The Dune novels were set in the distant future. It showed an interstellar society where noble houses, controlled planets. The nobles  owed allegiance to the Padishah Emperor. Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, whose noble family accepts stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis. As the only source of the most important and valuable substance in the universe, oracular spice melange, running Arrakis is a coveted—and dangerous—task. The rich story involves politics, religion, technology, ecology, and human emotion. Factions of the empire confront each other in a struggle for the control of the planet and the spice.

There have been five sequels by the original author Frank Herbert and both prequels and sequels co-written by his son. There has also been a Dune movie and TV series. Such an expansive, well-crafted and detailed setting would make for an epic RPG. I’d be hoping for an open world RPG, which was similar to the Mass Effect games.

“I will have Arrakis back for myself! He who controls the spice controls the universe” – Baron Vladimir Harkonnen

dune sandworm
Would you fancy taming and riding a giant sandworm? Or how about trying to slay one of these beasts?

2) Ghost in the Shell

I actually enjoyed the Scarlett Johansson live action version of Ghost in the Shell but it is the original anime movie and the anime series Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex that I remember most fondly. It’s an intelligent anime that brings up philosophical concepts such as the nature of life. Ghost in the Shell takes place in the year 2029, when the world’s become interconnected by a gigantic electronic network that touches all aspects of life. People rely more and more on cybernetic implants. 

It also features Artificially Intelligent machines. Much of the story centres on the Public Security Section 9 police force. Section 9 investigate cases like the Puppet Master and the Laughing Man. However, often the criminals are revealed to have more depth to them than Section 9 first thought. It raises questions such as : “What is the definition of ‘human’ in a society where minds can be copied and the body replaced with a synthetic version?”

A videogame version would probably be something like the Deus Ex games but with anime visuals instead. You could either be a member of the Section 9 police force or you could be one of the criminals on the run from them. Perhaps you were setup for a crime that you didn’t commit? If you were an android, there would be a lot of potential for some cool upgrades.

anime rpg
Ghost in the Shell is one of the best animes ever made. It would make a wonderful RPG in my opinion.

3) Discworld

The Discworld is the setting for many stories by Terry Pratchett. It’s a very funny fantasy series that parodies many tropes from fantasy novels and science fiction. Nippon Ichi has similarly parodied fantasy RPGs with its Disgaea series and other games such as Phantom Brave. I’d like to see a similar approach to a game set in the Discworld. There have been some decent point and click games based on Discworld. Why not an RPG too?

Would you like to explore a giant disc world that is carried through space by elephants who stand on top of a turtle that swims through space?

4) Neverwhere

Neverwhere is a brilliant fantasy novel by the ever reliable Neil Gaiman. It introduces us to a dark world under the streets of London. It is a world of monsters, angels and demons which would be ripe for exploration. There is already a tabletop RPG based on Neverwhere. Why not a videogame adaptation too? I’m imagining it to be something similar to the Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines game.

Neverwhere would make a dark, weird and wonderful setting for an RPG videogame. It was Neil Gaiman’s first novel.
5) The Lies of Locke Lamora

The Lies of Locke Lamora is a fun fantasy novel by Scott Lynch, the first in the Gentleman Bastard series. Locke Lamora is a con man, a thief and an all-round bastard, as you may have guessed from the title of the series. He would make for a fun character for an RPG videogame. I’m thinking of Thief meets Assassin’s Creed meets Hitman, with all the usual tasty RPG trimmings thrown on top. You could recruit new rogues to join Locke’s crew and control them in some of the missions.

rpg novel lies of locke
Take a sprinkling of Thief, a dash of Assassin’s Creed, a dollop or two of Hitman and mix in some sweet RPG magic.

I hope that you enjoyed reading this article. What books, movies, anime, myths or tabletop RPGs would you like to be adapted into an RPG videogame? What style of RPG would you like them to be? Please comment below and let us know.

Did you like this article? If so, you may want to read My Top 5 Most Annoying RPG Charaters next. Alternatively, you could read Do You Stroke the Kitten or Put it in the Blender? next.

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6 responses to “I wish somebody would make an RPG video game version of these!”


  1. So Many Good Book Series That Could Make Good RPGs.

    I’ll List 5.

    1) The Unhewn Throne

    2) The Traitorous Son Cycle

    3) The Sandman Comic

    4) Vlad Taltos Books

    5) The Demon Cycle

  2. I would love to see a RPG based in the universe of ‘Malazan Book of the Fallen’ by Steven Erikson.
    But only if it was epic enough to do the series justice.

    Also, a ‘Shannara’ game based on the series by Terry Brooks.

    And a game created in the theme of the various Fairy books by Brian Froud (conceptual artist of the movies ‘The Dark Crystal’ and ‘Labyrinth’).

    That’s just off the top of my head. I’m sure I could think of more.

    Oh. Clive Barker has some older books that would make great settings. ‘Imajica’ and ‘Weaveworld’ would be interesting.

  3. Nice list Rakuyo. :) Square Enix is making an Avengers game, so one of your wishes may soon be granted. Which version of Jumanji were you thinking of? The original Robin Williams one or the remake?

  4. In no particular order:

    -Battlestar Galactica
    -Pacific Rim
    -Jumanji
    -The Avengers
    -Bladerunner

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