What novels would make for an incredible videogame if done right?

Submitted by pilrag t3_yho5os in books

After seeing that front page post about Piranesi by Susanna Clarke it reminded me how after I read that book I thought it could be turned into an amazing adventure game.

Having the player start the game with no information except Piranesi's journals and the world around them, then having to piece together the mystery of the novel through clues they find and conversations they have with The Other would be such a cool experience, and the descriptions of the world sound like an intriguing and visually interesting environment for a game to take place in.

So what other books have you guys read that you think could be made into an interesting videogame (or series of games?) Cinema has adapted so many books since the very beginning so I'm kind of surprised that more videogames haven't gone this route.

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LackOfLogic t1_iuetht6 wrote

It’s probably be impossible to do but an Infinite Jest rpg in the same vein as Disco Elysium would be the bees knees. Tenis and Eschaton mini games included.

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PM_ur_Rump t1_iuexmom wrote

I would play a game based on the Incarnations of Immortality series by Piers Anthony.

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post-death_wave_core t1_iuey5hr wrote

An open world game set in the whole of Westeros would be amazing. Probably too expensive to ever be made though.

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LackOfLogic t1_iuf2np6 wrote

Replying to pilrag (#355,492)

They could probably also add a MGS mission scene where Hal had to sneak around the academy tunnels in order to get his pot fix. And another one where you’d have to get the timing right on the “jumping in front of the train” for the Wheelchair Assassin’s initiation. Honestly I think this game might actually have potential to work.

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serahquinnzel t1_iuf2qs5 wrote

That's because video games are focused on pulling you in and making you work and mechanics. For me, the best video games are about gameplay. Shadow of the Colossus is one. Soft-magic system, simple story, all gameplay and aesthetics, music and mood.

There are also too many types of games out there. It could work but a lot of novels don't have enough actions for gamers to follow. Sometimes, there are chapters where the characters do nothing but think or walk around their house...etc. That would be really boring in a game. You could take a world and make a game out of it, but think of the most common bestsellers. They would make terrible games.

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MaxaM91 t1_iuf3ihr wrote

I think the same as OP, Piranesi would be an amazing point and click game with a lot of intriguing choice in dialogue, in my opinion.

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AlunWeaver t1_iuf3red wrote

My idea for a Buddenbrooks mobile game was shot down but there is money in it, I know.

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sanguiniuswept t1_iuf6dgs wrote

The Dark Tower could be a great series of multigenre games

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Mass-Dental t1_iuf6o4p wrote

Mistborn, based on Dishonored mechanics.

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Theamazing-rando t1_iuf723v wrote

The real issue with great novels to games is in the inherent ludonarrative dissonance that's created between the two formats.

You'd need to take the tightly formed and heavily point of viewed linear narrative of a novel and introduce gameplay mechanics, which ultimately hold their own narrative experience that often work counter to the story, all the while expecting it to hold remotely the same weight as the novel it comes from.

Imagine Catcher in the Rye, only you play Holden Caulfield and you have to walk into the Lavander Room, find a table, press X to sit, pull up a mini menu where you can order a Scoth and Soda only for a quick time event about your age to pop up! Sounds like a Quantic Dream game I guess 🤣

That's not to say that some books can't work in a game format, like The Witcher, but these books have a significant amount of world building that can reduce and accommodate the gameplays effect on the overall narrative pace.

Honestly, I'd say that the tighter the novel, the harder it would be to make into a game, without totally spinning off into the world the narrative inhabits, which isn't really the same thing.

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DYGTD t1_iuf8bah wrote

Total War: Westeros. I was also about to say a James Bond game using the Hitman formula, but I forgot that IO recently got that license.

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St_Vincent-Adultman t1_iuf8tcg wrote

A Clockwork Orange! It could 2 player so could commit the old ultra-violence with your droogs. Moloka will give you health.

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Mawgac t1_iufb8th wrote

The School of Good and Evil is nearly pre-built for an open-ish world exploration of magic and growth.

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c7hu1hu t1_iuff3ra wrote

I'd take an open world Malazan game.

Already done, but a modern Red Storm Rising game would also be sweet.

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Jack-Campin t1_iuflnim wrote

American Psycho? You'd need to collect all the right designer goods along with killing people. Hey, you might even get the fashion companies to buy in-game advertising and purchase spots.

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serahquinnzel t1_iufmwgf wrote

Replying to Jack-Campin (#360,825)

the yandere game where you're supposed to stalk your obsession lol

American Psycho would work if the goal is you're a murderer and you have to stalk/kill people without getting caught at work

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fezzik02 t1_iufok3a wrote

Parable of the Sower

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Faking_Life t1_iug0k8m wrote

Captain blood! Escape from enslavement, steal a ship, huge marine battles, sword fights, vengeance!!

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LackOfLogic t1_iug74d1 wrote

Replying to carbondrewtonium (#364,945)

Maybe we’re on to something here, because honestly, after thinking a little more about it, I would say that the whole book really could work as a videogame. One could even use the James Incandenza filmography as some kind of in game collectible, like some Interlace tapes that you’d have to find scattered throughout the game world.

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ProfessionalLurker97 t1_iugbhpo wrote

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff has the potential to be a great dark fantasy horror game full of cults, ghosts, just overall creepy. Survival horror Silent Hill-esque even.

Shogun by James Clavell can be fantastic. I love Ghost of Tsushima on PS4 (the setting of medieval and feudal/shogunate Japan or even warring states Japan in video games is just majestic) and this novel has even more context. Add in the short stories of Ryunosuke Akutagawa with some horror and supernatural elements (check out his short story called 'Hell Screen') and that can be a great game.

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icanith t1_iugg45g wrote

Expeditionary force RTS. No Skippy. That’s an expansion.

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Bladebrent t1_iugkkdo wrote

Replying to serahquinnzel (#356,533)

> Sometimes, there are chapters where the characters do nothing but think or walk around their house...etc. That would be really boring in a game

There are games that do that too. Usually short indie games but I've seen games do story-focused segments too. The best examples I can think of would be What remains of Edith Finch, Yume Nikki, and I've even seen games interrupt gameplay just for short breather section to build up story. Also keep in mind that Video games and Books are completely different mediums and you can, and have to make adjustments. Descriptions can be moved around, placed in certain areas, or you might have to remove them entirely and have to get the point across without the soliloquy, which is something movies have to do as well.

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rogash98 t1_iuh6drm wrote

Wheel of Time. Think it would be a good semi open world (sorta like the third Witcher game, I suppose) rpg with branching storylines for each main character

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Yukikaguya t1_iuh72sc wrote

The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins

-open world -factions -races -weapon types -flying mechanics -diverse settings -capacity for tons of missions and side missions -loads of choice based options

Sound like an ideal rpg to me.

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myyouthismyown t1_iuhkk8z wrote

I'd like something set in the same world as Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn, or Anne McCaffrey's Pern.

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