Video Game TV Series You Should Check Out Next

History has shown that successfully adapting video games into different mediums is no mean feat. Video game movies, in particular, have failed far more often than they have succeeded. From older attempts like 2005's "Doom" to more recent fare like Tom Holland's "Uncharted," video game films have always been plagued by the same core issues — a general misunderstanding of the source material and a tendency to throw longtime fans under the bus in the interest of mass appeal.

Of course, there are a few notable exceptions. "Mortal Kombat" has had a couple of mildly successful movies, with the 1995 adaptation becoming something of a cult classic over the years. The "Tomb Raider" films have found success at the box office, as have the "Resident Evil" movies (despite having little to do with the source material). More recently, features like "Detective Pikachu" and "Sonic the Hedgehog" have earned praise for their loyalty to their respective games and colorful entertainment value. But, truth be told, movies have never been the best medium for video game adaptation.

Fortunately, there's been an explosion of video game-based TV shows in recent years. Netflix has led the charge, but there have been great series produced all over that have their origins in gaming. The longer form of TV allows for more accurate adaptations, and the results speak for themselves. Here are some awesome video game TV series that you should check out.

After years of setbacks, it looked unlikely that the live-action "Halo" TV series would ever see the light of day. The big budget Paramount+ show made changes to the canon of the games, resulting in a series that received mixed reviews from critics and fans alike. It's not a perfect adaptation, and it's not a perfect show, but given the long road it had to travel just to get released, it's kind of impressive that "Halo" is as complete and entertaining as it is.

Let's start with what the "Halo" show does really well — loyalty to the games in its aesthetic and design. Every Warthog, Banshee, DMR, and piece of Mjolnir armor is recreated perfectly here. Master Chief looks exactly how you expect him to look, his shields make the exact same sound they make in the games, and his arsenal of weapons is spot-on in pretty much every way. There are also pieces of Martin O'Donnell's iconic score sprinkled throughout the series, which is sure to give viewers positive flashbacks of their time with the games.

Not everything in "Halo" is totally loyal, though. The show exists in a separate canon and takes some big liberties with character and events, especially when it comes to Pablo Schreiber's version of Master Chief. "Halo" is pulpy, self-serious, and a little stilted at times, but so are the games. Ultimately, the Paramount+ series is a great time if you don't take it too seriously.

If you're looking for a solid video game adaptation in the realm of classical fantasy, Netflix's "Dota: Dragon's Blood" is a great pick. Based on Valve's massively popular MOBA game "Dota 2," this animated series follows Davion the Dragon Knight (Yuri Lowenthal) on a quest to save the world. Other characters from the game like the enigmatic sorcerer Invoker (Troy Baker), the deadly demon Terrorblade (JB Blanc), and Princess Mirana (Lara Pulver) all feature prominently as well.

"Dota: Dragon's Blood" is animated by the acclaimed Studio Mir, known for shows like "The Legend of Korra" and "Voltron: Legendary Defender." As a result, there's a lot of visual flair to the series, ranging from great character designs to high-energy "camera" movement during the many fight scenes. It's also a pretty violent and bloody series and is, therefore, best enjoyed by older audiences.

Other than its affiliation with "Dota 2," there isn't much unique about "Dragon's Blood." It takes place in a pretty standard high fantasy world, filled with small towns, reclusive rulers, strange magic, and dangerous monsters. Still, while the show is hardly brimming with new ideas, it excels in its execution. The script is tight, the story and lore are compelling, and the voice acting is great. "Dota: Dragon's Blood" doesn't break any new ground, but if you like stylish animation and traditional fantasy stories, then it's definitely worth your time.

Since the critically acclaimed indie game "Cuphead" takes most of its inspiration from classic American animation, turning it into an actual TV series seems like an obvious move. Netflix's "The Cuphead Show!" is aimed primarily at younger audiences, but there's also enough visual style and smart humor to keep older viewers entertained. What you see is basically what you get here — this is a clever and nostalgic cartoon adventure that the creators pulled off brilliantly.

The majority of critics loved it (and audience scores were even higher), though some reviewers said there was room for improvement. Bloody Disgusting, for example, lamented the show's lack of narrative depth, calling it stylish and mildly entertaining but without any real substance to keep viewers engaged. That's largely a symptom of the show's inspiration, however, as the old cartoons that it pulls from weren't exactly known for thematic nuance or complexity.

Ultimately, "The Cuphead Show!" is a series that's best enjoyed by specific audiences — kids, lovers of classic animation (though the series isn't actually hand-drawn), and fans of the game looking for a brief and entertaining distraction. For a story that'll make you think, maybe try some of the other shows on this list.

Far from the best adaptation on this list but still a solid option for fans of fantasy anime, "Dragon's Dogma" takes the Capcom-developed role-playing game of the same name and turns it into a brief but effective action-adventure series. The story is a pretty typical fantasy revenge tale starring Ethan, a man whose home and life get destroyed by a dragon, which he then sets out to kill. There's a lot of magical lore to discover along the way, most of which is translated perfectly from the video games. As such, "Dragon's Dogma" may be best enjoyed by those who've played the games, but there's still a lot of fun action and solid storytelling to keep newcomers engaged.

Several things are holding "Dragon's Dogma" back from true greatness. As the AV Club noted, the English voice acting isn't the best, the dialogue feels stilted at times, and there's a lot of clunky exposition. The show also doesn't always do a great job of handling more sensitive subject matter. Compared to other Netflix adaptations like "Castlevania" and "Dota: Dragon's Blood" — shows that have very similar aesthetics and tones — "Dragon's Dogma" can look a bit shabby, but there's still a lot to like here. If you've watched the aforementioned shows already and want something similar to consume, this will definitely scratch that itch.

The "Street Fighter" films have a certain B-movie charm, but they're far from the faithful adaptations fans of the franchise deserve. The various anime films and series are a bit better on that front, but if you want a live-action version of the "Street Fighter" story that's actually loyal to the video games, you should check out the 2014 web series "Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist."

Originated as a fan project, "Assassin's Fist" is a miniseries featuring several popular characters from the fighting games. Ryu (Mike Moh, best known for his controversial turn as Bruce Lee in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") and Ken (Christian Howard) lead the charge, but there are also appearances from the likes of Gouken and Akuma. The story is limited in scope, and it certainly doesn't have the biggest budget in the world, but there's a lot of heart to "Assassin's Fist." The fight choreography is excellent and incredibly loyal to the games, right down to the sound design of the punches and kicks.

Like "Mortal Kombat: Legacy," a similar show that also started as a fan project, "Street Fighter: Assassin's Fist" benefits immensely from the passion of its creative team. It's a true love letter to the series, complete with form-perfect Shoryukens and beautifully recreated costumes. If you've ever been a fan of the "Street Fighter" franchise, you owe it to yourself to check out "Assassin's Fist" as soon as possible.

Though the "Tron" franchise technically started with the 1982 Disney movie, the first video game was actually released in 1981 ahead of the film's premiere. The story of "Tron" has always been deeply tied to gaming culture, and the early arcade games that spawned from the film throughout the '80s are just as central to the series' appeal as any of the films. "Tron: Uprising" belongs on this list, and it's definitely a show worth checking out.

Produced in the wake of 2010's "Tron: Legacy," "Uprising" takes most of its aesthetic cues directly from that film (including the phenomenal soundtrack). That all works to the show's benefit, as the Emmy Award-winning animation makes the film's light cycle and Game Grid designs pop with style. The look of "Tron: Uprising" is all stark contrasts and hard edges, which make for some absolutely stunning action set pieces. This is must-watch content for longtime "Tron" fans, but it's also good enough to stand on its own two feet.