Summary
Novels have been the inspiration for many forms of adaptation for as long as cinema and TV have been around. This is no different with gaming. Many games adapt or take inspiration from innumerable novels across all the genres in the literary landscape. Fromhorrorto romance, timeless stories are constantly being adapted and updated into this more modern format.
This list looks at seven open-world games that arebased on novelsand ranks them based on how well they fare against each other in terms of direct adaptation and simply how well they play. While some entries are more direct adaptations, each has its merits and clearly shows its inspiration throughout.
Metro Exodusis a unique entry on this list as it is not entirely open-world, instead consisting of several miniature open-world levels in which the player can explore. Unlike the previous two games in theMetrofranchise,Exodusis not a direct adaptation, but rather a follow-up to the narrative of Dmitry Glukhovsky’sMetronovels. Glukhovsky did publish a novelization of the game’s narrative. However, it was released post-launch.
Similar to the previous titles in the franchise, both novel and game,Metro Exodustasks the player with exploring and surviving a world ravaged by nuclear war, giving access to a train thatcarries the protagonist Artyom and his crew across Russia. While losing some of the claustrophobic elements present in the earlier titles,Exodusdoes a fantastic job of transitioning the series to a slightly more open world.
While controversial upon release,Hogwarts Legacyis the quintessential way for gamers toimmerse themselves in the world ofHarry Potter. Functioning as an open-world RPG,Hogwarts Legacyallows the player to take on the role of a new Hogwarts student, go to classes, be sorted into a house, and explore the legendary halls of the school. With multiple in-depth systems for all the facets of magic,Hogwarts Legacymakes the player feel like a wizard or witch in ways no other game has managed to capture.
While the Harry Potter charm does wear off after some hours, the fundamental systems that make up the game’s core gameplay are solid enough to makeHogwarts Legacyworth playing for any fan of the books. It may not be the best way to introduce a new fan to the franchise, requiring some prior connection to the IP to fully appreciate, but the nostalgia many players feel when playing is certainly enough to carry them through the whole experience.
Similar to the last entry,Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor,and its successor,Shadow of War,allow players to immerse themselves in a new story set in a beloved literary world. Taking control of Talion, the player must explore the vast world of Middle-earth to exact revenge for the murder of Talion’s family. Set betweenThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings, players will see a world somewhat unfamiliar before many of the events that lead up to the start of the book series.
Despite its differences, the world of Middle-earth is impressively accurate to the descriptions found in many of Tolkien’s works, thanks in part to the contributions of Peter Jackson and several Tolkien scholars. On top of it all,both games have the revolutionary “Nemesis System,“which causes the enemies to remember the player’s previous actions, making the open world feel alive and decisions feel important.
STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobylis the first entry in theSTALKERseries in 15 years, making it a hugely anticipated release for many gamers. The game tasks the player with surviving in the exclusion zone surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, finding anomalies, and collecting anything valuable they can find, all while monitoring the several indicators that monitor stats like hunger and tiredness.
Heart of Chornobylis part of a franchise that bringsArkady and Boris Strugatsky’s novelRoadside Picnicinto the gaming world. WhileRoadside Picnicitself is not concerned with the Chernobyl incident that features heavily in the games, the overall tone, aesthetic, and concept the game is centered on are all adapted from the book. Despite its unfinished state upon release, subsequent updates have shifted it into the best way to experience the Strugatsky’s vision in video game form.
The final entry on this list isThe Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the third installment in theWitcherfranchise based on Andrzej Sapkowski’sWitcherbook series. Having now also been adapted into a Netflix series, theWitchergames surround the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a Witcher, with the third game focusing on his search for Ciri, his adopted daughter. Traveling across the world, fighting monsters and men, and avoiding the nightmarish Wild Hunt, Geralt’s journey has never felt this important, making for a compelling narrative and a rich open world.
Having won Game of the Year at The Game Awards in 2015,The Witcher 3: Wild Huntis a staple in the open-world RPG genre and is widely regarded by many gamers as one of the greatest games ever made. While the story can drag in parts, the freedom of the open-world and the tightly crafted gameplay elements keep the game entertaining for its entire duration.
