Games based on Books (not movies)

[mezrabad]

Aside from a few text adventure games from the early 80s I'm drawing a complete blank on any computer/video/arcade games based on books.

For the text adventure crowd:

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Infocom)
Farenheit 451 (?,?) (yeah there was a movie, but the game didn't go with it)
Rendevous with Rama (?,?) (this was also done as a point and click puzzler, years later)

I'm also pretty sure there was a Ringworld game based on Larry Niven's novel.

Now I know a few might be tempted to add "Oh, of course, Harry Potter books One through Five were games!" but I'd like to rule them out because I feel they were based more on the movies than the books. (ie, if it weren't for the Movie their would have been no game)

So, ANY others? Again, I'm not looking for examples that were part of a Movie license (ie Spyderwick chronicles, or Series of Unfortunate Events, or Eragon or other Games that only exist because movie was being made at the time) I'm looking for Book converted into a Video or Computer game.

OH, I just thought of one...Betrayal at Krondor, though that was actually a game that was based in the same world as a series of books, the game being later written into a book along with its sequel (Return to Krondor).

*sigh* okay any ANY others? Thanks in advance...

[InsaneDavid]

ehem... Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde on the NES.

[j_factor]

The Discworld series comes to mind. There's also Dragon Riders: Chronicles of Pern for Dreamcast.

[Gapporin]

There was a trilogy of games based on the Discworld series of Terry Pratchett (Discworld 1, 2, Noir).

I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream was originally based on a short story by Harlan Ellison.

There was a Goosebumps first-person shooter released on the PC, if I remember correctly.

FWIW, there was also a Lord Of The Rings game released before the movie came out (for the SNES and PC, maybe other platforms as well). But, indeed, the majority of LOTR games are heavily influenced by the movies.

Oh, how could I forget? Callahan's Crosstime Saloon, based on the book of the same title by Spider Robinson also got a PC adventure adapation. One of the best and funniest games in that genre I've had to chance to play as well.

That's all I can think of at the moment, although I feel like I should know more.

[djbeatmongrel]

Call of Cthulhu is the only thing that pops into my mind

[Astrosmash]

I didn't know it until long after the game came out (and I haven't read it), but apparently Parasite Eve is either based on or is a sequel to a book by Hideaki Sena (thanks Wikipedia). Perhaps somebody who's read it can shed more light on this one.

[Flack]

When I saw the topic title I immediately thought of "Below the Root," but then when I saw who posted it I thought, "aw, he already knows that one." After reading the thread I saw you DIDN'T mention that one, so I got excited again. Yay!

Below the Root was released by Windham Classics in 1984. According to Wikipedia, "it is based on the Green-sky trilogy, published between 1975 and 1979 by Zilpha Keatley Snyder."

For that matter, I believe the same game engine was also used for the game Alice in Wonderland, based on the book.

Do you want to include Bible Adventures? :)

[SpaceHarrier]

Suikoden aka Genso Suikoden for PSX is loosely based on the Chinese classic "Shui Hu Chuan" which was translated into english by Pearl S. Buck and renamed "All Men Are Brothers"

[Kitsune Sniper]

There's a huge list here:

http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/literature-inspired-games

Note that some of these aren't exactly based on books, but they might be inspired by them.

[Ed Oscuro]

I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream was originally based on a short story by Harlan Ellison.
Which should've been expanded to a full-length novel (never read that version, can't take too much of that thing) before the game was released. Strange game, seen some screenshots / read a bit about it. Don't think I'd like to play it.

There's a Wheel of Time - based game. I've played the demo; pretty decent fantasy FPS-alike for the time it was released.

[MrSparkle]

long before the movies but possibly after the animated movies there were several lord of the rings games, including a pretty cool old dos rpg.

[tom]

how about comic books?
Felix, Donald Duck, Micky Mouse, Superman, Spider Man, Batman, Hulk....etc

[Daria]

Which should've been expanded to a full-length novel (never read that version, can't take too much of that thing) before the game was released. Strange game, seen some screenshots / read a bit about it. Don't think I'd like to play it.


That's unfortunate because it's an awesome point and click.

Also wasn't Parasite Eve suppose to have been based on a Japanses novel?

[Natty Bumppo]

Didn't see them on the moby list (but I only scanned the pages quickly), but the Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective (for sega cd and pc engine) games would loosely qualify.

[Blitzwing256]

the parasite eve movie was very VERY VERY loosely based on the book, and the game is pretty much totally differnt then the movie

[roushimsx]

There's a Wheel of Time - based game. I've played the demo; pretty decent fantasy FPS-alike for the time it was released.

Great soundtrack, killer level design. IIRC the Quicktime cutscenes have some problems playing ingame on modern PCs for whatever reason (yay for codec hell).

Anyone else totally pumped for Ender's Game: Battle Room (http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/01/29/exclusive-donald-and-geremy-mustard-discuss-plans-for-ender-s-game.aspx)?

Man, I hope it doesn't suck.

[Cryomancer]

There's a Left Behind game if that counts. Like Parasite Eve, Ring is originally a novel and then a movie and then a game that greatly departs from the source material. Pretty subpar game too, especially for a DC title.

[Ed Oscuro]

Great soundtrack, killer level design. IIRC the Quicktime cutscenes have some problems playing ingame on modern PCs for whatever reason (yay for codec hell).
Three cheers!


Anyone else totally pumped for Ender's Game: Battle Room (http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/levelup/archive/2008/01/29/exclusive-donald-and-geremy-mustard-discuss-plans-for-ender-s-game.aspx)?

Man, I hope it doesn't suck.
Eh, the last game that Orson Scott Card was involved in was pretty forgettable.

I'll just stick to my memories of the book (painful memories as they may be).

[Soviet Conscript]

I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream was originally based on a short story by Harlan Ellison.


probibly one of my favorite short stories. the story freaks me out. scares and depresses the hell out of me on some level.

never played the game though.

[j_factor]

There's also Ys Book I & II. It's right in the title!

[mezrabad]

Here's one that I'm not sure of: "Ico" I once met a Japanese women who was reading a book called Ico but I don't think I ever asked her if it was based on the game or if the game was based on it.

Wow, so many of these I'd heard of but had forgotten about the game and so many I'd never heard of at all!

Here's one, Robinson's Requiem, which I think is loosely based on Robinson Caruso.

Flack, never heard of "Below the Root" I'll have to look for it!

I'd forgotten about "...No Mouth...Must Scream" creepy story, but I heard it made a good adventure.

Shame on me for not thinking of Moby Games for this research! Thanks for the link Kitsune!

[skaar]

Baldur's Gate games... most of the D&D games...

[RARusk]

"Red Storm Rising" (by Tom Clancy).

I remember this well. I entered the "Red Storm Rising: Ultimate Challenge" contest sponsored by Commodore Magazine and MicroProse twenty years ago (this December).

I eventually finished in eighth place when the contest finished in May 1989. I still have my Battle Disks used for the contest. They are the prized jewels in my C64 games collection.

[James8BitStar]

Suikoden aka Genso Suikoden for PSX is loosely based on the Chinese classic "Shui Hu Chuan" which was translated into english by Pearl S. Buck and renamed "All Men Are Brothers"

There have been something like three different translations actually, but I think the most popular one actually goes under the title "Outlaws of the Marsh."

While we're at it, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms games are all based on a book (the book is supposedly based on actual history, but by this point its more myth than fact). Also Koei's Saiyuki: Journey West (there have been numerous film and anime adaptions, but apparently Koei tried for an original interpretation).

Also, Tolkien-based games have been mentioned, but here's the definitive source of info for them. You will be amazed just how many there are:
http://www.lysator.liu.se/tolkien-games/

Okay... in other news...

The AD&D Gold Box game "Curse of the Azure Bonds" is based on a novel. You could argue that the rest of the series is, but the credits of Curse mention a specific book.
Also the Krynn trilogy is a sequel to the Chronicles/Legends trilogies of Dragonlance books.
Also Menzoberranzan credits itself as being based on R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt books.
[You could argue, as another poster did, that any D&D/Shadowrun/whatever-based game is based on a book... but I assumed the OP meant works of fiction and not rulebooks]

There were several PC games that adapted fantasy novels. Off the top of my head I remember there being a Shannara game, a Xanth game, a Chronicles of Amber game, a Wheel of Time game, and I'm sure there are dozens of others.

Not based on, but Alone in the Dark claims to be "inspired by" H.P. Lovecraft.

Conan the Cimmerian, though that might actually be more based on the movies than on Robert E. Howard's stories.

Ugh... I feel like I should know more, but I'm drawing a blank. I'll post more as they come.

[Mayhem]

Below the Root was released by Windham Classics in 1984. According to Wikipedia, "it is based on the Green-sky trilogy, published between 1975 and 1979 by Zilpha Keatley Snyder."

The Windham Classics series (a label of Spinnaker) was the first thing I thought of too. They published five games I believe: Below the Root, Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robinson, Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of Oz.

[robotriot]

I'm currently playing The Witcher for PC, which is based on a series of short stories.

[Ed Oscuro]

How are you liking that one? I picked up the short story promo thing when it came out, but never got the game.

[robotriot]

The game has a lot of issues (inconsistent cutscenes, bad animation, small inventory, combat controls not very responsive etc) but the environments are pretty interesting to explore and the character upgrade system is relatively extensive. The story isn't so bad either, but I'm not very far into the game yet.

[Ed Oscuro]

Cool, will give that one another look. Thanks!

[Sudo]

If you're thinking of picking up The Witcher, you should wait for the Special Edition. (http://kotaku.com/5040872/the-witcher-enhanced-edition--what-a-difference-a-year-makes) It apparently makes the game a lot more enjoyable, and current owners of the game can download the new content for free.

[roushimsx]

and make sure you get the uncensored edition (http://www.gogamer.com/The-Witcher--I--Uncensored-Edition-Front-Page_stcVVproductId23661470VVcatId444710VVviewprod .htm) for maximum boobies. The normal US release can be patched for a lot of the stuff, but not everything. I mean, if you're really into boobies and stuff. That's really the only difference. Gameplay is still the same and it's not like you can't see all of the boobies the game has to offer on the internet in about 5 seconds and for free, but come on. Boobies.