With the launch of the Last of Us Season 2, summer’s the perfect time to watch game-based content:
The Last of Us Season 2 returned to our screens on the 13th/14th of April and continued to interpret for viewers the intricate experience that Naughty Dog’s epic gaming franchise has developed in the last decade.
Also available to watch this month is Netflix’s animated series based on Devil May Cry (April 3), and the Minecraft Movie (April 4). With game-based movies and series increasingly becoming the norm, summer is the perfect time to give your gaming devices some much needed respite and to catch up on some amazing narratives that you might have missed.
This week, I recommend five movies/series for you to consider watching if you haven’t already.
The Last of Us Season 2: Helming all game-based adaptations and transmedia content in 2025 is the return of HBO’s show starring Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie). As the series progresses to presenting the events from the second game, Abby’s “unthinkable act” happens in episode 2 (withholding more for spoilers) as the series’ narrative reaches a point of no return. Season 2 seems as riveting and detailed as Season 1 and I strongly recommend you watch Ellie take center-stage.
Arcane Season 2: Premiered in November 2024, Vi and Powder’s unending struggle was one of the biggest game-based shows of the year and by now ardent fans of the series and League of Legends might have watched and rewatched the series several times. However, if you haven’t, there’s simply no time to waste.
Returning with more action and larger than life stakes, Arcane matures with bloodier storytelling and vibrant flaws in its characters. Watch it for its amazing animation, design, and state-of-the-art world building.
Secret Level: Another 2024 animated series is Secret Level, a series of animated shorts sets in some of our favorite game worlds. From the makers of LOVE, DEATH ROBOTS this 15-episode collection is homage to both games and gamers as its stories and characters draw on players’ actions and popular game tropes. From the Outer Worlds to Armored Core and Pac-Man to Sifu, there is something here for all of us to relate to.
Twisted Metal: Most of us might be too young to remember when Twisted Metal was a popular game franchise (late 1990s and the early 2000s) but the live-action comedy series from early 2024 is a great take on the franchise. The first season starring Anthony Mackie (Marvel’s Falcon/Captain America), Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn 99), and the wrestler Samoa Joe, has been appreciated for both its dialogue and characters. With a second season set to return in 2025, this could be a great way to get to know the game world and maybe even immerse yourself in some classic games.
Cyberpunk -Edgerunners: The last series on this list is also one of the best recreations of a game world. By recreating the iconic Night City from Cyberpunk 2077, this Netflix animated series tells the tale of “edgerunner” (a black-market tech dealer) street kid, David Martinez and his struggles as a newly orphaned boy who is expelled from a prestigious school. This is a great series to watch even if you haven’t played the much-improved Cyberpunk 2077 and could be a great way to understand Night City and the dystopic future the world is set in.
If the five from this list don’t interest you, may I also recommend the Castlevania reboot Nocturne (set for a season 2), Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft, a series where Lara is voiced by Hayley Atwell and is set between the first two games from the 2014 reboot, as I look forward to the Until Dawn movie hitting the screens this week.
