10 Video Games You Didn't Know Were Based On Books

Video games find inspiration everywhere, including the written word. Books, like video games, often take their time with their narratives, letting things unwind gradually and sending their protagonists on subplots - 'side quests', in other words.

While it doesn’t happen that often, it shouldn’t be a surprise that some games owe their existence to great books.

Some are official adaptations, using characters, settings and plots to bring their games to life. Others simply heavily borrow aspects of the themes or narrative, either updating it or transplanting it into a different setting.

Similar to Apocalypse Now being inspired by Heart Of Darkness, some games aren’t necessarily straight ‘remakes’ of these books at all.

Well known works of literature obviously don’t qualify here, as no one’s unaware that Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes or Game Of Thrones started life on the page before being turned into many different forms of media. Lesser known ones where the fanbase might be aware but the general gaming public don’t will still be included though.

Basically, if the game’s more famous than the book, it should make the cut. Even if it’s not, the links might not be so clear cut that the book’s inspiration for the game is common knowledge.

Based on: The Bible

The Binding Of Isaac takes both its name and inspiration from one of the most infamous passages within the Bible, from early in the Old Testament. In it, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, only for a messenger to interrupt him at the last moment; Abraham then carries out the ritual with a passing ram.

In the game, Isaac’s mother is the central focus, with the message being sent to her rather than Abraham. Playing as Isaac, you flee from your mother into the basement, which naturally is filled with monsters. Down there, you must battle against them before finally defeating your mother at the end of the game.

Edmund McMillen, the game’s developer, was raised in a religious household, with some of his family Catholic, and another lot born-again Christians. This helped him to see both the good and the bad sides of religion, and these complex ideas made their way into the game.

It’s quite an achievement to base a video game off the Bible without becoming dull, preachy, or just edgy blasphemy with no hidden subtext. The Binding Of Isaac manages to serve up a real in-depth experience.