There are many things to consider when creating a product. Ensuring the product is marketed toward the right demographic and has steady fan demand up to its release are a few things worth considering. Video games often rely on advertisements to survive in the gaming industry. That said, some companies occasionally create merchandise around their video game properties.
From comics to plushies, items like these can go a long way in generating excitement toward a company or individual’s creation. On that note, this article will highlight 10 video games that should receive manga adaptations. From the colorful world of Undertale to the gritty God of War universe, fans will find our selections intriguing.
Nonetheless, feel free to leave your comments about our choices below. For games we’ve covered extensively in the past, we’ve included a link that’ll take you to our coverage for that title.
Undertale
Undertale delivers an exceptional fictional setting wrapped in love, tragedy, and incredible lore. The world’s cast features multiple characters, each with a story to tell, a goal to achieve, and a personality to cherish. Additionally, what attracts people most to this game lies in its genocide, pacifist, and neutral story routes. Although an anime would bring life to Undertale’s notorious plot threads, others wouldn’t mind checking out Frisk/Chara’s universe via a manga.
The manga would allow readers to immerse themselves in the game’s storyline at a pace that suits them. Additionally, the manga could explore story segments the game didn’t delve into heavily enough. Additionally, the manga could instill new life into characters like Sans, Papyrus, and others. This may entice fans and newcomers to perceive these characters differently.
Although this series is notorious for having loads of fan comics, art, etc., it’d be great to see people check out Undertale’s story through traditional means.
Xenoblade Chronicles
Fire Emblem isn’t the only JRPG Nintendo fans adore. Xenoblade Chronicles is another fabulous JRPG from their catalog. It’s known for having wonderfully written characters, a complex combat system, and beautiful and creative landscapes. This game’s world blends fantasy and sci-fi in wonderful ways. From Xenoblade Chronicles’s Gaur Plain to Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s Captocorn Peak, fans will admire this game’s marvelous world design.
At the same time, many wouldn’t mind seeing Nintendo publish a manga series for this franchise. The manga can include some non-canon elements and twists on the material presented in Xenoblade Chronicles, much like Akira Himekawa’s take on Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda franchise. Moreover, many folks wouldn’t mind seeing Shulk, Rex, Noah, or Matthew interact with people who didn’t receive much screen time in their respective games.
This would allow Xenoblade Chronicles’s fans to establish a deeper appreciation for this universe. On top of giving non-gamers a chance to experience this fabulous world without picking up a controller or a Nintendo Switch system, a Xenoblade Chronicles manga would be great.
Bioshock
Bioshock’s Rapture is regarded as one of the best gaming locations ever. This underwater city has intriguing lore, satisfying spooks, and genius puzzles that’ll entice anyone to explore it. Therefore, if Bioshock were to receive a manga adaptation, we anticipate this adaptation would explore this game’s locale further, giving Bioshock fans and newcomers a refreshing yet faithful deep dive into this incredible oceanic-like environment.
Additionally, Bioshock’s characters could be explored to deeper effect. This would allow folks who aren’t fond of Bioshock’s gameplay to give it another shot, storytelling-wise. Moreover, if adapted by the right artist, the game’s Plasmids, Big Daddy enemies, and pivotal story beats could look stunning in black and white. The game already has that old-school retro aesthetic.
A manga adaptation would arguably enhance the tension players get while exploring its casinos and dark corners. Moreover, if the manga is successful, seeing Bioshock Infinite’s Columbia receive the same treatment would be visually amazing too. Since Bioshock 4 might be in the works (as of this writing), releasing a manga based on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd games doesn’t sound like a bad idea, Cloud Chamber and 2K Games.
Red Dead Redemption
Currently, everyone is up in arms about Grand Theft Auto 6 since it’s scheduled to release in 2025 (as of this writing). Who could blame those fans? It’s been nearly a decade since Grand Theft Auto 5 was released. Fortunately, Rockstar Games delivered a new entry in the Red Dead Redemption series for players to enjoy while they fool around with their friends on Grand Theft Auto Online.
That aside, a Red Dead Redemption manga series would be interesting. As with previous entries, this manga could focus on John Martson’s story from Red Dead Redemption first. Then, it could go the Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure route and focus on Arthur Morgan’s tale from Red Dead Redemption 2. Similar to Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond or Shin-ichi Sakamoto and Yoshirō Nabeda’s The Climber, Red Dead Redemption’s manga should opt for a realistic art style.
This would set it apart from current manga released today. Additionally, some folks want more Wild Wild West series. While there are many great Wild Wild West anime of the past, seeing a new manga of that variety in today’s age would be fantastic. Lastly, a Red Dead Redemption manga could give certain aspects of the original games more spotlight, giving fans more reasons to appreciate this franchise.
Yakuza (Series)
Admittedly, The Fable semi-inspired this one to appear on the list. While many fans would prefer an anime adaptation over a manga, a Yakuza manga would be a great alternative. It’d fit in beautifully with past and current manga series like Sakamoto Days that focus on crime, gangsters, and family to a degree. Moreover, the game’s fights and cityscapes would look incredible in black and white if given to the proper artist.
Also, it’d give non-gamers a way to interact with the source material without having to purchase a high-end piece of hardware. Moreover, the series’s fandom could increase, ensuring Sega that the franchise is healthy and profitable. Additionally, the manga could explore certain storylines at a deeper level and smoother pace, allowing anyone to follow along with our protagonists’ journeys.
All in all, a Yakuza manga series would be great to see come to fruition one day.
Luigi’s Mansion
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a major hit for Illumination Studios and Nintendo. While the movie has its flaws, it captured the heart and fun fans have come to expect from old and newer Super Mario Bros.-related media. That said, Nintendo announced a while back that a sequel is happening. Yet, they haven’t elaborated on what it’ll be about and who will star in it.
Nonetheless, it’s great seeing Nintendo dip its toes in films, as it shows they’re willing to let others adapt their properties in unique ways. While some of their properties like Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, and others have manga adaptations, Luigi’s Mansion isn’t on that list yet. While an animated Luigi’s Mansion flick would be gnarly, a manga series has the potential to outshine that idea.
If given to the right horror mangaka, perhaps Junji Ito, this Luigi’s Mansion manga could be utterly terrifying, more so than its current gaming entries. We’re not saying the manga should contain extreme violence or blood, but manga artists like Ito know how to keep matters tame yet frightening for respective audiences. On top of exploring certain ghostly enemies on a deeper scale, a Luigi’s Mansion manga would be neat, Nintendo.
God of War (Series)
Although Sony hasn’t been creating many new follow-ups for certain properties, God of War isn’t a part of that group. At this point, Kratos, the series’s male lead, can be considered as Sony’s mascot. This muscular warrior has been through a lot from fighting powerful gods to guiding his son Atreus through their cold, fantastical world.
Although Kratos may not seem like the battle-hardened warrior he used to be, there are moments in God of War (2018) and Ragnarok that prove Kratos can snap a person’s neck if he wants to. Nevertheless, a God of War manga series would be a great product to release to the public. This would allow folks who never played God of War before a chance to experience the game through graphic novel means.
As mentioned in our Red Dead Redemption entry, it’d be great if the manga’s art style was realistic. It’d replicate the emotions fans had playing the original trilogy and its spin-off games on Sony’s PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld. Moreover, the manga could delve into the game’s lore more, giving viewers new insight into certain characters’ origins and goals.
Stardew Valley
If Minecraft can get a manga adaptation, why not Stardew Valley? This cozy and fun farming game is perfect for those who enjoy gardening, visiting towns, and speaking with new people about daily activities. Additionally, Stardew Valley’s storyline has its share of twists, secrets, and emotional moments that fans can connect with.
A manga adaptation could explore the game’s protagonist’s daily happenings. It could capture the same vibes people get from reading some of the best relaxation manga like Yotsuba to!, Laid-Back Camp, and Yokohama Shopping Log. Additionally, the manga can go the route of Nintendo’s video game to manga adaptations, giving fans new content that matches Stardew Valley’s tone, themes, and premise.
Although this manga won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, Stardew Valley fanatics would love a manga adaptation.
Palworld
A lot of bizarre things happened and continue to occur in 2024. Palworld’s rise to stardom is a great example of the former. This game came and went like a breeze in the wind, yet some folks still play Palworld today. Although many wrote this one off as a cheap Pokémon clone, many argue there are ways Palworld differentiates itself from it.
Nonetheless, one thing Palworld lacked was proper storytelling. Therefore, a manga adaptation could fix that issue tenfold. Much like Pokémon Adventures, a Palworld manga could follow a new lead character, who could serve as the game’s main protagonist moving forward. We’d then follow this fictitious lead’s journey through the Palworld universe.
This tale could show our lead battling the game’s bosses like Zoe and Grizzbolt or encountering powerful legendary Pals like Jetdragon or Paladius. The possibilities are endless with this manga. Since Palworld includes firearms, base-building mechanics, and other things, the manga can opt for a serious tone. This would help it differ from other monster-catching games with manga like Pokémon, Yo-kai Watch, etc.
All in all, it’d be in Pocket Pair’s best interest to hire a manga artist or animation studio to produce more products for their game
Nintendogs
Nintendogs is a niche gaming franchise many would love to see Nintendo revisit in the future. To many, Nintendogs was a must-have starter game for the Nintendo DS, much like how Wii Sports was to the Nintendo Wii. This game lets folks adopt, train, and pamper a beloved canine companion. From Labradors to Shih-Zus, many appreciated this game for giving them many dog breed options.
Nintendo later introduced animals like cats into the game, and many feline enthusiasts appreciated that. While the franchise may be dead (as of this writing), a manga series could bring new life into the franchise. Moreover, the idea of an animal-centric manga isn’t anything new. Stories like Chi’s Sweet Home show that people wouldn’t mind a manga centered around furry creatures.
Additionally, Nintendo could opt for a tale similar to 2023’s Pokémon Concierge and center the story around a male or female who must look after a pack of puppies. The story possibilities are endless and the tale itself could have some emotional moments that’ll move folks to tears. Whatever the case might be, a Nintendogs manga would be awesome.
So, there we have it, our picks for the 10 video games that should receive manga adaptations.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!