Article updated with more TV shows and movies on September 3, 2026.
Video game adaptations once came with low expectations. That has changed. Some of gaming’s most recognizable franchises are now finding new audiences through movies and television, while longtime players are seeing characters, stories, and worlds they already know brought to the screen.
There are also far more of them to choose from. Mario, Minecraft, Sonic, Fallout, The Last of Us, Pokémon, Tomb Raider, League of Legends, Cyberpunk, and several other franchises now have movies or series available at home.
That gives American Legion Gaming communities another reason to gather. With the proper screening rights in place, Posts can build a movie or television night around the game that inspired it, then follow it with tournaments, co-op sessions, trivia, or a themed gaming event.
Family-Friendly Movies Can Turn Into a Full Game Night
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is available to buy or rent digitally. An ALG event could begin with a few rounds of Mario Kart World before the movie or end with a tournament after the credits.
Posts could run separate races for Veterans, family members, and younger players before bringing the top finishers together for a final championship round. Mario trivia, costumes, and themed snacks could turn it into an event for people who may not normally come out for a gaming tournament.
A Minecraft Movie can take the night in a completely different direction. Posts could pair the movie with a building contest in Minecraft. Players could recreate their Post, build a memorial, design an obstacle course, or see who can come up with the best military-inspired build.
The movie also has a Block Party Edition built around audience participation. That could work well for a family event where younger players are encouraged to take part instead of sitting quietly through a traditional movie night.
Sonic has enough material for an entire event of his own. Sonic the Hedgehog 3 can be paired with games from the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Posts could set up classic Sonic games, newer releases, or a speedrun challenge before watching the movie.
The six-episode Knuckles series gives Posts another choice. Since the episodes are shorter than a movie, a group could watch one or two and spend the rest of the night playing Sonic games.
Pokémon Concierge is another choice for families. Its short episodes and relaxed setting could work alongside Pokémon UNITE, Pokémon card games, or a casual tournament.
Some Adaptations Work Better for an Adult Game Night
Both seasons of Fallout are available on Prime Video. Its mix of dark humor, military organizations, survival, and competing factions could support several watch nights instead of one long marathon.
Each meeting could include one or two episodes followed by trivia or a conversation about the characters and factions. Players could continue the night in Fallout 76, where a group can explore, complete missions, and work on a shared camp.
The Last of Us has two seasons available on HBO Max. The series can lead to conversations about survival, loyalty, leadership, and the decisions people make when there is no easy answer.
Players familiar with The Last of Us Part I could compare scenes from the game and television series, then talk about which changes worked and which version handled certain moments better.
Two seasons of Twisted Metal are available on Peacock. Its short episodes, dark comedy, and vehicle combat make it an easy match for a racing or arcade night.
Horror fans can also build an event around Five Nights at Freddy’s 2. Posts could follow the movie with one of the Five Nights at Freddy’s games, horror trivia, or a challenge to see who can survive the longest night.
Animated Adaptations Add Even More Choices
Arcane follows characters from League of Legends, but viewers do not need to know the game to understand the story. Both seasons are available on Netflix, which makes it possible to spread the series across several ALG meetings.
The series could also introduce someone to League of Legends for the first time. Experienced members could explain the champions and basic roles before helping new players through a beginner match.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners takes viewers into the same Night City seen in Cyberpunk 2077. Its 10 episodes tell a complete story, making it easier to spread across several watch nights or turn into a Cyberpunk-themed weekend event.
Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft continues Lara Croft’s story after the more recent Tomb Raider games. Players could follow an episode with Tomb Raider or compare the television version of Lara with the character they know from the games.
Devil May Cry is another choice for adult animation fans. Dante’s battles with demons could lead directly into Devil May Cry 5, with players competing for high scores, mission grades, or completion times.
Splinter Cell: Deathwatch may be especially interesting for Veteran gaming groups. The series brings Sam Fisher back into a world of espionage and covert operations. A stealth-game night could follow with challenges built around completing missions without being detected.
Castlevania: Nocturne gives horror and fantasy players another choice. Vampires, monsters, and its historical setting make it an easy fit for an October event built around Castlevania and other horror games.
Secret Level Was Made for This Kind of Game Night
Secret Level may be one of the easiest series to build an ALG night around. The animated Prime Video anthology dedicates individual episodes to different video game worlds.
The lineup includes Sifu, Warhammer 40,000, PAC-MAN, Armored Core, The Outer Worlds, and Mega Man, among others.
A Post would not have to commit to watching an entire season. Members could pick one franchise, watch its episode, and spend the rest of the night playing the game. ALG groups could even turn it into a monthly series with a different franchise taking the spotlight each time.
More Game Adaptations Are on the Way
A new Resident Evil movie reaches theaters Sept. 18, 2026, followed by Street Fighter on Oct. 16.
ALG communities can prepare by jumping into Resident Evil Requiem or holding a tournament in Street Fighter 6.
The 2027 schedule also includes Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and Nintendo’s live-action The Legend of Zelda movie. A Helldivers adaptation is also on the way, giving ALG groups another reason to form four-player squads in Helldivers 2.
Television is staying busy too. A Ghost of Tsushima: Legends anime is planned, while Prime Video is developing a live-action God of War series. Players can revisit Ghost of Tsushima or God of War while waiting to see how those worlds make the jump to television.
Each new adaptation creates another reason to revisit the game behind it. A movie night does not have to end when the credits roll. It can lead directly into the tournament, co-op session, trivia contest, or game night that comes next.
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