Everyone has their own opinions about what the "Golden Age of Television" is, but it cannot be denied that there are quite a few good options out there in the age of streaming. Really, there's something for everyone, with a display of creativity that is on par with some of the best video games out there.
Bearing that in mind - what if these shows were made into video games? What if game developers took the basic premise of certain shows and turned them into something interactive? There's so much potential out there, not just in combining mediums but in reinvigorating the gaming market. Here are ten shows that could pull this off.
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
Netflix's endlessly charming Midnight Diner is a show about a man who runs an after-hours t and how he counsels the oddballs who stumble in. It's soulful, it's sweet, and if made into a video game, it could scratch a particular itch some people may have - the itch that tells them to quit their day jobs and open their own little diner.
This game could be a fusion of Cooking Mama and Yakuza, in the sense that it could implement fun cooking mechanics with lifestyle gameplay. The Master would be able to unlock more recipes and more customers, based on how well they cook and what sort of advice they give to customers.
Mozart In The Jungle
There aren't enough music-oriented video games that also incorporate characterization, so how fun would it be to make an RPG about a musician and include music mini-games to further her journey? Players could assume the role of fledgling professional oboist Hailey Rutledge as she climbs the ladder as a symphony player, an independent player, and, eventually, a conductor herself.
The music portions could be handled like the dancing portion of Final Fantasy VII Remake, while the roleplaying element could largely resemble that of other prominent RPGs. Best of all - players would enjoy seeing Maestro Rodrigo de Souza as their partner in crime at all times!
Freaks And Geeks
This show will forever have fans in mourning, as it was canceled after only one season. However, Judd Apatow and the cast and writers of Freaks And Geeks definitely had plans for what happens next - so why not implement those plans into a video game?
Playing as the Weir siblings, players could navigate what comes next for Sam and Lindsay, from Sam's journey of self-discovery through McKinley's theater program, to Lindsay's rocky road down a path of self-actualization and Deadheads. They would also help guide their friends through what comes next.
Normal People
As the title of this show states, the premise of this game might seem a little "normal." The show is about the weaving love story between the intense Marianne and the self-conscious Connell, which might seem uninteresting for a video game.
However, their story was deeply impactful for many viewers, and it has the potential to be a captivating choice-based episodic game, a lá Life is Strange or the Telltale series. Players could try and ultimately fail to bring the stubborn pair together while navigating their school and personal lives and how they handle things like sexuality and personal growth.
Barry
As far as conventional video games go, Barry would make the most sense, as there would be a lot of opportunities for guns and intrigue. Since Barry is a hitman, players would take him from mark to mark and be confronted with his reluctance in each situation, deciding how they should proceed and how it will affect him.
But THEN, they'd have to rush back to acting class - surprise, Barry's an actor too! Just like the show itself, there's a lot of opportunity for both drama and comedy in a game like this, as the player would have to go from getting Barry out of a high-stakes shootout to helping him nail a scene.
Misfits
Everyone ought to watch Misfits at least once in their life, as it's a great homage to early 2010s British humor, but a great way to introduce them to it would be in RPG format. Players would create their character, then give them a reason why they're doing community service, and - finally - decide what powers they'd get after getting zapped by a mysterious bolt of lightning.
Like the show itself, players would go on little adventures to deal with whatever riffraff is going on nearby, all the while having to put up with the strange cast of characters the show features - including the hardheaded Kelly, shy boy Simon, and insufferable yet lovable jerk Nathan.
Disenchantment
There's already a plethora of video games based on Matt Groening shows, so why not Disenchantment? It already takes place in a fantasy world that would fit right in with all the other fantasy games out there, so at the very least, it'd be quite marketable.
Groening-esque games hold a soft spot in the hearts of anyone who grew up playing games, with titles like The Simpsons: Hit & Run defining their childhoods. With a world as colorful as Dreamland and with characters as fun as Bean and Luci, it's a wonder a game for this show hasn't already been made.
Merlin
With a following that is still active today, and with Merlin to get a reboot, video-game style.
Not only would its fantasy setting fit in just as much as Disenchantment's, but it could also do innovative things with the Arthurian canon, and expand upon what intriguing things the show has already done. Lots of gamers have been wanting an Arthurian game for quite some time, and with such a plucky and endearing feel to it, Merlin would be a perfect starting-off point.
Russian Doll
With Majora's Mask-type pressure put on the player as they navigate scenarios to figure out how they can get back to normalcy.
Fluctuating between the worlds of polar opposites Nadia and Alan, players would have to be wise with their choices in order to get one of several endings - some better than others, of course.
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Sometimes, gamers want complete and utter chaos. They want to run around with reckless abandon and get away with it, with no consequences. Who better to do that with than the Gang, the absolute worst people in the Tri-State area?
The possibilities for mayhem in a Sunny game are just endless. With characters so questionably beloved, players could get hours of laughter and entertainment out of this game and still want more.