10 Licensed Game Adaptations That Have Been Forgotten

It’s common to see video games based on popular franchises, and some of these adaptations – like those featuring Star Wars, Marvel, and DC characters – have become very successful.

Over the years, a few licensed games have come out that make you question the decision-making process behind them, simply because they’re surprisingly odd and don’t seem needed at all.

Many video games are based on existing brands and created as a more engaging form of advertising than traditional commercials.

Although those commercials were more creative than typical ads, most have faded into obscurity like many other advertisements for licensed games.

10. Eragon

An Adaptation That Was Worse Than the Movie

I remember when the Eragon video game came out in 2006! Honestly, it didn’t get very good reviews – most places scored it somewhere between a 4 and a 5 out of 10. Looking back, it’s pretty clear the developers made a big mistake somewhere in how they made the game, which explains a lot!

It’s unclear whether the developers or the publisher made the call, but the Eragon game was based on the movie adaptation, not the original books. Given that fans of the books generally disliked the movie, it’s not surprising the game didn’t gain much popularity and was eventually forgotten.

9. Fester’s Quest

Yes, Fester from The Addams Family

Platforms	Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer	Sun Corporation
Publisher	Nintendo
Release Date	September 1989

Okay, so this game takes us way back to 1989 – that’s when Fester’s Quest came out on the NES. Honestly, seeing the Addams Family as a game feels like a really cool idea, and I think it could be so well done. Fester’s Quest wasn’t bad, but it definitely showed its age, you know? I think a modern take on the Addams Family could really nail it where that one fell a little short.

Fester’s Quest is a really odd game. While the title doesn’t seem connected to The Addams Family, the cover clearly features Uncle Fester. The story is completely bizarre – you play as Fester fighting aliens who have kidnapped everyone in town! It feels like a strange dream come to life.

8. The Grinch

A Surprisingly Decent Christmas Game

Christmas games are rare, and “The Grinch” is a strangely enjoyable example – it’s not good, but it is fun, and that might be exactly what the holiday season needs in a game. Importantly, this game isn’t based on the original Dr. Seuss book; instead, it’s based on the 2000 film starring Jim Carrey.

This game has some rough edges that can make the platforming frustrating, but it’s not terrible overall. You can definitely tell the developers put a lot of work into it.

7. Home Improvement: Power Tool Pursuit!

A Platformer that Should Have Been a Job Sim

You wouldn’t expect the TV show Home Improvement to work as a platforming video game, but in 1994, that’s exactly what it became for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The game’s story revolves around Tim Taylor losing his tools and needing to search the sets of other TV shows to find them before filming “Tool Time.” While it’s a decent platformer, it’s an odd choice of game based on the show. I think a “Home Improvement” game that let you actually do the handyman jobs would have been great, but that kind of simulation game wasn’t really popular when this game was made.

6. Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time

Modern and Already Forgotten

This version came out in 2020, but it wasn’t very popular and hasn’t stood the test of time, quickly becoming forgettable.

Samurai Jack was a well-loved show, but the game likely wasn’t successful because it came out long after the show was most popular, causing it to be largely forgotten.

The game was okay, but not particularly memorable. It heavily depended on the popularity of the Samurai Jack TV show. Ideally, it should have been released sooner and promoted during the show’s original airings.

5. Pepsiman

A Weirdly Fun Beverage Advertisement

Platforms	PlayStation
Developer	KID
Publisher	KID
Release Date	March 4, 1999

Pepsiman is an action-packed game where you play as the Pepsi mascot, running and dodging obstacles – it’s a classic example of the endless runner style. Many consider it one of the best video games ever made to promote a brand, thanks to its simple and fast-paced gameplay.

You play as Pepsiman, running around delivering Pepsi to thirsty people. The game doesn’t try to be anything more than that – it fully embraces its silly, advertisement-like nature, and it’s surprisingly enjoyable because of it. It’s weirdly charming in its simplicity.

4. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon R

A Property Perfect for Game Adaptations

It’s surprising that Sailor Moon hasn’t had many video game adaptations, considering how well its story and characters could fit into different genres like life simulation, superhero action, fighting games, or role-playing games. The series is a timeless classic with ongoing new content, but unfortunately, we haven’t seen many new video games based on it, which is disappointing.

Bandai created a series of Sailor Moon games, with Sailor Moon R being the second one. While the games were mostly action-packed side-scrollers, the series isn’t very well remembered today, which is unfortunate because there haven’t been any new Sailor Moon games released recently.

3. Sneak King

In Case You Want to Be the Burger King

Okay, so if you’ve ever wanted to be the Burger King himself, you absolutely have to check out the game Sneak King. It lets you play as the King, which is as wild as it sounds!

This game is brief and has a surreal, dreamlike quality. While enjoyable, it would have been even better with a collaboration featuring Pepsiman. It’s impressive how much fun can come from games based on existing brands.

Sneak King is a simple, quirky game where you play as a burger delivery person trying to sneak up on people and hand them food. It’s a strange concept, but that’s part of what makes it enjoyable, even if you don’t like the restaurant it’s advertising.

2. Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future

Exactly What You’d Expect From a Jojo Game

While several JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure video games exist, most haven’t stood the test of time. Heritage for the Future is generally considered the best, offering a solid fighting game experience. It focused more on gameplay than excessive fan service, which allowed the core mechanics to shine.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has a lot of potential for fighting games, and it would be fantastic to see its characters added as playable fighters in other games – something that’s been done before. If not, a remastered version of the original game would also be a welcome option.

1. Shaq Fu

A Game So Bad, It’s Good

Man, Shaq Fu is one of those games I totally blocked out until something reminded me of it. It’s weird, because everyone says it’s a terrible fighting game – like, really bad – but there’s still this strange nostalgia for it. I think it’s because it was brutally difficult and just…so bad, it was memorable. It’s a game you don’t easily forget, even if you want to.

The game is notoriously difficult, mainly because the controls feel sluggish and performing combos is challenging. However, despite its flaws, it’s surprisingly enjoyable for a bad game and worth trying if you’re curious.

We still see a lot of games based on existing brands, but I’d love to see developers take more risks and create truly unusual adaptations like the old Sneak King and Shaq Fu games. I Love You, Colonel Sanders was a fun attempt at bringing back that spirit, offering a free-to-play experience, but we need a lot more of these strange and unexpected game adaptations each year.

2026-05-24 00:41