Over the last few decades, gaming has evolved from a niche hobby to a global phenomenon and it has left an undeniable mark on pop culture. Way back when I was a kid, I never talked about gaming at school. As a girl whose friends were more into ponies and dolls, I didn’t really have an outlet for my gaming squee, so I would finish homework and dinner each evening, and then log onto my Nintendo to play Super Mario until my parents forced me to go to bed, and I would never talk about it.

How times have changed. Everyone and their grandma is now a gamer, and honestly, people like me couldn’t be happier.

But it’s not just that more people are openly playing video games. Gaming has seeped into various facets of our lives, including movies, music and other forms of entertainment. It’s had a HUGE influence and continues to grow, inviting more and more people to start gaming, linking different types of media, shaping narratives and inspiring creativity.

From Pixels to the Big Screen: Video Games in Movies

Video games are a treasure trove of inspiration for filmmakers and have fed the adaption craze in popular visual culture. Many big game franchises have been turned into major motion pictures, from action-packed adventures of Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, to the fantasy epic of World of Warcraft and the sci-fi world of Ready Player One. Video game adaptations have become a subgenre in themselves and attracted gamers and movie enthusiasts alike.

A few examples of massive game franchises becoming movies or TV adaptations are:

• Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001): Starring Angelina Jolie as the iconic adventurer Lara Croft, this film is based on the popular Tomb Raider game series. The movie follows Lara as she embarks on a quest to find powerful artifacts with supernatural abilities.
  
• Resident Evil (2002): Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and inspired by the Resident Evil game series, this film franchise follows Alice, played by Milla Jovovich (omg <3), as she battles against the Umbrella Corporation and hordes of zombies. The series has multiple sequels, all with varying quality, but even the cheesiest of these were popular movies and you can’t deny the success of the franchise.
  
• Assassin’s Creed (2016): Starring Michael Fassbender, this film adaptation is based on the action-adventure game series of the same name. The story revolves around a man who discovers he is a descendant of a secret society of assassins and relives the memories of his ancestors to acquire their skills.
  
• Max Payne (2008): Inspired by the video game series of the same name, Max Payne stars Mark Wahlberg as the titular character. The film follows Max Payne, a former NYPD detective, as he investigates the murder of his wife and child, uncovering a conspiracy involving a powerful drug.
  
• Silent Hill (2006): Directed by Christophe Gans, Silent Hill is based on the survival horror video game series. The film follows a mother searching for her adopted daughter in the mysterious and haunted town of Silent Hill, uncovering dark secrets along the way.
  
• Mortal Kombat (2021): A reboot of the Mortal Kombat film series, this 2021 adaptation directed by Simon McQuoid brings the iconic fighting game to the big screen once again. The movie follows a group of Earthrealm warriors as they battle against the forces of Outworld in a high-stakes martial arts tournament.

Musical Accompaniments: Video Game Soundtracks

Video game soundtracks have transcended their original purpose of enhancing gameplay and have become beloved musical compositions in their own right. Many games feature amazing scores that set the mood, evoke emotions and stay with players long after the game is over. From the iconic melodies of Super Mario Bros. to the sweeping orchestral arrangements of The Legend of Zelda series, game soundtracks have become a significant part of popular music culture.

Examples of popular gaming soundtracks:

• The Legend of Zelda series (Various): Composed by Koji Kondo, the music of The Legend of Zelda is iconic and instantly recognizable. Classics like the “Overworld Theme” and “Zelda’s Lullaby” have become synonymous with the franchise.
• Super Mario Bros. series (Various): Koji Kondo’s compositions for the Super Mario series, including the iconic “Super Mario Bros. Theme,” are some of the most famous and beloved in gaming history.
• Halo series (Various): Martin O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori created the atmospheric and memorable score for the Halo series. The chanting monks in the main theme are particularly iconic.
• Metal Gear Solid series (Various): Composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Norihiko Hibino, the Metal Gear Solid series features cinematic and dramatic music, enhancing the espionage and action elements of the games.
• Undertale (2015): Toby Fox composed the soundtrack for Undertale, a critically acclaimed indie game. The music, including tracks like “Megalovania,” is known for its emotional impact and ties to the game’s narrative.
• Mass Effect series (Various): Composed by Jack Wall and Sam Hulick, the Mass Effect series features a cinematic and space-themed score that enhances the immersive storytelling of the games.
• Minecraft (2011): Composed by C418 (Daniel Rosenfeld), the ambient and minimalist soundtrack of Minecraft perfectly complements the open-world, sandbox nature of the game.
• Doom (2016): Composed by Mick Gordon, the soundtrack for the 2016 reboot of Doom is intense and heavy, matching the fast-paced and brutal gameplay of the first-person shooter.

My personal favourites:

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011): Composed by Jeremy Soule, the Skyrim soundtrack is known for its sweeping orchestral arrangements and the powerful main theme Dragonborn. This is probably number one for me. There have also been many awesome parodies – notably the Skyrim Epic Rap by Dan Bull.
• Final Fantasy VII (1997): Nobuo Uematsu composed the soundtrack for Final Fantasy VII, featuring emotionally charged tracks like Aerith’s Theme and the epic One-Winged Angel (because it’s all about Sephiroth… always…). The music has become a staple of the Final Fantasy series.
• Metal Hellsinger: A rhythmic first-person shooter video game developed by Swedish developer The Outsiders. I’ve been playing this a lot lately and it’s hard to put down! The music is awesome, featuring artists like Matt Heafy from Trivium and Mikael Stanne from Dark Tranquillity. The key to success is hitting your abilities in time to the beat. It’s SO FUN.

Cultural References and Easter Eggs

In the context of video games, “easter eggs” are hidden or secret content, features or references that developers intentionally include as a form of surprise or homage. These can range from subtle nods to pop culture references, inside jokes, hidden levels, or even full-fledged hidden mini-games. Easter eggs are typically not essential to the main gameplay experience but are intended to reward curious and observant players who go above and beyond to explore the game world or uncover hidden secrets.

Easter eggs have become a popular tradition in the gaming industry, with players eagerly searching for and sharing their discoveries.

Check out my post about Popular Gaming Easter Eggs.

Gaming Influences in Music Videos

Music videos have embraced the visual aesthetics and narratives of games, incorporating gaming elements into their storytelling. Artists such as Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Gorillaz have featured video game-inspired visuals, characters and references in their music videos. This integration blurs the boundaries between gaming and music, appealing to fans of both mediums and creating a sense of synergy.

A few notable music videos inspired by games include:

• Lindsey Stirling – “Take Flight” – Influenced by: The Legend of Zelda series.
• The Chemical Brothers – “Galvanize” – Influenced by: Dance Dance Revolution.
• Deadmau5 – “Professional Griefers” ft. Gerard Way – Influenced by: Street Fighter-style video game battle.

Esports: Competitive Gaming as Spectator Sport

Esports has rapidly gained popularity, transforming video games into a competitive spectator sport. Major tournaments, such as The International for Dota 2 and the League of Legends World Championship, draw millions of viewers worldwide. The rise of esports has not only shaped the gaming landscape but also impacted traditional sports, influencing how audiences engage with competitive events and propelling professional gaming into mainstream recognition.

Cosplay and Fan Communities

Needless to say, the gaming community is passionate about their cosplay culture. Cosplay (if you don’t already know) is where enthusiasts dress up as their favourite characters from books, movies, TV shows, games, comics and other popular media.

Cosplay has become an integral part of pop culture conventions. This intersection of mediums allows fans to express their love for gaming while also embracing the wider realm of pop culture.

A few fan conventions where cosplay is a core activity include:

• Comic-Con International (San Diego, USA): While not exclusively focused on gaming, Comic-Con often includes a substantial video game presence, and attendees frequently cosplay as characters from popular games.
• Gamescom (Cologne, Germany): Europe’s largest gaming event, Gamescom, attracts cosplayers from around the world. The cosplay area allows fans to display their game character costumes.
• EGX (Birmingham, UK): The EGX gaming expo provides a platform for game enthusiasts to showcase their creativity through cosplay, bringing characters from their favorite games to life.
• Anime Expo (Los Angeles, USA): While primarily focused on anime and manga, Anime Expo includes a significant gaming presence, and attendees frequently cosplay as characters from popular games.
• BlizzCon (Various Locations): Blizzard Entertainment’s annual convention features a significant cosplay presence, with fans dressing up as characters from games like World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Diablo.

Final Thoughts

It’s awesome for someone like me – an avid gamer – to see gaming influences across a wider range of media nowadays. From the big screen to music videos, gaming has left an undeniable mark, shaping narratives, inspiring creativity and forging connections between different mediums.

As gaming continues to evolve and innovate, we can expect its influence on pop culture to grow even further, creating new avenues for storytelling. The synergy between gaming and other forms of media showcases the power of video games to transcend boundaries and become a universal language within popular culture.

What are some of your favourite game adaptations in pop media? Share your thoughts below!

Header image by Clem Onojeghuo.